Throughout the story A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce, we see Stephen's struggle against Catholicism, sin and his destiny. In Stephen's life, which almost mirrors Joyce's, Catholicism plays an important role but it fades and in its place comes art. The title alone tells us that he is an artist and not that he is Catholic. Joyce's priority is to tell us about himself as an artist and how he became one, rejecting Catholicism. Like most Irish people, Stephen Dedalus is a devout Catholic. Catholicism dominates Stephen's life and completely controls his emotions, thoughts and actions. From a young age, Stephen struggled with Catholicism. While attending Clongowes Wood College, Stephen prayed before bed "so that he would not go to hell when he [dies]."(15) Even after prayer, just to fall asleep, he should console himself by saying “he he would not go to hell after his death; and the shaking would stop. »(15) Being so afraid as a child because of religion would be a substantial reason to move away from it. Stephen was probably eight years old at this time and for a child this level of fear is unreasonable and possibly detrimental to his mental health. Again, at Clongowes Wood College, Stephen is abused by one of the fathers. One day, Father Dolan comes to class and hits Fleming, one of Stephen's classmates, with the pandybat six times in each hand. After berating and beating Fleming, Father Dolan notices that Stephen is not doing his job. Father Arnall, who teaches the class, tells Father Dolan that he is excused because his glasses broke. Father Dolan doesn't believe it and scolds Stephen, saying, "Lazy little schemer." I see an intriguer in your face... Lazy and idle little lazy bum. scare the kids into doing the right thing and turn it into a song. Ultimately, Stephen rejects Catholicism as a religion because of the trauma it caused him and because it is too restrictive for an artist like him and replaces religion with art. After his rejection of Catholicism, Stephen begins to think like an artist, examining the soul and aesthetics. Even his namesake, Daedalus, evokes the image of an artist and creator. Daedalus was a creator of Greek mythology with whom Stephen identifies with great pride. Additionally, the next story that Joyce wrote was Ulysses, a story belonging to Greek mythology whose main character is a Jew. The Greeks were also pagans, so it is possible to say that when Stephen/Joyce rejected Catholicism, he began to accept paganism as a religion..