How does Arnold explore the ongoing theme of religion in the poem Dover Beach?

sea is described as the 'Sea of Faith'. The word 'faith' links faith in that time to the ebb of the tide. This conveys to the reader that faith was once strong and looming over the world like a tide but has now fizzled out into nothing like a tide does. Also, this line is the shortest in the poem and this is pivotal as it brings in faith into the poem and other ideas about the world and shown from then on when the beach is described. Also, the writer describes the 'Sea of Faith' having been 'round earth's shore. This shows Arnolds remminisance for the past when religion was full and plentiful. In this way he uses the sea as an extended metaphor, the way religion retracts from the shores of the world. He backs this up by describing religion as laying 'like folds of a bright girdle furl'd'. The words 'bright girdle' indicate a supportive and resplendent sense. The writer also looks at what has been left due to the human destruction for religion. The 'Sea of Faith' had resulted in having a 'melancholy, long, withdrawing roar'. The word 'roar' makes religion seem like a big thing looming over humans and this emphasises the greatness of religion previously, with it now having been destroyed. The 'roar' is described as passing through the 'naked shingles off the world'. The word 'naked' carries connotations with vulnerability and being exposed. This could carry a reference to an echo of Adam and Eve who fell from paradise but were naked once they ate fruit. This could also show the reader how when the tide is up everything ok but once the tides are out, human vulnerability is exposed. Also, it implies that humans could also descend, maybe to the 'confused alarms of struggle and fight'. This could mean hell, as humans descend to hell due to their modern lack of belief in religion.  Arnold pictures the world as a dystopia after the death of religion. Arnold also outlines the human lack of civilisation after the diminishment of religion. He says 'ignorant armies clash by night'. This is a clear reference to the ignorance of humans resulting in fights and battles over pointless theories. Arnold explores the ignorance of humans in the poem and this is linked to the ongoing theme of religion. He also exposes the lack of light and hope by using the words ‘darkling pain’ and ‘night’. This emphasises the obscurity of sight In conclusion, the poem ‘Dover Beach’ explores different themes of religion as well as the role of art. Arnold very effectively uses his description of the beach to show what has been going on there and he also uses metaphors to alike human problems with the features of the beach, for example likening the sea to faith.