What different ways is Christanity portrayed in To Kill A Mockingbird?

Christianity is represented as both an ideal everyone should strive for and as hypocritical.

The Christian "ideal" we should all strive for is clearly Atticus Finch. From the very beginning of the book, he teaches his children to be fair and tolerant. He encourages them to put themselves in the shoes of others so that they might better understand them. He is a moral man, and although he does not "preach," he is one of the...

Christianity is represented as both an ideal everyone should strive for and as hypocritical.

The Christian "ideal" we should all strive for is clearly Atticus Finch. From the very beginning of the book, he teaches his children to be fair and tolerant. He encourages them to put themselves in the shoes of others so that they might better understand them. He is a moral man, and although he does not "preach," he is one of the best examples of a good Christian in the book. Miss Maudie, perhaps, said it best: 

“We’re so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us.”  

As for hypocrisy, there is no shortness of  "good" Christians who live in Maycomb that pride themselves on their faith and morals and at the same time are bigoted, hateful, and intolerant. One clear example of this is Missionary Circle. This church group meets regularly, and in Ch. 24 they happen to meet at the Finch home because Aunt Alexandra is hosting. At that meeting the women, especially Miss Meriweather, say some fairly appalling things one would hope wouldn't come out of anyone's mouth:

"Gertrude, I tell you there's nothing more distracting than a sulky darky. Their mouths go down to here. Just ruins your day to have one of 'em in your kitchen. You know what I said to my Sophy, Gertrude? I said, 'Sophy,' I said, 'you were simply not being a Christian today. Jesus Christ never went around grumbling and complaining,' and you know, it did her good. She took her eyes off that floor and said, "Nome, Miz Merriweather, Jesus never went around grumblin'.' I tell you, Gertrude, you never ought to let an opportunity go by to witness for the Lord."

Ultimately, the representations of Christians in the book are both positive and negative. It seems that Lee is saying that it is not the faith itself that is either good or bad, but the way in which people choose to apply it to their lives.