Why does Holden think it spoils a conversation if someone asks what religion he is?

• A. He believes religion is private and not to be discussed.
• B. He thinks religion is a private matter, but not worth judging.
• C. He fears judgment or class-based labeling.
• D. He thinks discussing religion reveals inner truth.

Answer: (C)

Holden’s worry here is about social labeling and the way people pigeonhole you by what you believe. When someone asks what religion he is, it invites a quick category—a label that others might use to judge him or place him in a fixed group. He’s keenly sensitive to phoniness and to being reduced to a stereotype, so a religious label would shut down a real, open conversation and push him into a box he doesn’t want to inhabit.

Context helps: in Holden’s world, conversations can easily become about appearances, groups, or what others think you should be, rather than about genuine connection. Asking about religion signals you’re already sorting people into categories, which he finds off-putting and inauthentic.

That’s why choosing “he fears judgment or class-based labeling” is the best fit. It captures the motive behind his reaction—the hesitation to be labeled and judged—more precisely than the other ideas, which miss the social labeling angle or misstate his attitude toward discussion of religion.