Babett's Feast/Rant

I thought that similiarly to Cold Fever, the role of religion in Babbette's Feast was mitigated by other more prevalent themes. While the ideas of love and ritual are a part of religion they are not precisely what I expected from this class. Belief and faith are beautiful things within themselves but religion is the institionalized facet that more often than not blights whatever it touches. I had assumed that we would either be examining the role of religion as an institution or belief and faith as completely separate entities within film. I still am baffled as to how religion, belief, or faith comes into play in "Like Water for Chocolate". Insight?