In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Miss Maudie refers to "foot-washing Baptists" not to criticize the Baptists necessarily, but to point out the hypocrisy of those who considered themselves as Christian and showed poor behavior. It also served to shine a light on those who professed to walk with God and missed the entire meaning of what it meant to be Christian.

Miss Maudie is a straight shooter: in other words, she says what is on her mind and has little time for people's foolishness. It is in this light that she sees the Baptists who practice "foot-washing," as is referred to in the Bible in John 13:1-17. (This passage demonstrates Christ's love and humility for others when he washes the feet of the disciples. The story promotes the care for others above that of oneself.) Her comments are a part of the author's attention to the theme of "religion" in her novel.

In chapter five, Miss Maudie responds to the religious folks in town who criticize her for making her garden beautiful, as if such a thing is a sin:

There are just some kind of men who—who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.

Beside a perception of hypocrisy, Miss Maudie's comment also points out that some people get so obsessed with going to heaven that they forget how to live (and how they should live) here.

Christian behavior is an important theme in the novel: Atticus says that he could not face God if he did not defend Tom Robinson. When Helen Robinson needs financial assistance because Tom is in jail, the church rallies to support her. However, "religion," (to which Miss Maudie refers in the quote above) is man-made and imperfect. It is important, she infers, to stay focused on the reason for the act of foot-washing. For many "good church-going folks" are the same people that will not stand up in the face of outright lies, and acquit Tom Robinson. The women's missionary circle that meets at the Finch house is greatly concerned for those suffering in Africa, but cannot show civility to the African Americans in their own community, even those working in their homes. Finally, Boo Radley's father was a Baptist, but his abuse (and that of Nathan Radley) shows no resemblance to proper Christian behavior.

As constant as the stars in the sky, Miss Maudie is a kind and caring advocate of others. She has a consistent sense of fair play and displays the same kind integrity found in Atticus. Miss Maudie shares her sentiments about people who should not go around criticizing others, especially when they claim to be God-fearing people themselves.

In chapter 5, Miss Maudie explains to Scout that Boo's father was a foot washing Baptist, which is a particularly austere sect of Christians. Maudie then tells Scout that she is just a regular Baptist and elaborates on the beliefs of the foot washing Baptists by saying, "Foot-washers believe anything that’s pleasure is a sin" (Lee, 27). Maudie is not critical of all Baptists, but does not agree with the foot washing Baptists' way of life. Maudie views the foot washing Baptists as religious fanatics, who interpret the Bible literally. They are relatively self-righteous individuals, who continually chastise Maudie for working in her garden. According to Maudie, foot washing Baptists also consider women a "sin by definition." Essentially, Maudie is highly critical of religious fanatics, like the foot washers, but does not criticize moderate Baptists during her conversation with Scout.