In Act 1 of The Crucible, why are some people, including Proctor, inclined to stay away from the sabbath meeting?

John Proctor presents two reasons that people in Salem
sometimes choose not to attend church on the sabbath. 

The
first reason relates to Proctor's feelings toward Reverend Parris. Proctor does not like
Parris and feels that Parris makes demands on the town that are unfair. Parris is taking
advantage of his position as a leader in the church. 

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This aspect of his personality is evident in his
dispute about whether the provision of his firewood should be taken out of his salary or
is extra to it.

The two men
have had public arguments on this point before the action of the play begins, as we
discover in the early scenes of the play. Proctor also chooses not to baptise his
youngest children because he does not want Reverend Parris to touch
them. 

Proctor feels that there is nothing holy or
sanctified about Parris. With this Reverend, going to church is not a holy communal
experience, but instead ends up being a lecture on what the town owes its church
leaders.

The second reason Proctor presents for not
attending church relates to work. The land in Salem has not been easy to work for the
people there. Attention and diligence must be paid to ensure a
crop. 

When opportunity arises for a better crop, some
farmers feel that they should tend the fields and seize the opportunity, even if that
means missing church.