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Vain repetition and David's personal flaw (spoilers)

posted 5 years ago by twinA (4921)
10 replies | jump to latest

"Why don’t you make up your own prayers? Why do you keep repeating that same old crap over and over again? Who’s on first?"

~ Townsend to David Acosta [latter's imagination]

TV Fanatic:
https://www.tvfanatic.com/2019/10/evil-season-1-episode-2-review-177-minutes/

One of our fellow posters succinctly put vain repetition this way:

"The extreme ritualism (what Jesus referred to as "vain repetition") in both Catholicism and Islam, leads to repression or 'stuffing it.'"

https://moviechat.org/general/General-Discussion/5d84c83ad6d3ca1ccde6e205/Islam-actually-makes-some-sense?reply=5d858a2d3b68656917f6bba2

It is my understanding that the repeating of common prayers runs the risk of said prayers to lose meaning and sincerity if there is no heart emphasized behind the spoken words and intrinsically thought.

This aside, such method is conducive for more instructional learning and memorization, creating technique to facilitate a lesson given to a large audience (like us, the viewers).

For a myriad of reasons, what transpires by the following development is one of ironic interest. Namely, we relate to David's personal struggle of trying to be a "good Christian" man (he is a priest in training).

He physically knocked Townsend down in the court building during events within the premier episode.

Yet, his use of turning prayer into an empty gesture, what should be personal and therefore relatable, rings his motive for doing so hollow.

EDIT:
Repetitive praying is great for memorizing and educating. So long as it is understood that it is not to be treated as a meaningless exercise, it is useful when done privately as a way of strengthening faith and not as some sort of blind rescue clause/get-of-jail/golden ticket idea.

~~/o/

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

He’s got another flaw, twin. He’s a drug addict.

[–] twinA (4921) 5 years ago

Which is a problem, because he's no hippie!

I tease, I tease.

By him being trapped in his own vice, he has the chance to redeem himself and serve as an example to others.

If we were all perfect and free of sin, in the Christian sense, God would not be necessary. Only God is perfect no matter how hard we try to live righteously. Not to say the latter is impossible.

~~/o/

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

As soon as I saw that scene, combined with the information that Townsend’s mission is to destroy hope in the world, and the beyond eye-rolling cliche of a married white woman having the hots for a black man, with a side order of alcoholic priest, I sensed we are going to have a parade of human imperfections and flaws that in Act Three will lead to salvation and triumph; which, sadly, is kinda the description of melodrama. We still haven’t learned what Ben’s personal demon(s) is(are), so I still have some hope. I hope I am wrong about the cliches (which remains an excellent, useful word, so why do we need “trope?” when cliche is French for “a stamp that has been struck too often and is marred?).

[–] twinA (4921) 5 years ago

Oh gosh, you might be right.

Even the female lead is the caretaker to a bunch of children; a big, happy family is practically in the making.

In this case, hopefully such expectations will be subverted.

It was cool how fast George was defanged. Maybe this means the series will have some teeth when it comes the dealing with serious topics despite being on a network.

~~/o/

[–] Geiri (864) 5 years ago

How so? They've shown him use drugs but nothing suggests he's an addict.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

He’s using drugs in an effort to reattain a state (visionary) that he previously had absent drugs. The keyword in “addiction” is “dependence.” It need not be a physical dependence, though, in the case of opioids and alcohol, it often is. An emotional dependence, as in the case of sex addiction or exercise addiction (often described as “a positive addiction”), also qualifies.

I don’t think he is a bad person. I don’t even think he is a weak person. ALL PEOPLE ARE FLAWED. I KNOW that The Lord loves us, even with our flaws! If we can love and accept ourselves with all of our flaws, there will be far less addictions of all kinds in the world. I have high hopes for Evil. I think, hope and believe it can show us ourselves at our most heroic, transcending yet embracing our flaws, acknowledging our frailties and still loving ourselves as He loves us, dancing in His love. I know: that’s a lot to ask of a CBS cop procedural show. I’ve got faith in this one; and I have faith in the character of David.

[–] Geiri (864) 5 years ago

Sounds like you're dependent on your faith. Seek help with your addiction.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

I’m also addicted to breathing; but I don’t suffer fools at all. Faith, which you implicitly lack, is not a dependency. It’s an accepted necessity that is not optional.

I know you’ll disagree. I do not care. And when I want shit from you, I’ll squeeze your head.

[–] Geiri (864) 4 years ago

People can have long and happy lives without faith, but not without breathing.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 4 years ago

Yet, his use of turning prayer into an empty gesture, what should be personal and therefore relatable, rings his motive for doing so hollow.

I must disagree. David is trying to keep his demons away, and real demons.
He must keep vigilant with daily prayers.

Vain repetition and David's personal flaw *(spoilers)*

Vain repetition and David's personal flaw (spoilers)