That was merely the easiest rationale to explain why Poirot's sudden Catholicism is OoC.
I vaguely remember episodes where Poirot uses people's faiths as a lever... mildly and politely as these were not the actual criminals but suspects who appeared guilty by hiding behind their religion. And as naive as it makes me sound, truly heartfelt religious people do not do that.
Suchet's Poirot is never overt like Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes is in his disdain for church and faith, but there has never been a single mention of Poirot being Catholic. I could, perhaps, have accepted lapsed-Catholic who does not attend services or have true faith, but not a Poirot who makes his decision because he has prayed rote prayers over it.
There was a guest on The Daily Show last week who wrote some book decrying how we have an artificial division between people of faith and people of science. That a lot of science is taken on faith and a lot of faith still uses rational thinking and science. The author said, not in these words, it's a false dichotomy. I, however, do not believe that.
People who are as actively and primarily religious as Poirot was in this episode cannot act rationally in light of obscure evidence that is invisible to other people's attention. Catholics who pray by following rote prayers and listening to church leaders who stand between themselves and their deity are likely followers who do not want to be the lone voice. Being the sole voice of reason is the driving force behind Poirot's character in every episode I have ever seen. It doesn't jive with rote prayers. Poirot being an active Catholic was extremely out of character.
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Date: 2010-07-15 05:09 pm (UTC)I vaguely remember episodes where Poirot uses people's faiths as a lever... mildly and politely as these were not the actual criminals but suspects who appeared guilty by hiding behind their religion. And as naive as it makes me sound, truly heartfelt religious people do not do that.
Suchet's Poirot is never overt like Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes is in his disdain for church and faith, but there has never been a single mention of Poirot being Catholic. I could, perhaps, have accepted lapsed-Catholic who does not attend services or have true faith, but not a Poirot who makes his decision because he has prayed rote prayers over it.
There was a guest on The Daily Show last week who wrote some book decrying how we have an artificial division between people of faith and people of science. That a lot of science is taken on faith and a lot of faith still uses rational thinking and science. The author said, not in these words, it's a false dichotomy. I, however, do not believe that.
People who are as actively and primarily religious as Poirot was in this episode cannot act rationally in light of obscure evidence that is invisible to other people's attention. Catholics who pray by following rote prayers and listening to church leaders who stand between themselves and their deity are likely followers who do not want to be the lone voice. Being the sole voice of reason is the driving force behind Poirot's character in every episode I have ever seen. It doesn't jive with rote prayers. Poirot being an active Catholic was extremely out of character.