Brother Justin Crowe quotes from Carnivàle

Brother Justin Crowe

Latter day versions of the vile plagues that rained on Egypt, the fires that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah, scourges of the Old Testament, yes, but even now brothers and sisters, even now, droughts and pestilence fester in the very heart of this great land. Titanic sandstorms, the likes of which man has not seen since the days of the prophets. And I ask myself, what are these things? What are they if not evidence of God's fury? What are they if not harbingers of the Apocalypse? And yet And yet as I walked to church today, these troubled thoughts were soothed by a balmy wind. And as I looked out upon the endless acres of rich, untilled earth, I realized brothers and sisters, that this is truly the Promised Land, and that we are indeed blessed. But let us not forget the less fortunate. Let us not forget that they too were once blessed. And let us not forget that the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.

Brother Justin Crowe

[to Eleanor, a thieving parishioner] I see you in my sermons. And you pray so hard, you break my heart. But my words, they wash over you like water over a stone. We all, each of us, carry within us the seeds of our own salvation, and our own damnation.

Brother Justin Crowe

Yes, that old time religion, brothers and sisters, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of sin and degradation. Where there was a den of flesh and debasement, there is now a glorious, shining temple dedicated to the Lord God Almighty! Amen. Now there were those who laughed when we started our great mission, men of the cloth, respectable learned men, who said the migrants had lost their faith. He said that the migrants believed that God has abandoned them. And so they in turn have abandoned God. Well to them I say, who has more faith in God than those who have borne witness to His Fury? Who has more faith in God than the brother who has seen his land blow away in a raging tempest? Who has more faith in God than the sister who has buried her children in the hardscrabble left behind? Who has more faith in God than the families that wander the wilderness in search of the Promised Land? From Kansas to Colorado! From New Mexico to Oklahoma!

Brother Justin

So, I hear you think I burned down my church.

Brother Justin

Vulgarity is not a sin against God, but against Polite Society. Between you and me, I don't give a shit about Polite Society.

Brother Justin

Pain is an unavoidable side effect.

Brother Justin

Once you get past the striking repetition, it's really quite banal. [laughs] Blessed are the meek. Can you imagine?

Do you need an audience, Brother Justin?

Brother Justin

What I need will take some time to accomplish. But the first step is getting out my message.

My greatest evil? Saving your life? Giving you refuge? Protecting and nurturing you?

Brother Justin

No, this can't be.

By your own words, the sin l must embrace, the evil that l have brought into the world...

Brother Justin

[Visibly shocked] ls me!

lt's not too late, son. Pray with me now. Beg the Lord God to have pity upon you. Pray with me, pray that the demon leave you.

Brother Justin

There is no demon in me! The demon is me.

Deal?

Brother Justin

I'm reminded of the phrase "making a deal with the devil".

Oh, come on, now. I'm not that bad.

Brother Justin

No, no, you're not.

Brother Justin

You must choose. Them or me! Tell me!

Go to hell!

Brother Justin

Go? Why? I plan on bringing it here.