Fascinating. I pretty much agree with all of this, so I don't have a lot to add, except that I think even if you look at Sam's time at Stanford as turning his back on his previous life (God included), that doesn't mean he didn't pray before he went to Stanford. I sort of love the fanon that some writers have created about the relationships between Pastor Jim and John, and Pastor Jim and Sam. I can see Sam being quite strongly influenced by Jim in the past, if Jim was a part of their lives and John left the boys with him occasionally.
But then I agree, I think he would have left that behind when he went to Stanford. I can see him sometimes being unable to avoid thinking about Dean and his dad and the danger they're in, and perhaps at those times he did pray for them, but I think in general, I see it the way you do, that he would have strayed from his faith during that time. Not lost it, but avoided thinking about it.
Regarding Dean, what really pinged for me watching this episode was his fervent (and seemingly heartfelt) "Oh, thank God," in IMToD when he finds out his father is alive. I didn't take that as anything less than literal, which means he's full of crap when it comes to his "I don't believe" line. Which I actually think he is, because the boy is not dumb. No way can he really think what they fight is random, or deny that things like faith and holy water and the name of Christ have power.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2007-02-07 04:04 pm (UTC)But then I agree, I think he would have left that behind when he went to Stanford. I can see him sometimes being unable to avoid thinking about Dean and his dad and the danger they're in, and perhaps at those times he did pray for them, but I think in general, I see it the way you do, that he would have strayed from his faith during that time. Not lost it, but avoided thinking about it.
Regarding Dean, what really pinged for me watching this episode was his fervent (and seemingly heartfelt) "Oh, thank God," in IMToD when he finds out his father is alive. I didn't take that as anything less than literal, which means he's full of crap when it comes to his "I don't believe" line. Which I actually think he is, because the boy is not dumb. No way can he really think what they fight is random, or deny that things like faith and holy water and the name of Christ have power.