Best religious character

[AsurasEyes]

I was contemplating suicide after watching the Hellsing Ultimate OVAs a few months ago, but I stopped myself because I had been pondering something. While it was mediocre at best, it had a few particular scenes and characters I fell in love with. Notably, Father Alexander Anderson. For those of you who haven't seen it, I envy you, but he requires some explanation. He's a vampire hunter under the employ of the secret Vatican Section 13 monster slaying division, known as Iscariot. He spouts lines from the Bible as he rips his foes apart with his blessed bayonets, and also runs an orphanage on the side, teaching the children that violence is never the answer.

And this made me think, who exactly in ANY media was considered a badass or cool person if they're strongly devoted to a particular religion? The Space Marines of 40K come to mind, but considering the universe is 40K, everyone is cool and they all are fanatically devoted to their chosen deity, that's just them trying to fit in with the rest of the cool kids.

So, I ask YOU, the Escapists, whom I love like my brothers and sisters, to tell me, what character do you know that is religiously inclined that not only kicked some royal ass, but also was a deep and well thought out character?

(Any teenaged or adult atheist prick who thinks they're cool or funny by making fun of any established religion on this thread is not only an asshole, but an unoriginal one at that. I'm an atheist, but I respect and cherish religions as a major force for good or ill in the world)

 

[Sean Hollyman]

I watched From Dusk Till Dawn last night, and it had Harvey Keitel as a badass vampire killing preacher.

 

[tippy2k2]

One of my favorite anime characters ever created:

Spoiler: Nicholas D. Wolfwood

He took the show Trigun and turned it from an OK show to a modern classic. His religious beliefs are a big part of the show; he forces himself to look at his actions as well as causes the main character Vash to question his beliefs.

If you've never watched the anime Trigun, I would strongly suggest it for Wolfwood alone. It is available on Netflix so go now, I'll wait here for you...

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Shepherd Book from Firefly.


The guy has an interesting past, there's no doubt about that. Whatever he was, he's deemed important by the Alliance.

I don't think he was always a religious man, but something happened to him, war hero perhaps? Whatever it was, he seeked out religion after the fact. He knows too much to have always been a clergyman.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

Garterbelt from Panty & Stocking. 'Nuff said.

 

[Wayneguard]

Shepherd Book from Firefly.


The guy has an interesting past, there's no doubt about that. Whatever he was, he's deemed important by the Alliance.

I don't think he was always a religious man, but something happened to him, war hero perhaps? Whatever it was, he seeked out religion after the fact. He knows too much to have always been a clergyman.

Luv dat hair, man...

OT: This guy ninja'd my answer. Throughout the whole run of the show, we're given hints that Book isn't who he seems to be. You know that if that show had run for longer, he would have totally been some alliance operative or some shit like that and it would have been awesome. So for the same reason Obama got the Nobel Prize, I give Book the nobel prize of potentially awesome.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Shepherd Book from Firefly.


The guy has an interesting past, there's no doubt about that. Whatever he was, he's deemed important by the Alliance.

I don't think he was always a religious man, but something happened to him, war hero perhaps? Whatever it was, he seeked out religion after the fact. He knows too much to have always been a clergyman.

Luv dat hair, man...

OT: This guy ninja'd my answer. Throughout the whole run of the show, we're given hints that Book isn't who he seems to be. You know that if that show had run for longer, he would have totally been some alliance operative or some shit like that and it would have been awesome. So for the same reason Obama got the Nobel Prize, I give Book the nobel prize of potentially awesome.

Broken image

In future, don't link Funny Junk URLs, they never work.

 

[JoJo]

Notably, Father Alexander Anderson. For those of you who haven't seen it, I envy you, but he requires some explanation. He's a vampire hunter under the employ of the secret Vatican Section 13 monster slaying division, known as Iscariot. He spouts lines from the Bible as he rips his foes apart with his blessed bayonets, and also runs an orphanage on the side, teaching the children that violence is never the answer.

I'll admit I haven't seen the anime in question but I'm kinda confused, aren't the two bolded parts mutually exclusive, unless he's a hypocrite? Or is that partly why he's a good character, because he has realistic flaws?

OT: Jean Valjean from the novel Les Miserables (also a musical), classic story of redemption and all around awesome guy. What I like about the character is that rather than automatically doing "the right thing", he often suffered a crisis of conscience first, making him feel real to the reader.

 

[Dangit2019]

Thaddeus from Mogworld. He was Yahtzee's book-long generalization of religious people, and it was glorious.

 

[mParadox]

I'll admit I haven't seen the anime in question but I'm kinda confused, aren't the two bolded parts mutually exclusive, unless he's a hypocrite? Or is that partly why he's a good character, because he has realistic flaws?

Two sides to every coin. To get the idea, YouTube 'TFS Hellsing Ultimate Ep 1'. That'll give you a really good idea.

The anime is extremely gory. So there's Anderson, who's very skilled with bayonets and really really really hates vampires. All very relevant I assure you. It's pointed out in the manga that he does infact run an orphanage and is, infact, a preacher of peace. Which is kind of funny when you take into account the fact that he's the number one vampire killer of the Vatican. >.>

 

[AsurasEyes]

Notably, Father Alexander Anderson. For those of you who haven't seen it, I envy you, but he requires some explanation. He's a vampire hunter under the employ of the secret Vatican Section 13 monster slaying division, known as Iscariot. He spouts lines from the Bible as he rips his foes apart with his blessed bayonets, and also runs an orphanage on the side, teaching the children that violence is never the answer.

I'll admit I haven't seen the anime in question but I'm kinda confused, aren't the two bolded parts mutually exclusive, unless he's a hypocrite? Or is that partly why he's a good character, because he has realistic flaws?

OT: Jean Valjean from the novel Les Miserables (also a musical), classic story of redemption and all around awesome guy. What I like about the character is that rather than automatically doing "the right thing", he often suffered a crisis of conscience first, making him feel real to the reader.

Yeah, that's why I liked him. He had realistic flaws in that he didn't enjoy killing, but he had to. "Children, violence is never the answer. Unless it's used against heathens and monsters"

 

[Esotera]

The bad guy is a really interesting character in the Book of Eli, although I've got to say that Eli probably wins the badassery contest. Can't remember his name at all though.

 

[Blackmagic1515]

Perhaps not as well known but my vote goes to Michael Carpenter from The Dresden Files. A wonderful man who loves his family and friends, helps others regardless of the situation and always has your back. Then when shit gets serious he's there with a prayer and a sword. Brilliant character.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Wow, no one mention Mr. Eko Tunde from LOST? For shame! He was a former ganglord pior to the crash and he also had his Jesus stick to smit the Others! The only mistake was for them to killed him off!!!

 

[WolfThomas]

Sazed from Mistborn.

Spoiler: Admittedly he goes from religious to...

Spoiler: athiest, then actually becomes...

God

 

[Wayneguard]

Shepherd Book from Firefly.


The guy has an interesting past, there's no doubt about that. Whatever he was, he's deemed important by the Alliance.

I don't think he was always a religious man, but something happened to him, war hero perhaps? Whatever it was, he seeked out religion after the fact. He knows too much to have always been a clergyman.

Luv dat hair, man...

OT: This guy ninja'd my answer. Throughout the whole run of the show, we're given hints that Book isn't who he seems to be. You know that if that show had run for longer, he would have totally been some alliance operative or some shit like that and it would have been awesome. So for the same reason Obama got the Nobel Prize, I give Book the nobel prize of potentially awesome.

Broken image

In future, don't link Funny Junk URLs, they never work.

strange... works for me o_0

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Shepherd Book from Firefly.


The guy has an interesting past, there's no doubt about that. Whatever he was, he's deemed important by the Alliance.

I don't think he was always a religious man, but something happened to him, war hero perhaps? Whatever it was, he seeked out religion after the fact. He knows too much to have always been a clergyman.

Luv dat hair, man...

OT: This guy ninja'd my answer. Throughout the whole run of the show, we're given hints that Book isn't who he seems to be. You know that if that show had run for longer, he would have totally been some alliance operative or some shit like that and it would have been awesome. So for the same reason Obama got the Nobel Prize, I give Book the nobel prize of potentially awesome.

Broken image

In future, don't link Funny Junk URLs, they never work.

strange... works for me o_0

They do for the person who posts it, but they never work for anyone else.

I learned that from first hand experience

 

[Wayneguard]

Shepherd Book from Firefly.


snip


In future, don't link Funny Junk URLs, they never work.

strange... works for me o_0

They do for the person who posts it, but they never work for anyone else.

I learned that from first hand experience

AH! Thanks for the tip man.

The image was one of Book's crazy hair.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Shepherd Book from Firefly.


snip


In future, don't link Funny Junk URLs, they never work.

strange... works for me o_0

They do for the person who posts it, but they never work for anyone else.

I learned that from first hand experience

AH! Thanks for the tip man.

The image was one of Book's crazy hair.

Yeah man, Jaynestown was one of the best episodes in the series