The Religious Affiliation of
Carl Grimes
 

BELOW: "Oh, thank God.": Against all odds, Rick Grimes travels from Kentucky and finds his family safe and well living in a camp on the outskirts of Atlanta. Rick woke up in a coma in a hospital in the previous issue, only to find himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Within only a day or two, he has found his family: his wife Lori and his son Carl. Yet nearly everybody else in the country is apparently dead or has been turned into a zombie. Given the situation, Rick's quiet expression after finding his family - "Oh, thank God" - may be an actual expression of thanks to deity, rather than simply a routine profane utterance. Given the seeming improbability of Rick finding his family well and alive so quickly, one might wonder if this is an actual miracle, a sign of divine Providence, perhaps in answer to Rick's prayer on page 11 in the previous issue. The events depicted in this series are extraordinary and present genuine philosophical questions. Depending on one's perspective, one might see these events as anything from a divine miracle to evidence of God's non-existence or non-involvement with humanity.

Source: The Walking Dead #2 (Oct. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 2", pg. 22, panel 3. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: gratitude to God; miracles; family; Rick Grimes; Lori Grimes; Carl Grimes

BELOW: Rick and Lori Grimes have clearly taught their son Carl to not use bad language:

Lori Grimes: [talking to Carol, using a vulgar expletive] Sh--. I hadn't thought of that.

Carl Grimes: Ah, Mom! You said a bad word. You owe me a quarter!

Sophia: [giggling] Tee hee!

Lori: Oh, Carl. Put it on my tab.

Source: The Walking Dead #8 (May 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 2", pg. 7, panel 3. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: vulgar language; Lori Grimes; Carl Grimes

BELOW: Rick Grimes expresses his belief in the sanctity of life after Carl kills Shane: Rick Grimes' long-time friend Shane Walsh was about to commit murder by killing him. Before Shane could pull the trigger and kill Rick, Rick's son Carl shot Shane. Shane dies grotesquely and horribly. Carl is distraught at seeing this and rushes to his father for comfort. When Carl observes that killing Shane was not the same as killing the undead zombies which have been attacking them, Rick states that it should never be the same. Rick here expresses a belief in the sanctity of life. For him, killing a living person is a different thing from killing a soulless zombie.

Rick: Oh, son...

Carl: It's not the same as killing the dead ones, Daddy.

Rick: It never should be, son. It never should be.

Source: The Walking Dead #6 (Mar. 2004): "Days Gone Bye, Part 6", pg. 21-22. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: murder; sanctity of life; Rick Grimes; Carl Grimes; Shane Walsh