My guess is that it ties into his NOT having any Bible or other Christian literature available.
He's a new Christian; the only scripture he knows is the Lord's Prayer, and he derives his theology from "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."
I think we need to be sympathetic of his circumstances.
A harrowing, uplifting, life-affirming story, also, I should have added.
(I just really dislike Shirley Maclaine.)