Purple Hibiscus - Religion

Religion means a lot to Papa. Growing up, unlike himself, Papa did not have strict religious parents. He converted to a different religion then his father and actually stopped speaking to his father because of it. Papa is looked up to in his church because he donates so much money. He lives his life and his family's life around their religion. Papa requires his family to pray and go to church all the time. One day the family went to go visit Father Benedict and Mama didn't want to go in the house because she wasn't feeling good. She wasn't feeling good because she was pregnant and felt like she was going to throw up. When Mama told Papa that she didn't want to go in, he made her. Then later on that night he basically beat the baby out of her stomach because she could not go to visit Father Benedict. That is how serious Papa takes his religion. Papa calls his father a "heathen" and only allows his children to spend 15 minutes with him because of it. When Kambili and Jaja went to go visit their aunt, their grandfather had to stay there because he was sick but Papa didn't know. When he found out he drove to pick them up then poured boiling hot water on their feet because Kambili and Jaja didn't tell their Papa he was staying there.

Every time Papa abuses Kambili, Jaja, or mama, he cries while he does it. On page 194 and 195, Kambili says, "He was crying now, tears streaming down his face. Papa put the kettle down, wiped at his eyes.". Then on page 196, Papa says to Kambili, "Everything I do for you, I do for your own good.". It is almost like Papa does not want to hurt them but feels like he has to to teach them.

Why do you believe Papa cries while he hurts his family? Do you think Papa's religion would accept that he is hurting his family to obey it?