What causes Peter to lose his faith? When he meets Evil his cross works fine but later when he meets Jerry the cross fails temporarily. I would think that if anything his faith would be even stronger after seeing recent proof that not only are vampires real and among him, but classical defenses actually work.
shareWell, it was Peter's faith in God and in the power of God's ability through the cross to hurt the vampires that was in question; it wasn't his belief in vampires that was in question anymore. Perhaps Peter was even more scared by the time he tries the cross on Jerry, affecting his faith/conviction at the moment.
Jerry's line is, "You have to have faith for this to work on ME, Mr. Vincent!" In the sequel when Peter pulls a cross on Jerry's sister, she retorts, "You'll have to get closer than that. Over the centuries one builds up a tolerance to some of the trappings." Evil Ed was newly turned, so it didn't matter that Peter had no faith in God, the religious symbolism itself was enough to scorch him. Later, after watching Ed suffer and die, Peter got religion quick.
shareEd didn't die though, which is ridiculous, imo.
shareThe way I have always seen it, Peter Vincent never had faith. Jerry makes it clear that he has to have faith for the cross to work specifically on him. Evil Ed was a just born vampire and it likely worked differently.
As to what happens with Jerry, Jerry makes it clear several times that Peter has to have faith. In that proclamation, he is indicating that the faith is a real thing. He basically tells Peter that it exists. I mean, how could faith in God affect a vampire unless God was real? Therefore, Jerry pretty much tells Peter God exists and Peter takes advantage of that.
Originally Peter was just playing a role. He didn't have faith because he didn't believe in any of it good or bad. He had to get past his doubts and admit it to himself not just witness it.
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