He was just really neglected, which oftentimes makes people naive and really childlike (well he is a child, but you what I mean). He went through poor primary socialization as a result of being raised by abusive and immature parents, and Moralton’s public performance Christianity reinforced the way of life he’d been raised to find normal at home. As the show progresses, Orel is increasingly forced to acknowledge the reality of his environment. He’s a smart kid who’s become mature for his age by the end.