I'm okey-diddley-dokey with that.

Now just a ding-dong-dang-diddly-iddly-minute here. What about the Flanderses?

Who tried to baptize those unsaved Simpson kids? Ned Flanders!
Who sang ArkyArky to win Homer back to the Lord? Flanders!
Who has Reverend Lovejoy on speed dial? Flanders!

So who's the most Christian family on tv? D-oh!

(No better show ever on the foibles of faith and family! Love it!)

Madmonk, i think it is obvious to anyone with any intelligence and observational skills that going to Church doesn't necessarily make one a good Christian.

For the record, on ER Luka and Abby had baby Jow baptized in the episode where he was born.

Being a Christian is about community.

To say you are a Christian yet don't belong to a community is, to me, an oxymoron.

It's what Christ taught, it's how he lived, despite his disagreements with the established religious leaders.

I don't think we have to believe the same things. I just think we have to honour the journey together.

If not, who will challenge what we believe? Who will support us in our belief?

And like many, after having him baptized, I'm sure they never darkened the door again.

Ok what about Little House on the Prairie, Seventh Heaven, Touched by an Angel, The Brady Bunch, even on soap operas they pray and go Church. The Simpsons are a sacreligious family and have been banned in many Churches and schools.

MadMonk though is talking about me. I hate to dissapoint you MM I have been to Church for 5 Sundays in row now and twice on the 24th so I am out of this category you are talking about now. I was also in Church last August for wedding and in March for a funeral so people do go to Church after they have been baptised. If people get as much support for their beliefs in Church as they do on this board it is no wonder they do not go.

Actually, some Sunday schools use The Simpsons to teach, I've heard.

If you think about it, no matter how much Homer screws up, Marge and the kids forgive him time and time again; his repentance is genuine, and then he goes and screws up yet again. He's really the archetypal sinner, if you think about it.

Ned Flanders has had to struggle with why bad things happen to good people, Lisa struggles every day with a world she doesn't have the power to change, grandpa deals with the lack of dignity of growing old.......The S impsons actually has a lot of spiritual content and food for thought, if you give it half a chance. I think that's why I enjoy it so much.

Also Lisa is a buddhist isn't she. I recal an episode where she converted, but learned from guest start richard gere that buddhists embrace other faiths too so she could celebrate christmas.

yo, madmonk...

going to church doesn't make you a christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

i'm going to have to nominate fox muldar, from the x-files.... a more dogged persuer of the meaning of life and truth you never saw before or since.

If you believe that the Simpsons are "Christians" then you really missed the point. The Simpsons are a caracature of everything wrong with the family (especially the early episodes), basically all tha bad points blown up so that it should be obvious and that includes religion.

If you've ever really watched all the "religoin" episodes you'd know that what the writers believe (and try to establish with wit and sarcasm) is that religion isn't found in a Church, in fact, it is the furthest place you'd go and the Church is more or less a business. Everytime Homer "talks" to God, it isn't in the Church and Rev. Lovejoy is less a true beleiver than a shrewed cult leader that doesn't even believe anymore. He more or less approaches his ministry as more or less a job and a show.

If anything about religion, the Simpsons shows everything that is wrong with it.

"Don't tell me I'm going to be LEFT BELOW"
Homer J Simpson

I'm not saying that going to church makes you a Christian exclusively.

What I 'am' saying, however, is that if you follow the teaches of Christ, they do lead a person into community with others that we call the church.

Serena, I take issue with "Touched by an Angel". Although she and her collegaues were angels sent by God, there was a very strange absences of any direct reference to Christ. Clearly, "Touched by an Angel" occurred in some parrallel universe into which the Christ message had never been received. Clearly, not the most "Christian" show -- as for family, pretty much a no show there.

Touched by an Angel gives me the willies. REALLY dislike that show.

Simpsons, on the other hand, is pure brilliance.

It's not a good community though, It's one of hypocritical judgement (other than Flanders), shallow and ultimately unfullfilling, yet they go every Sunday more as routine than as an actual and genuine gesture. Anyways look up "the Simpsons and religion" on google and you'll see hat I'm getting at.

I grew up with Touched By An Angel...my family watched it together every week...

I don't agree that the Simpsons are THE most Christian on TV, but I do believe there's a lot to be taken from that show...and it makes a great discussion topic.

Read "The Gospel According to the Simpsons"...great book!

I think BelieverorNot is right. In the show, the church is mainly satirized, if I remember. Also, yes, Lisa is a Buddhist. "Most Christian family on TV"? I think Lisa'd put that argument out of business.

I see your points believeitornot.

But here are these completely flawed characters still trying to find their place in the world, and by the grace that we all know they are accepted for who they are, dysfunction and all. What church isn't totally dysfunctional and self-righteous at times? I'd argue that's true for most.

At least they make the attempt. And the sarcasm of the writers lampooning religion all the time is exactly why the Simpsons is a great show about Christianity. We tease because we love.

Like when Lisa's outdoor wedding was cancelled, and Lovejoy says, "This wouldn't have happened if the wedding was in a church instead of the cheap showiness of God."

Or like the time Marge shows Timothy how to be a better minister, as he stopped caring a long time ago (thanks to a member of his congregation who harrassed him all the time - Flanders.)

I think they ultimately show deep respect to religion by mentioning it so much in their show. At least the Hindu they show is peaceful and a vegetarian rather than thinking he's a terrorist like FOX news might have us believe. At least Christian children are exposed to what a Jewish person is (Krusty the Clown, whose father is a Rabbi, and we see their reconciliation.)

Great show on so many levels, and therefore I stick by my original claim.

Peace and okily dokily.

MM

Of course, I'm biased because I have a sense of humour.

Homer and the gang always live their lives with God as a part of it. The struggles are connected to church, God is persistent in clinging on to poor Homer - absolutely.

The mushy shows like Touched by an Angel, Seventh Heaven (ugh - I'm a PK and can't watch that show!!!) etc don't suprise anyone. They don't offer a new look for messed up people. They don't have a sense of humour like so many cynical people need.

Of course they are watched by many and enjoyed by many and make a difference for many. Great, but...
Simpsons puts God in front of everyone from thugs to kids to atheists to everyone.

by the way
I'm worried about the Simpsons movie tipping the scales and ruining a good thing (oops - am I being an old stick in the mud??)

MM Said:

Like when Lisa's outdoor wedding was cancelled, and Lovejoy says, "This wouldn't have happened if the wedding was in a church instead of the cheap showiness of God."

Actually the line said was about "the cheap showiness of nature" not God. Sorry, I'm a real Simpsons buff just had to correct that.

While some of your points are taken into consideration, it does not change the original intentions of the writers. Haha, that is something a lot of people who "read and follow the Bible" need to learn about. orz, I feel like such a "comic book guy" talking about this stuff.

Madmonk, Bart Simpson is the most rebellious kid on the planet. What are you going to do when your baby starts to use him as a role model?

Actually, I think Stewie from Family Guy is probably more rebellious than Bart

Stewie is pretty bad too. I will give you that. My children will NOT be watching Family, South Park, OR the Simpsons.

Believeitornot: I totally bombed that quote! *I'm on three hours of sleep a night*

"not baptisted aahhhhhh" **Ned Flanders faints**

Answer: The simpsons are only decent for how they slam conservative values and myths that people hold onto. When they mention religion in any other content they aren't funny.

Next question...

I think its called King Of The Hill. Did anyone see the episode where the family left their chuch to go to a mega Church because a new family was sitting in their pew? It was hillarious

Answer: I worry that having scripts with characters going to church doesn't let them choose the path they want to find spiritually. They should make spiritual choices free from the constraints writers put on them!

Next Question.

It took me awhile to "get" the Simpsons and like others I didn't want my kids to watch. Like lots of shows, I think kids need to be older to understand it and I cringe when I hear of 3 6 year olds watching.

However, I agree that the Simpsons shows alot of religious lilfe. Good and bad sides of things. There is alot of Grace seen and as a family they attend church, pray and try. They are sarcastic and alot of what they say is offsetting but if you watch it for a bit you see religion everywhere.

I second the suggestion to read

The GOspel According to The Simpsons.

Not a show to ban, definately a show to talk about

They definitely keep trying no matter what.

Marge and Homer's marriage has lasted longer than some people's I know and they are fairly nice to religion, considering South Park.

stephengordon wrote:

'They definitely keep trying no matter what.'

Gary and I believe this in our partnership too, as superheroes.

The more you try, the more you push, the more open you will be.

Can the same be said of faith?

Ace

Don't forget "American Dad" where Stan goes balistic in the elections to be an elder of their church. Or "Family Guy" where the grandpa conspires to get Stuey baptized as a Catholic, and Peter establishes the church of the Fonz. Or the episodes of "That 70's Show" where they always end up tying up the youth pastor (Pastor Dave, who's the guy from Kids in the Hall). Oh man, so many good shows.

I've never given the simpson's a chance . I probably will after reading all this stuff. I'm a part time church goer. When I do go they always accept me with open arms; which is nice at times when everyone thinks I'm nuts. I have commented to my minister in some my most troubled times, " I came to church today to hear the word of God ,and I did ". Which was very comforting.

"Flourescent lights hum like angels...your never alone when you have a flourescent light" Ned Flanders

I can only comment on the results in our family that came from our son watching The Simpsons. Every time he watched the show, his behaviour deteriorated. Portraying a smart-mouthed rebellious elementary school kid who thinks failing grades are a badge of honour as "cool" invites kids to model that behaviour -- and they do.

Family Guy was banned from our household television after we saw an episode that portrayed family violence as funny. There is nothing funny about a husband and wife beating each other to a pulp.

That is not to say that there aren't television shows out there that portray positive Christian values. Watch Doc with Billy Ray Cyrus as an example.

We no longer have broadcast television in our home. Videos purchased or rented offer us much better control over what our family watches on a regular basis. The lack of access to 24/7 cartoons has made the 'boob tube' much less attractive, and our children are actually developing other interests -- games, music, outdoor activities.

I don't believe television is bad, but it needs to be kept in perspective and children's access should be limited. I saw an interview (on television) with a child psychologist (regrettably, I don't remember his name) who maintained that television's influence on young children is so detrimental, that he feels that no child under the age of 12 should be permitted to watch it. He also admitted that such an extreme approach is impractical, but that children's television viewing should be closely monitored and strictly limited.

Banquo:

Excellent post. Parents have to monitor such things, and most of us would agree that the Simpsons main audience isn't children, even though it uses a format most often associated with children. You're completely right.

You're also wise to quote that psychologist about how children digest what they see on tv. Just in today's paper, there was an article about the kids who saw Saddam's hanging, and how many have died mimicing it.

Great focus for our discussion, and I think a lot of parents agree with you.

The Simpsons is the best TV show ever. I cannot deny the fact that I study the show religiously. Though it is not a Christian show, there are so many theological elements in it that I really enjoy. God is always portrayed as loving and understanding, and Jesus is definitely a real person in the show.

I don't know how many times I've been in a Bible Study and I've quoted the Simpsons and sent everyone into laughter. I've even used episodes as discussion questions. Compared to other shows out there, Simpsons is extremely unoffensive.

And in regard to Touched By an Angel, let me say how much I love that show. You only need to watch half of it before you turn it off, because you know it's going to end with "God loves you. And he has a plan for you. And I'm an angel."

Every single freaking time,