The Simpson’s celebrated their 20th anniversary this past weekend by showing a special documentary of how the show came to be, and the history of its creators. The Simpson’s, could almost be considered a religion to many of its fanatical viewers who buy all the gear, and never miss a show, but it has also featured many different religions on its shows.
Below is a list of some of the Religious episodes:
"Homer vs. Lisa and the
8th Commandment" (season t
wo, 1991) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"Like Father, Like Clown" (season three, 1991) - Dedicated to Judaism.
"Homer the Heretic" (season four, 1992) - Dedicated
"Like Father, Like Clown" (season three, 1991) - Dedicated to Judaism.
"Homer the Heretic" (season four, 1992) - Dedicated
to faith.
"Bart Sells His Soul" (season seven, 1995) - Dedicated to soul.
"Lisa the Skeptic" (season nine, 1997) - Dedicated to faith.
"The Joy of Sect" (season nine, 1998) - Dedicated to Sects.
"Simpsons Bible Stories" (season ten, 1999) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"Faith Off" (season eleven, 2000) - Dedicated to faith.
"I'm Goin' to Praiseland" (season twelve, 2001) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"She of Little Faith" (season thirteen, 2001) - Dedicated to Buddhism.
"Pray Anything" (season fou
"Bart Sells His Soul" (season seven, 1995) - Dedicated to soul.
"Lisa the Skeptic" (season nine, 1997) - Dedicated to faith.
"The Joy of Sect" (season nine, 1998) - Dedicated to Sects.
"Simpsons Bible Stories" (season ten, 1999) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"Faith Off" (season eleven, 2000) - Dedicated to faith.
"I'm Goin' to Praiseland" (season twelve, 2001) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"She of Little Faith" (season thirteen, 2001) - Dedicated to Buddhism.
"Pray Anything" (season fou
rteen, 2003) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"Today I am A Klown" (season fifteen, 2003) - Dedicated to Judaism.
"Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" (season sixteen, 2005) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"Thank God It's Doomsday" (season sixteen, 2005) - Dedicated to Christianity. "The Father, The Son, and The Holy Guest Star" (season sixteen, 2005) - Dedicated to Catholicism.
"Simpsons Christmas Stories" (season seventeen, 2005) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"The Monkey Suit" (season seventeen, 2006) - Dedicated to Creationism and Evolution.
"Mypods and Boomsticks" (season twenty, 2008) - Dedicated to Islam.
"Gone Maggie Gone" (season twenty, 2009) - Dedicated to Catholicism.
"Rednecks and Broomsticks" (season twenty-one, 2009) - Dedicated to Wicca.
"Today I am A Klown" (season fifteen, 2003) - Dedicated to Judaism.
"Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" (season sixteen, 2005) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"Thank God It's Doomsday" (season sixteen, 2005) - Dedicated to Christianity. "The Father, The Son, and The Holy Guest Star" (season sixteen, 2005) - Dedicated to Catholicism.
"Simpsons Christmas Stories" (season seventeen, 2005) - Dedicated to Christianity.
"The Monkey Suit" (season seventeen, 2006) - Dedicated to Creationism and Evolution.
"Mypods and Boomsticks" (season twenty, 2008) - Dedicated to Islam.
"Gone Maggie Gone" (season twenty, 2009) - Dedicated to Catholicism.
"Rednecks and Broomsticks" (season twenty-one, 2009) - Dedicated to Wicca.
The writers and creators of Simpsons often pride themselves in offending different groups with their stereotyping and jabbing jokes. The 20th anniversary documentary told the story of the episode that was shown about Brazil. The episode portrayed Brazil as a third world country infested by skittle colored rats, small shanty shacks as homes, and in the show the Simpsons
were robbed, eaten by a snake, kidnapped and abused by monkeys. Although the episode aired in 2002, the Brazilian government is still deeply offended and bitter towards the Simpsons today as shown in the documentary.
Often when the Simpsons refer to religion in their shows, it is not uncommon for the religion to receive the same treatment that Brazil received. It could be very easy to see how this would offend many people. It could be very possible that a Simpsons episode may be the only education that someone receives about a specific religion, and also likely that they may view that religion in bad light from how it was portrayed on the episode, but that is not how the Vatican sees it.
On December 22, 2009, The official Roman Catholic’s Vatican news paper, L’Osservatore Romano, published an article praising the Simpsons for its dealings with religion, and giving it what many other news agencies called a heavenly seal of approval. The article said that the shows success is due to its realistic and intelligent writing and also thanked the show’s producers for depicting family patriarch Homer’s struggle with his own faith through its 20 years.
The article also added: “Homer finds in God his last refuge, even though he sometimes gets His name sensationally wrong. But these are just minor mistakes, after all, the two know each other well.”
Some may be offended by the portrayal of religion and God in shows such as the Simpsons,
but for others it may provoke soul searching questions of their own that may start their journey to find God for themselves.The Simpsons is not the only show that uses religion in its episodes, South Park has a notorious show about Joseph Smith’s First vision and testimony, I have never seen it but have heard that is not done in the most respectful way. Once while working at the LDS churches call center where full time missionaries answer questions for people who visit mormon.org via live chat, there were a few people who came on around the same time asking questions to the missionaries about the church, our faith, and Joseph Smith because they had just finished watching South Park's episode about Joseph Smith.
Does the portrayal of religions in cartoons such as the Simpsons or South Park help bring people to God or alienate them from Him, and should religious people be offended by the shows sometimes disrespectful and sometimes untruthful portrayals?
These portrayals are depicted in a way as though they make these religious characters so outlandish that to any normal person would know that they aren't legitimate depiction's. However, I agree with the fact that some people's only exposure to religion/entities is through these cartoons and they could be so naive as to believe the majority of what they see on these cartoons of which aren't always true.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that religious people should be offended, only because most of these religious groups and higher up people know that these cartoons make fun of ALL people, no matter which religious affiliation, race, sexuality, etc. and with most things should be taken with a grain of salt. There is a time when things become malicious that people should take offense, but in this setting where no real harm is intended, but rather meant to be in good fun, I don't think any offense should be taken.
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ReplyDeleteReligious persons should be no more offended by the misrepresentation of god and belief systems on television than by similar misrepresentations in any other media. This is not to say that offense is an illogical response - I think it's perfectly normal for someone to be offended when something dear to them is treated in an offensive way - but that to be more offended by one media than the other is illogical. When such shows do appear, I believe they provide an opportunity for persons of faith to accurately represent their views - which gets at the first part of the question. I think the shows themselves do not bring persons closer to God, but they might inspire some curiosity in the viewers to find out what God or a specific religion really does offer. In such cases, these shows can help people come to a greater understanding of religious truth, although it is really others (and not the shows) who ultimately do the educating.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really interesting question because I can understand the arguments to both sides. Despite this, I am a firm believer in any news being good news.
ReplyDeleteI think when anything receives press or attention, be it positive or negative, it shines the spotlight on the issue and usually reveals to the audience their own questions. This in turn leads them to seek answers which is usually a good thing.
There are definitely times when positive situations do not ensue from bad press but when you look at the sum of the experiences I would suppose that it results in a positive outcome.
I don't think it's worth getting offended over misportrayals in the media because I think doing so only exacerbates problems, never solves them. Because of this, I think that when it comes to the media we should let it alone because on the whole it will help people recognize their own questions.
-Mary Houghton
I think the Simpsons have a very skewed understanding of God and what it means to be a Christian.they make it seem arbitrary and boring to be a Christian...I used to love the simpsons but since I became a Christian and actually know Gods word personally. the simpsons view of God is totally wrong...but I still watch it. it encourages me to seek out the right answers that the simpsons fail to see
ReplyDelete