The Gospel according to ....the Simpsons ?!

[KurtNYC]

Yes. A reader review from Amazon:

In THE GOSPEL ACCORDING THE THE SIMPSONS, Mark Pinsky shows us that it's possible to find God in some of the most unexpected places. Originally, The Simpsons was largely eschewed by the evangelical Christian community, because of Bart's rebellious ways. But as the show grew older, and the focus turned more towards Homer, Pinsky shows that people of faith who weren't watching were missing out on some of the most "Christian" television around. Seriously.

The Simpsons not only contains blatantly Christian characters but it explores issues of faith that other shows would never touch with a 50 foot pole. Ned Flanders, though ragged on by Homer a lot, is perhaps the best depiction of an evangelical-type Christian in mainstream television history. Lisa Simpson seems to present the side of the social Gospel. Marge's real faith in God also shines through. Though characters with faith are often made fun of, in the end the show always seems to prove that the joke is on the joker, not the jokee. The Simpsons isn't trying to evangelize, but it is surprisingly fair and evenhanded in its presentations, and with how it deals out the humor. In its history the show has dealt with subjects like cults, hypocracy, why God allows evil, hell, and forgiveness.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0664224199/qid=1106077928/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/104-2426546-4705501?v=glance&s=books

My father has this book and read it. I couldn't get into but I think it is ironic that christian right were so against this show in the beginning and probably still are. The book makes some profound points, some of which are touched uon in the above reader review.

Has anyone else read this book?

[physioex]

1. I glazed over the book....

At a book store and I think it's quite interesting...

[progressoid]

2. Truly ironic - I think the author is desperately attempting to

put a positive spin on an honest and funny, (not to mention unfavorable) portrayal of religion.

"God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion" --- Homer Simpson

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Someone tell them Flanders is the BUTT of the joke! (nt)

[name not needed]

4. The minister at the church I used to go to

looked almost exactly like Ned Flanders. Same hair, face, glasses, mustache, he even dressed similar.

[Mike Daniels]

5. Actually, the Simpsons is very positive towards general faith

The characters attend church, God gets involved directly in their lives (although not necessarily the way they would hope), and God himself is portrayed in a positive light - as the higher being he has 5 fingers to Springfieldian's 4 digit hands.

Furthermore, Flanders is treated in a non-condensending fashion and outside of some general preachiness, he up till recently acted in a way a true Christian would (charity, kindness to everyone, relatively accepting of others). Actually, notice that God usually acts to benefit Flanders much to Homer's chagrin thoughout the Simpson's run. Putting out a fire on Flander's house while allowing the Simpsons home to burn down is the most visible example from the classic years.
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The recent change in Flander's behavior is one of the major errors the writers have made in recent seasons. Nothing in Flanders character up to now indicates that he would advocate the theft of an election much less gloat about it.
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Sorry guys, but even the creators of The Simpsons say that while they have no great love for organized religion (which is what they are skewering) they refuse to directly attack or show disrespect to any religion's creeds within the show.

[unblock]

6. there's a fair amount of truth in this

the simpsons does come down hard against the church, and evangelicals, but often does has very "christian" morals, faith, and ethics.

if you allow that the simpsons writers have very different feeling about the christian church and its promoters than they does about christianity itself, the article makes much more sense.

[dean_dem]

7. Its a good book....

I used it for a term paper I wrote on Religious themes on The Simpsons. He gets a few facts wrong (what character said what, things like that) but he makes some good points.

Another good book is The Simpsons and Philosophy:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812694333/qid=1106082488/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/002-8357150-4019242