Religion in The Simpsons

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1 Introduction
2 Characters by religion
3 Episodes with significant religious content
4 Religious Affiliation of Simpsons Writers
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Introduction

Along with politics, religion remains a major theme on the animated show The Simpsons. Much of the humor satirizes aspects of Christianity. The most religious characters on the show are Ned Flanders and Rev. Timothy Lovejoy. Both appear to be conservative Christians and appear to express little tolerance to other faiths. For instance, Lovejoy seems to resent the fact that the Doctor Julius Hibbert's family joined the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Springfield, while Ned tells Hindu Apu that he might as well be praying to Hawkman. (Although in another episode, Rev. Lovejoy says to Ned Flanders, during an annoying phonecall: "Ned, have you considered any of the other major religions? They're all pretty much the same.")

Many of the characters in the show are negatively neutral to openly hostile towards Unitarianism. An example of this would include Reverend Lovejoy offering the Simpson kids a bowl of Unitarian ice cream at a church social function. When Lisa remarks that the bowl is empty, Reverend Lovejoy indicates that is the point.

In The Father, The Son, and The Holy Guest Star, Reverend Lovejoy states that his church is actually part of "The Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism." This episode also makes a Unitarian reference when Homer asks if he needs to "wail on a few Unitarians" to become Catholic.

Excluding the odd reference by Reverend Lovejoy to "churches, synagogues and mosques" condemning Krusty the Clown for corrupting the young in one episode, the religion of Islam or Muslim characters have not featured heavily in the cartoon series despite the global influence of the faith. However, in the episode Marge Simpson in: "Screaming Yellow Honkers", Homer does proclaim "I'm gonna die! Jesus, Allah, Buddha, I love you all!" when fearing for his life. In "The Seven-Beer Snitch", the Simpsons go to see "Song of Shelbyville". There is a lyric in the main song which says that Shelbyville is home to Christians, Muslims, and Jews "although not many of the last two". This makes a Rabbi and an Imam in attendance feel uncomfortable. Krusty also acknowledges Ramadan in his "non-denominational holiday funfest". Homer also has a conversation with his bodyguard trainer:
Trainer: Your allegiance belongs to your client! Not to your family, not to your friends, not to Moo-hamad (Muhammad)!
Homer: Not even during Ramadan?
Trainer: Shut your sass-hole boy!

[edit] Characters by religion

The Simpson family - Protestant (The Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism)
- In Homer the Heretic, Homer briefly starts his own religion tailored to his own personal needs.
- Lisa, after years of Christianity, converted to Buddhism in She of Little Faith.
- Most of the family (with the exception of Marge) briefly joined the Movementarian cult in The Joy of Sect.
- The Father, The Son, and The Holy Guest Star saw Homer and Bart briefly becoming Catholic.
Krusty the Clown - Judaism
Apu - Hinduism
Lenny and Carl - Buddhism/Christian
Sideshow Mel - atheism
Fat Tony and the Springfield Mafia - Roman Catholicism (Practically all members of the Italian American Mafia were)
Mayor Quimby - Roman Catholicism (Due to his Massachusetts accent and similarities to the Kennedy family).

Disco Stu - Roman Catholicism (In the season sixteen episode There's Something About Marrying, it is revealed that Disco Stu is Selma's fourth husband. However, he receives an annulment from Pope John Paul II.)

When asked about religion, Moe mentioned that he was "born a snakehandler" and "will die a snakehandler". In another episode, however, he quips, "Santeria, you're the greatest!" After the cult is exposed in The Joy of Sect, Moe declares he will return to "good old fashioned voodoo." Moe also sometimes attends the Simpson family's church though.

The town government is secular. In 1963, a law was passed which banned praying on city property. In Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song, Superintendent Chalmers fires Acting Principal Ned Flanders when he discovers him praying over the PA system.

Mr. Burns has been seen in the Simpsons' church at times, although other episodes have jokingly hinted at an alliance with Satan, while other instances have suggested that he is Satan in human form.

Many of Springfield's residents go to the Simpson's church even though others are later portrayed as different religions.

[edit] Episodes with significant religious content

Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment - Lisa gets mad at Homer for stealing cable on religious grounds.
Homer the Heretic - Homer stops going to church.
Lisa the Skeptic - Lisa doesn't believe in angels (inconsistent with her religious beliefs from earlier episodes).
The Joy of Sect - Homer and most of the family join a religious cult.
She of Little Faith - Church gets destroyed by Homer's Do-it-Yourself rocket. Using this opportunity, Mr. Burns buys the Church out and turns it into a commercial asset. Upset by the "materialization" of Church, Lisa leaves the Church and decides to become a Buddhist.
Thank God It's Doomsday - Homer becomes convinced that the Rapture is nigh.
The Father, The Son, and The Holy Guest Star - Homer and Bart consider becoming Catholic.
Simpsons Bible Stories - The family daydream their own interpretations of stories from the Bible.
Today I am A Klown - Krusty holds his bar mitzvah.
Simpsons Christmas Stories - Homer tells the story of the first Christmas.
The Monkey Suit - Ned forces the school to teach creationism along with evolution.

[edit] Religious Affiliation of Simpsons Writers

George Meyer – Raised Catholic, Non–Practicing
Al Jean – Raised Christian (Catholic?), Non–Practicing
Josh Weinstein – Jewish
Mike Reiss – Jewish
Matt Groening – From a Mennonite background, grew up Methodist and is now an Agnostic Unitarian Universalist
David Sachs – Jewish (noted as being devout by Al Jean on a DVD commentary)
Steve Tompkins – Christian (noted as being devout by Al Jean on a DVD commentary)
Conan O'Brien – Catholic (He referred to himself as being so soon after Pope John Paul II died).
Jon Vitti – Raised Catholic
John Swartzwelder – Raised Catholic
Wallace Wolodarsky – Jewish