Robotology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robotology is a fictional religion in the animated TV series Futurama.
Contents |
[edit] Practices
It is principly practiced by robots and is not considered a mainstream religion like Voodoo or Oprahism (in the Latin American version the Oprahism is replaced with the Waltermercadismo.) It has a strong evangelical Christian flavor, with fire and brimstone sermons, prayer before meals (conducted partially in spoken binary), and baptismal ceremonies to induct new adherents. New believers are baptized in high viscosity baptismal oil, and the symbol of Robotology is welded to their case.
[edit] Symbols
This symbol, a vertical zigzag line with a circle on each end, is the 20th century electrical symbol for a resistor. It is more than a symbol, however: it is also a signalling device of some kind, able to summon the Robot Devil if necessary (although it is unclear whether it does this when it is removed, or when the wearer sins, or both).
Another symbol of Robotology is an altered Christian fish symbol with the word "ROBOT" inside it, and an antenna added to the fish.
The holy text of Robotology is an electronic text file, as of 3006 it is The Good Book 3.0. A possible author or contributor may be the prophet Jerematic.
[edit] Beliefs
Among the beliefs of Robotology are that robots should abstain from wicked and immoral behaviors such as smoking, pornography, stealing, abusing electricity, and drinking. Consuming alcohol is usually necessary to power a robot's fuel cells, but apparently mineral oil is an acceptable substitute, if less fun to imbibe.
[edit] Robot Hell
Like in Christian theology, sinners are punished by condemnation to Robot Hell, while the virtuous or believing are rewarded with Robot Heaven. However, literal-minded robots, not content with the metaphysical conception of Hell, have constructed an actual Robot Hell in South Jersey, under a thousand-year-old abandoned amusement park. Only robots who have joined Robotology and then sinned can go to Robot Hell (according to the Robot Devil, as said to Bender: "You signed up for it when you joined our religion"). Robot Hell has at least five levels, and, as it is a physical place, is possible to escape.
Robot Hell is ruled by the Robot Devil, who takes delight in thinking up ironic tortures for his victims, not least of which is the introductory up-beat singing and dancing that greets truly major sinners like Bender. He is assisted by many lesser robot demons, some of which can fly. The Robot Devil is bound by the Fairness In Hell Act of 2275, allowing anyone who can defeat him in a fiddle contest to go free, as well as win a golden fiddle (a reference to the song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia.") Losers only get a smaller silver fiddle, and the Robot Devil may kill them at his discretion. The date of the act implies that Robotology may have existed for some 700 years by the time of the show, the year 3000 onward. This is contradictory to the episode Crimes of the Hot, though, where it is said Professor Hubert Farnsworth had constructed the first practical robot less than 90 years before.
It is unknown if Robotology has also constructed a similar Robot Heaven, or robot angels, although this is hinted at strongly on the DVD commentary.
[edit] Relationship to non-believers
Robotology, while primarily a robot religion, apparently has no problem performing marriage ceremonies for non-robots or non-believers, as Lionel Preacherbot, a Robotologist reverend of New New York City, has conducted several wedding ceremonies for various couples during the course of the show:
- "Cyclops" Turanga Leela and Alkazar ("A Bicyclops Built For Two")
- Humans Philip J. Fry and Leela ("Time Keeps on Slippin'")
- Robots Calculon and Coilette (Bender) ("Bend Her")
- Human Leela to the Robot Devil ("The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings")
[edit] Robot Judaism
Robotology is not to be confused with Robot Judaism, as seen in the "Future Stock" episode (2002-03-31). Robot Jews believe that Robot Jesus was built, and that he was a very well-programmed robot, but not their messiah. Robot Judaism also may not have a festival that correlates to Hannukah, as Bender admits that the holiday "Robonukah" was farcical in "Fear of a Bot Planet".
| Futurama | |
|---|---|
| Media | |
| Episodes • Comic books • Video game • Bender's Big Score | |
| Characters | |
| Fry • Leela • Bender • Professor Farnsworth • Doctor Zoidberg • Hermes • Amy Zapp Brannigan • Kif Kroker • Nibbler • Cubert • Calculon • Mom Recurring human characters • Recurring robot characters • Recurring alien characters • Secondary characters |
|
| Universe | |
| Planets: Amphibios 9 • Eternium • Omicron Persei VIII Alien races: Cygnoid • Decapodian • Neptunian • Omicronian Politics and religion: Earth Government • Robotology • D.O.O.P. Technology: Gadgets • Suicide booth • Planet Express Ship • Nimbus Other: Timeline • Blernsball • All My Circuits • The Scary Door • Slurm • Products • Locations • Animals |
|
