By KIM LAWTON
ORLANDO, Fla. Theyre silly, often irreverent, and sometimes
downright wicked. But The Simpsons may also be one of the most
interesting examinations of religion in contemporary pop
culture.
The release of The Simpsons Movie this weekend (July 27th) is
grabbing new attention for the popular animated television series
that has an often surprising take on spirituality.
The Simpsons say grace at meals. They attend church on Sundays.
They read and refer to the Bible; and they pray out loud although
sometimes only under desperate circumstances, said Mark Pinsky,
author of The Gospel According to the Simpsons.
Its about a family in which religion plays a part, Pinsky said
in an interview. And in that sense, its really reflective of what
most Americans do and feel about religion.
Pinsky, the religion writer for the Orlando Sentinel, said the new
movie builds on a franchise that he believes broke fresh ground in
dealing with issues of faith on a primetime TV show.
While some series over the years such as 7th Heaven or Touched
By an Angel were built around a religious premise, faith in The
Simpsons is simply part of the characters normal lives. In that
way, Pinsky said, its in marked contrast to most commercial
television where religion is almost wholly absent.
In the 18 years the show has been on the air, it has become a true
cultural phenomenon. Its the longest-running TV sitcom in history,
and it is broadcast in more than 70 nations, reaching an estimated
audience of 60 million every week.
The first thing that I noticed was that it was OK for my kids,
Pinsky said. The second thing I noticed was there was all this
religion in it.
The Simpsons patriarch, Homer, is often a clueless Christian, who,
Pinsky said, is really a borderline pagan.
His Christianity is sort of fear-based, Pinsky said. he often
confuses God with Superman. His wife Marge is a really true
believer, a sincere believer, willing to make the leap of
faith.
The mouthy, misbehaving son Bart also has a spiritual side.
Bart, many believe, is the devil incarnate, but when Bart gets in
trouble, he prays and he prays sincerely, Pinsky said.
Lisa has been through her own spiritual explorations.
For most of the shows run, she was the voice of mainline
Protestantism, the social gospel, a skeptical believer, but a
believer, Pinsky said. And finally ... her church became sort of
too seeker-sensitive, too commercial; she went on a faith journey
and she ended up being a Buddhist, with the help, of course, of the
actor Richard Gere.
The Simpsons and most of their neighbors attend the First
Church of Springfield.
Its kind of a mainline Protestant church, Pinsky said. They
dont define what it is, but they call it the Presbylutheran
Church. The theology is kind of lowest common denominator.
Pinsky said the churchs pastor, Reverend Lovejoy, suffers from
preacher burnout. His wife is a shrew, he has money problems, his
daughter is a typical preachers kid, sort of a demon seed, Pinsky
said. So hes an object of satire and ridicule, but underneath,
theres a lot of profound material about the ministry today.
In fact, The Simpsons has tackled a host of complex theological
issues,including salvation, divine omnipotence, the end times,
miracles, heaven and hell, cults, religious exclusivity, and the
nature of the soul.
Its hard to remind yourself that a discussion at this level is
happening in a cartoon comedy, Pinsky said.
One of the shows favorite themes is religious diversity; a number
of characters come from different religious traditions.
Ned Flanders, whos the evangelical next door, on the surface is
kind of a doofus guy, Pinsky said. Hes overzealous, but
underneath, his heart is really good, and as much scorn and
disrespect that Homer heaps on him, Ned always returns it with
love.
Added Pinsky, Younger evangelicals around the country, Im told,
have adopted Ned as kind of an unofficial mascot.
There is also Krusty the Clown, a nonreligious Jew who clashes with
more traditional Jews. And Apu, the Hindu immigrant, who works at
Springfields Kwik-E-Mart convenience store.
And through him, much about Hinduism is explained to people who
might not know Hindus, Pinsky said. On the surface its funny,
like everything in The Simpsons, but underneath, its very
respectful, I think.
The humor is sharp-edged, and over the years there have been
complaints from offended religious people.
Organized religion, the church, the preacher, they take their
whacks like every other institution that The Simpsons deals
with, he said.
Many religious leaders, including some conservative evangelicals,
have come to appreciate the shows treatment of faith.
Religion has a role in the new Simpsons movie as well, although
the film doesnt focus on it.
An early scene takes place in church, where Homer is his usual
irreverent self. Bart wishes the evangelical Ned was his father
instead of Homer. Eskimo spirituality helps save the day.
There are themes of family and right vs. wrong but this is no
fluffy devotional flick. Theres profanity, lots of sarcasm,
underage drinking, and even some cartoon nudity.
Pinsky says The Simpsons has contributed to the conversation
about religion in America, particularly among young people who
might otherwise have been turned off by the subject.
When they are in the commons room or on the sofa on a Sunday night
watching an animated comedy, their minds are much more open to
things, and even humorous accounts of religion, of faith I think
their minds are more open to it, he said.
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