The Simpsons and Christianity

I've been a huge fan of The Simpsons since its first season sixteen years ago. Although they often step on the toes of a lot of faiths (including Christianity), the writers' toe-stepping tends to be funny because it is so accurate.

On last Sunday's episode, after Bart is put into an Catholic school as a result of his wrongful expulsion from public school, he quickly develops an affinity for the Catholic faith. Homer attempts to rescue him from the school, but he also soon decides that Catholicism might be for him because: (a) they serve pancakes, (b) they play Bingo, and (c) he has a misguided notion that absolution can be obtained by confession to a priest, without any desire to repent.

When Homer returnes home, Marge complains that he had been out all night and then notices that he has the scandalous appearnace of a person who has "accepted SOMEBODY as his personal SOMETHING!"

Having quickly determined that Homer has also turned Vatican, Marge rounds up Reverend Lovejoy and faithful church-goer Ned Flanders, and they travel to the Catholic school to "rescue" Bart. After nabbing Bart and throwing him in a van (a Scooby-Doo themed vehicle labeled "The Ministry Machine"), Lovejoy lectures Bart on their intentions.

Lovejoy explains: "We're here to bring you back to the one, true faith: The Western Branch of American Reformed Presba-Lutheranism."

Its a good thing that the Tivo remote was handy while I was watching this, because, for some reason, I couldn't stop laughing after that last line.

I think it hit too close to home.