Marge Simpson ridiculing Catholics

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Joe_5859 said:
Have the Simpsons ever poked fun at Scientology? I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think any show is truly an “equal opportunity offender”. There’s always some group that gets a free pass while other groups take more than their share of jabs.
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Actually, I believe they have. I seem to remember when Tom Cruise was belittling people (Brooke Shields?), the Simpson’s did some schtick–pretty funny stuff.

In the book, The Gospel According to the Simpsons (EXCELLENT BOOK!), the author discusses how *The Simpsons * tries to include all religious groups in their humor EXCEPT Muslims, because that religious group does not appreciate humor and the consequences for ribbing them could be unpleasant.

Here’s a link to the book: markpinsky.com/indexA.htm Or just google and you’ll find all kinds of commentary and reviews. I loved the book.

I think we need to be careful about criticizing *The Simpsons *too much when it comes to religion. There have been several studies demonstrating that when it comes to religion, there’s more of it in *The Simpsons * than ANY other television show, and that’s important. Many television shows never mention God (except as a swear word), and NEVER show families or people attending church or getting involved in organized religion. In many television shows (and other media experiences) “God” and “Church” are concepts that don’t exist–the universe they depict is a totally Godless and Churchless universe.

This is NOT the case on The Simpsons. GOD has been on the show MANY times! This is one of the few shows that depicts families, including the lead family (the Simpson’s) attending church on a consistent, regular basis. And although the characters of Rev. Lovejoy and Ned Flanders have their faults (as we all do), for the most part, these characters are portrayed in a heroic, appealing way. One of the most endearing characters on the show, and probably one of my personal favorites is the church organist at the church that the Simpsons attend–again, many of the religious characters on the show are depicted positively, not negatively.

Quite a few of the plots on this show have revolved around religion, demonstrating that religion is not just a “Sunday” thing, but part of everyday life. One of the most popular episodes is when Bart sells his soul to the devil, and Lisa, in an act of unselfish, sisterly love, gets it back for him. It’s a wonderful, deep, thought-provoking episode.

Another great episode, often listed as one of the best ever, is when Lisa digs up an “angel” at an archeological site. This episode should be shown in schools and discussed–there are so many deep themes and issues raised in this episode. And THIS is the episode where Marge Simpson–yes, "Catholic bashing Marge!–tells Lisa that she feels sorry for her because she has no faith.

I think people of faith have to dig a little deeper to find the beauty in this show. Obviously, many people don’t ever want to touch the garbage to find the hidden treasures buried inside. That’s their choice and I respect their choice.

But I wish that they wouldn’t condemn those of us who ARE willing to dig through a little smelly garbage and get our hands just a little dirty (I wear gloves!) to unearth truly wonderful humor and deep messages in The Simpsons (and other shows) that lift our spirits, enrich our souls, and lighten our burdens in this world. I think that if Christians all took the approach that no art is worth touching garbage, Christians would never read Shakespeare.
 
On an old episode of “Happy Days” Fonzie talks about something he does for good luck.
Mrs. Cunningham laughs and says “Oh you Itialians and your Vatican voodoo.”
I think in both cases the joke is not about the Catholic church alone but also about the sweet but ignorant person who misunderstands it.
 
What long running or popular shows have or had main characters that were openly and activly catholic?
 
On the one hand, we’re not required to boycott anything.

On the other hand, I remember back in the day when there was Muslim outrage, threats and possibly violence over the European cartoon that depicted their prophet Muhammed. Someone pointed out “if Catholics reacted this way to people having a go at Jesus, the world would probably show him a lot more respect” or something like that.
 
Flopfoot said:
On the one hand, we’re not required to boycott anything.

On the other hand, I remember back in the day when there was Muslim outrage, threats and possibly violence over the European cartoon that depicted their prophet Muhammed. Someone pointed out “if Catholics reacted this way to people having a go at Jesus, the world would probably show him a lot more respect” or something like that.
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I disagree.
If someone mocks you you can;
1)Laugh along or ignore them. This is the sane adult’s response.
2)Counter by playing the insult game with them. This is perfect for locker rooms and playgrounds
3)Pounce on them and beat them until they take you more seriously.
All three of these work but the last one is **ridiculous ** and will earn the ridicule it deserves from anyone civilized enough to use 1 and 2.

If you can’t laugh at yourself you are probably the only one.
 
KDB said:
What long running or popular shows have or had main characters that were openly and activly catholic?
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The X Files–Dana Scully (the red-headed female) was openly and at times actively Catholic.

On The Simpsons, the mayor of Springfield is Catholic.

Most of the characters in the movie Ladder 49 were Catholic, and this is demonstrated several times in the movie. After this movie, one of its stars, Robert Patrick, announced publically that he was considering converting to Catholicism. He ended up becoming an outspoken Anglican who often mentions his Church, the Mass, and God in his interviews. Not bad, considering that before that, he listed his religious preference as “atheist”!

BTW, it was the movie Ladder 49 that finally made Catholic doctrine of baptism clear to me.
 
pnewton said:
The Flying Nun was nuns. (one flew)
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Do you suppose *The Flying Nun * was a product of Vatican II? 😃

I’m waiting for The Flying Nun MOVIE! Wouldn’t that be a hoot, with the special effects that are possible nowadays? I just hope they can convince Sally Field to play the Reverend Mother–that would propel the movie into box office success and Oscar contention!
 
Cat said:
Do you suppose *The Flying Nun * was a product of Vatican II? 😃

I’m waiting for The Flying Nun MOVIE! Wouldn’t that be a hoot, with the special effects that are possible nowadays? I just hope they can convince Sally Field to play the Reverend Mother–that would propel the movie into box office success and Oscar contention!
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I’ve got it:
Russian mobsters kidnap a busload of computer whiz kids and force them to hack into American Military bomber drones and reprogram them to attack both Israeli and Palestinian targets so they can profit from the arms sales.

Somewhere, in a small Central American convent, one woman has the power to stop them.

Sally trains an elite team of young nuns in hat-flying and kung fu to re-divert the flying bombs and rescue the little geeks before Chubby’s insulin runs out.
 
KDB said:
I’ve got it:
Russian mobsters kidnap a busload of computer whiz kids and force them to hack into American Military bomber drones and reprogram them to attack both Israeli and Palestinian targets so they can profit from the arms sales.

Somewhere, in a small Central American convent, one woman has the power to stop them.

Sally trains an elite team of young nuns in hat-flying and kung fu to re-divert the flying bombs and rescue the little geeks before Chubby’s insulin runs out.
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Sweet!

How do you suppose Carlos fits in?
 
Cat said:
Sweet!

How do you suppose Carlos fits in?
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Carlos (who was working undercover for VOCO (Vatican Office of Covert Operations) all along) is sent to the Ukrane to “distract” the leader of the mob played by Angelina Jolie. The ruse is discovered and Carlos is put in chains but at the last minute Angelina sincerely falls for Carlos, frees him and escaping together they disable the laser satalitte that was set to blow up the hostage keeping area to destroy evidence.

Or maybe he would just narrate like Bosley on Charlies Angels.
 
I remember in one episode there was a “pro-Catholic” joke.

It was one of the episodes with three short stories in it, and one of them involved the Spanish Armada getting ready to attack Britain. Rev. Lovejoy’s character, seeing the ships, prayed something like, “Dear Lord, please help us destroy these evil heathens that think we should respect your mother. Amen.”

Let bygones be bygones, it’s a satirical show. If one is really offended by it, they can change the channel. I’m frustrated at how litigious some people can be.
 
I actually was taken aback at first but then REALLY thought it made a great point.

“who would eat the flesh and blood of their savior” me: :eek:

cut to scene bart in tub me: 🤷

lisa getting bowl from bart after he pees in it ( it seems to indicate he does)

It was like YES give me Jesus. YES give me a real Savior. YES give me flesh and blood.

I’m actually much happier with that ending than if they’d chopped up Bart and ate him.

And…in all honesty…Marge is neither the first nor last to utter that phrase. I work around rampant protestants and even with their extensive “knowledge” of the Bible, they refuse to believe literal transfiguration is necessary. I think it made a WONDERFUL point to a diffiult question that ANYONE would stumble over.

what kind of people would eat the flesh and blood of their savior?

The kind that WANT a SAVIOR…a MAN, a PROTECTOR and PROVIDER not the kind who wants a fat 10 year old who pees in their food.
 
Sonic said:
What kind of person would marry Homer Simpson? I’m just saying… that’s all… 😃
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She had to marry him. She was pregnant with Bart. (This is a serious reply–it’s part of the show’s history.)
 
I understand now - it fits with letting her kids watch Itchy and Scratchy.
Very disappointed in Marge sometimes.

Could they ease up onf the cat in that horrid show? Oh, never mind, not watching any more. 🙂
 
malachi3 said:
I understand now - it fits with letting her kids watch Itchy and Scratchy.
Very disappointed in Marge sometimes.

Could they ease up onf the cat in that horrid show? Oh, never mind, not watching any more. 🙂
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Perhaps this is one reason the show has such longevity and popularity. Even though the characters are cartoons, they’re real. They’re like us–flawed. They do some very noble things at times, but at other times, they act like jerks. Just like me.

Almost all modern television shows have flawed characters, but because the shows feature real actors, they can’t “show” the flaws as graphically. But on The Simpsons, they can actually show Homer running drunk and naked through Springfield carrying a bottle of Duff beer.

And if a real-life actress on a television show made the comment about “eating a Savior” that Marge did, the actress might have to hire bodyguards! Seriously, Susan Lucci, the actress that plays the often villainous Erica on All My Children has endured all kinds of threats and actions, including someone trying to push her off the Empire State Building! Some people just can’t separate the actor from the character they play.

But with a cartoon show, none of us would recognize Julie Kavner nowadays, and if we did, we wouldn’t associate her with Marge Simpson. So she’s free to live a normal life!
 
Cat said:
She had to marry him. She was pregnant with Bart. (This is a serious reply–it’s part of the show’s history.)
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I can tell you really like this show… 'cuz I was just kidding. 😛

I dub you Simpsons fanboy of the year! 👍
 
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