Muppets making fun of religion?

[CubsFan2020]

This is the opening scene to the Muppets Most Wanted Movie

Skip to 3:06

While the muppets are discussing what to make their movie about, the Swedish chef suggests: “How about a film about the existential conundrum of religious faith?”

Apparently this is a reference to a movie called the Seventh Seal which I am unfamiliar with. Could anyone please tell me if this is a joke making fun of religion? Sorry if I’m sounding stupid.

 

[JulianN]

It appears to be poking fun at complicated, subtitled movies. I wouldn’t read it as making fun of religion.

 

[Jbrady]

Could anyone please tell me if this is a joke making fun of religion?

No, not at all.

Perhaps you could watch The Seventh Seal. It’s a classic. Most people who make and watch serious films have seen it, and will get the reference that the Swedish Chef makes.

 

[Dovekin]

It is a reference to a genre of films that was perfected by Ingmar Bergman, director of the Seventh Seal. A lot of Scandinavian films are influenced by the dark ponderous reflections on a desolate world.

Imagine if they let the Swedish chef direct the Muppet movie, what that would be like…

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

Apparently this is a reference to a movie called the Seventh Seal which I am unfamiliar with. Could anyone please tell me if this is a joke making fun of religion? Sorry if I’m sounding stupid.

The joke is the idea that a Muppets movie, which is by nature going to be silly, would tackle such a deep philosophical topic.

I know you’ve mentioned that you’re scrupulous and it seems that movies are a real source of anxiety for you. You might consider talking to your priest about this to get some general guidance.

 

[CubsFan2020]

Thank you all for your responses, I really appreciate it. It’s good to hear that the joke wasn’t meant to make fun of religion but sadly my scruples probably won’t let it go so I probably won’t be watching anything muppets soon, which makes me sad with the new series coming out in a couple of days. I wish I had the courage to talk to a priest about scruples but I have a sort of social anxiety and would feel really stupid going to a priest to ask about the muppets, lol.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

I wish I had the courage to talk to a priest about scruples but I have a sort of social anxiety and would feel really stupid going to a priest to ask about the muppets, lol.

You don’t have to talk about the muppets specifically. Just tel him you have scruples and you need some guidance on managing them. Believe me, priests deal with this all the time. He’s not going to react badly.

Please talk to a priest. He’s going to be way better equipped to help you than a bunch of anonymous internet people.

 

[phil19034]

Could anyone please tell me if this is a joke making fun of religion?

I don’t think they are making fun of religion. Now, I can see how (a) someone might think that they are making fun of religion, or (b) how someone who doesn’t like religion might use that phrase as a tiny jab.

I also think the people who are in charge of editing movies, commercials, & marketing/PR campaigns need to do be better job to be sensitive to how religious people might respond to particular things.

HOWEVER, we should not automatically think people have sinister motives when something could be easily be harmless.

We should always assume innocence, unless a pattern of behavior from an individual or company (not necessarily an industry) give reason to suspect sinister motives.

For example: If I said, “I hate World Religions,” I could be meaning several different things with that statement. I could mean that I hate all the world’s religions. I could mean that I hate all world religious except my own. However, I could also mean that I simply dislike “World Religions” classes like the one I took in college.

• One can hate a “World Religions” class without hating world religions.
  This comment is very similar, in that it COULD mean multiple things, but most likely does not.