Thursday, May 24, 2012

Goliath wins!

I keep track of "The Simpsons" on Hulu from time to time, and just happened on a recent epsidoe chock full of religion. Season 23, Episode 16 ("Ned 'n Edna's Blend") starts with a passion play - Christ's part played by Homer (!) - and continues with the revelation that über-Christian Ned Flanders and Edna Crabapple, Bart's foul-mouthed elementary school teacher, have wed. Edna takes Rod and Todd out of the Christian school they've been attending, and soon Ned has a nightmare - in "Davey and Goliath" style! It's Todd's graduation from college, but Ned's joy turns to panic when he discovers it's "not a midwestern Bible college but an elite East Coast university!" Mortarboard-clad Toddy reassures him: "It's okay Daddy, I majored in religious studies." But Ned's relief turns to horror as Tod adds ominously: "comparative religious studies!"