In this Book

Drawn to the Gods: Religion and Humor in The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy (V体育官网入口)

Book
David Feltmate
2017
Published by: NYU Press
V体育安卓版 - summary

A new world of religious satire illuminated through the layers of religion and humor that make up the The Simpsons, South Park and Family Guy. Drawing on the worldviews put forth by three wildly popular animated shows – The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy– David Feltmate demonstrates how ideas about religion’s proper place in American society are communicated through comedy. The book includes discussion of a wide range of American religions, including Protestant and Catholic Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Native American Religions, New Religious Movements, “Spirituality,” Hinduism, and Atheism. Along the way, readers are shown that jokes about religion are influential tools for teaching viewers how to interpret and judge religious people and institutions VSports app下载. Feltmate, develops a picture of how each show understands and communicates what constitutes good religious practice as well as which traditions they seek to exclude on the basis of race and ethnicity, stupidity, or danger. From Homer Simpson’s spiritual journey during a chili-pepper induced hallucination to South Park’s boxing match between Jesus and Satan to Peter Griffin’s worship of the Fonz, each show uses humor to convey a broader commentary about the role of religion in public life. Through this examination, an understanding of what it means to each program to be a good religious American becomes clear. Drawn to the Gods is a book that both fans and scholars will enjoy as they expose the significance of religious satire in these iconic television programs.

Table of Contents

V体育安卓版 - Cover

"V体育2025版" Title Page, Copyright Page, Dedication

pp. i-vi

Contents (V体育ios版)

pp. vii-viii

Acknowledgments

pp. ix-xii

"V体育ios版" Introduction

pp. 1-32

1. Sacred Centers

pp. 33-67

2. The Difference Race Makes: Native American Religions, Hinduism, and Judaism

pp. 68-105

3. American Christianity, Part 1: Backwards Neighbors

pp. 106-144

4. American Christianity, Part 2: American Christianities as Dangerous Threats

pp. 145-180

5. Stigma, Stupidity, and Exclusion: “Cults” and Muslims

pp. 181-212

V体育2025版 - Conclusion

pp. 213-222

Appendix: Episodes Referenced

pp. 223-232

Notes

pp. 233-248

Bibliography

pp. 249-278

Index

pp. 279-282

About the Author

pp. 283
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