Character Attitudes
Most of the town, including the Simpsons, attend church on Sundays, indicating that religion is an important part of everyday life. The most religious characters on the show are Ned Flanders and Reverend Timothy Lovejoy. Flanders, a graduate of Oral Roberts University, is an ultra-conservative Christian and appears to express little tolerance for other faiths and sexualities, claiming they are all hedonistic and will go to Hell. Flanders is still perhaps the most genuinely compassionate character on the show and is an exemplar of charity and the golden rule. He usually has a positive outlook on life and does not go out of his way to express his intolerance. Lovejoy seems to resent the fact that Dr Julius Hibbert's family joined the first African Methodist Episcopal Church of Springfield, while Ned tells Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, who is a Hindu, that he might as well be praying to Hawkman. In another episode, Lovejoy says to Ned Flanders, during an annoying phone call, "Ned, have you considered any of the other major religions? They're all pretty much the same."
Although Homer attends church, has been baptized and has even met God, he has indicated that he is not religious. In The Simpsons Movie, before entering the church, he says, "Relax, those pious morons are too busy talking to their phony-baloney God." Lisa Simpson was portrayed as Christian in the episode "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", however, since "She of Little Faith", she has been a Buddhist. She still accepts her family's beliefs, goes to church with them and celebrates Christian holidays.
Read more about this topic: Religion In The Simpsons
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