my only real beef with the paper was the quoting of some nuts on newsgroups to show reactions by both athiest and nonathiest folks. These are just 3 extreme viewpoints. Hardly a good source to write a paper from. I consider myself to be ideologically charged, yet I find the Simpson's very funny.

2. The ideologically-charged believer on any side of a question finds humour difficult to deal with and often inappropriate. This is why professed atheists have as much trouble coming to grips with The Simpsons as do Christians. Last year on the Internet I followed a debate in various news-groups on the topic of whether The Simpsons bashed Christianity. The opinion of many Christians was that, yes, it did. [53] Atheists on the other hand either agreed and said it was a darn good thing too,
as religion generally was a menace to the world -- Hitler, for example was a Christian, as were many molesters and perverts. [54] But some atheists replied that The Simpsons did not bash religion enough and that they had stopped watching the show because it was resembling more and more a Sunday School -- the character of Ned Flanders was alluded to here. [55]

53.
Robert M. Ficke (rficke@runet.edu) wrote: "I was really offended when in the Homerpalooza episode, Bart asked Homer what religion he was and he said: 'The one with all those well-meaning rules that don't work out in real life...Christianity.' If they said something like this about Islam or Buddism [sic] they would be flamed and a controversy started, but I guess it's open season on Christians. I've seen this same attitute [sic] before in the show, which is a shame because it is otherwise such an excellent show. Anybody know how to get in touch with Fox?"



54.
In the newsgroup alt.religion.sexuality one fernandoo@embassy.res.rmit.edu.au wrote: "Christians are the ones that rape, molest, beat their wives and commit other autrocities [sic]. Hitler was a Christian. Just see the Simpsons for proof." In reply another atheist, malcom@pigsty.demon.co.uk, offered the opinion that research showed that all religion was bad in terms of inciting violence.

55.
In the soc.atheism newsgroup on May 16, 1995 patrickc@direct.ca wrote: "The Simpsons is becoming more of a Sunday School program than ever. The central message of that show, I've noticed, is that the only good people are religious and that those who are not are immoral. Some episodes (particularly the one where Homer skips church) really hammer the point home. And the true religious fanatics in that show (The Flanders) are portrayed as the most moral, ethical people around. I've stopped watching it in disgust a long time ago."