Going Potty and the Bible

General Questions
#1

I probably shouldn’t get my theological education from the Simpsons, but I can think of at least two instances where Reverend Lovejoy has commented that going to the bathroom is sinful. Is this just wacky Simpsons’ facetiousness or is it based on something the Bible actually says?

(Instance number 1, Marge kicks Homer out of the house and the Lovejoys show up to counsel her. Instead of telling her to take him back, they urge her to divorce him. When Marge points out that the Bible forbids divorce, the Reverend says, “Have you ever read this thing? Technically, we’re not even supposed to go to the bathroom.” Instance number 2, in the episode made up of vignettes of various Springfieldians daily lives, we see Reverend Lovejoy commanding his dog to do its “wicked, sinful duty”–his words–on Ned Flanders’ lawn.)

“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy

#2

This is called sarcasm, or perhaps satire… implying that the Bible forbids so many things, it might as well forbid excretory functions as well.

There is a reference in Numbers, I forget where off hand, that when you need to take a shit, you should walk away from the camp, and be sure to bury it. Environmental clean-up, circa 1000 BC.

#3

A cursory search turned up this gem:

I will pelt you with filth, I will treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. (Nahum 3:6 NIV)
Not to mention:

As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. (Deuteronomy 23:13 NIV)
Not sure about context, but this might work too:

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. (2 Corinthians 8:13 NIV)

“Anything is peaceful from one thousand, three hundred and fifty-three feet.”

#4

On the subject, The Door (“The World’s Pretty Much Only Religious Satire Magazine”) has a cover article on the theology of The Simpsons in their current issue.

#5

Back when I was with a church and studying with people, one of the people I studied with was (as I recall) Islamic. When I mentioned to him that Jesus never sinned, he asked “You mean that Jesus never went to the bathroom?” Evidentally, from what he knew, defecating was a sinful act. I won’t say all Islamics believe this since I never studied it, but at least one person out there believed that it was a sin.

“I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”

#6

That’s hilarious :slight_smile: I’ve thought about subscribing to The Door in the past, but I’m afraid that would get me excommunicated from my family, so I just content myself with God Stuff on The Daily Show.

BTW, did it mention the Rev’s position that poo is sinful?

“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy

#7

Actually, after reading www.the-door.org and http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/971208/8prea.htm , I think my husband wouldn’t be that offended by the magazine. He would probably agree 100% on everything it would have to say about modern Protestant televangelists and politicians, he’d just get uncomfortable if it criticized Catholicism in any way, shape or form. But he loves God Stuff… we’ll have to talk about it.

“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy

#8

Did he see the article on The Seven Deadly Sins for different religions? Here’s the Catholic list:

  1. birth control (except if the priest doesn’t know)
  2. abortion (except if the priest doesn’t know)
  3. divorce (unless arranged by the priest)
  4. Kennedy bashing
  5. being found sober on St. Patrick’s Day
  6. voting Republican
  7. believing what you saw in The Godfather movies
#9

Heheh, no, we haven’t got that issue yet, though he seems interested so far. If reading this list would make him feel uncomfortable, it would probably be because he’s guilty of a majority of the sins :wink:

  1. birth control (except if the priest doesn’t know)
  2. Kennedy bashing
  3. being found sober on St. Patrick’s Day
  4. voting Republican

“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy