# Specific Denominations on TV Shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972 "2006-12-13T16:46:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/21 "2006-12-13T23:36:06Z")
I remember the first time I saw a specific non-Catholic denomination mentioned–it was _Family Matters_. (I’m giving away my age [or youth] here, I know.) I forget what the setup to the joke was (something like “I’m going to be a veterinarian!”), but the punchline was “I thought we were Methodists!” Yeah, ha ha. I’m not sure if I remember because I was surprised to hear a specific religious reference on TV, or because even by ABC’s standards the joke stood out as a stinker. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/22 "2006-12-13T23:42:49Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] At the risk that was a woosh…Seinfeld is jewish. [/QUOTE] Oh . . . right. I was thinking of Grace Adler. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/23 "2006-12-13T23:43:27Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Protestant isn’t specific though. All it means is that she is not Catholic or Orthodox… [/QUOTE] Well her family is a WASP sterotype so I gonna guess she’s either Episcopalian or Presbyterian. Do fictional religions count? If so then there’s the Bajoran Way of the Prophets of DS9. Nearly every Bajoran either practiced it or was a lapsed Prophetist. Sisko converted. And there’s Battlestar Galactica with it’s Greco-Romanish polytheism. Most major Colonial characters (save Adama) are practicioners. Except Cavil all of the Cylons (& Baltar) are monotheists. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/24 "2006-12-13T23:45:52Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] To be even more specific, the Presbeylutherans broke away from the Catholic Church on an argument about whether or not you can attend church with wet hair. [/QUOTE] And Springfield was founded by a group of settlers, who, after misinterpreting a passage in the Bible, set out to find their New Sodom. (They schismed over whether they could marry their cousins, the pro-cousin-marriage faction founding Shelbyville.) ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/25 "2006-12-13T23:49:20Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] To be even more specific, the Presbeylutherans broke away from the Catholic Church on an argument about whether or not you can attend church with wet hair. [/QUOTE] And that right was later abolished. Also for some reason the church is opposed to airbags. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/26 "2006-12-14T00:00:28Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Oh . . . right. I was thinking of Grace Adler. 😉 [/QUOTE] See there, I knew it was a woosh but couldn’t help jumping in. You brat! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/27 "2006-12-14T00:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] Well her family is a WASP sterotype so I gonna guess she’s either Episcopalian or Presbyterian. [/QUOTE] I would guess that as well but it is not specified on the show that I’m aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/28 "2006-12-14T00:26:29Z")
[QUOTE=Electronic Chaos] I think I remember from when I used to watch 7th Heaven with my family that they’re Episcopalian. It’s been awhile though. [/QUOTE] I don’t think the denomination was ever specified. IIRC the father was the minister at a “community” church. Nearly everyone on Little House on the Prairie were Congregationalists. The Flying Nun was catholic 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/29 "2006-12-14T03:01:37Z")
Monica and Ross on\* Friends\* were Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/30 "2006-12-14T03:19:12Z")
The _South Park_ kids are Catholic, except for Kyle (Jewish) and, I think, Kenny (Pentecostal? Baptist? Something distinctively redneck-Southern, anyway). Old, old American joke: An Episopalian is a Presbyterian with a trust fund. A Presbyterian is a Methodist with a college education. And a Methodist is a Baptist with shoes. Variation: A Methodist is a Baptist who can read. A Baptist is a Methodist who can sing. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/31 "2006-12-14T03:34:06Z")
On MASH, Father Mulcahy was Catholic (of course) and Colonel Potter was Methodist. Hawkeye was either an athiest or an agnostic (I _think_ he was an athiest in one episode and I _know_ he was an agnostic in a different episode). ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/32 "2006-12-14T03:49:02Z")
[QUOTE=cbawlmer] The Sopranos are Catholic, as are the Gavins on _Rescue Me_. In general, Italian, Irish, or Hispanic characters tend to be portrayed as Catholics or lapsed Catholics. [/QUOTE] That’s because, in general, Italian, Irish, and Hispanic people tend to BE Catholics or lapsed Catholics! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/33 "2006-12-14T03:54:33Z")
[QUOTE=Kat] On MASH, Father Mulcahy was Catholic (of course) and Colonel Potter was Methodist. Hawkeye was either an athiest or an agnostic (I _think_ he was an athiest in one episode and I _know_ he was an agnostic in a different episode). [/QUOTE] And Klinger was an atheist – I remember one scene where Mulcahey was leading everybody in a prayer and Klinger joined in: MULCAHEY: I thought you were an atheist, Klinger. KLINGER: [sheepishly] Gave it up for Lent. Klinger’s family being Lebanese, and Islam never being mentioned, I presume he was a lapsed Maronite Christian. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/34 "2006-12-14T03:57:59Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] That’s because, in general, Italian, Irish, and Hispanic people tend to BE Catholics or lapsed Catholics! 🙂 [/QUOTE] Well, **most** Irish . . . (paging Ian Paisley!) ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/35 "2006-12-14T04:34:27Z")
[QUOTE=Kat] On MASH, Father Mulcahy was Catholic (of course) and Colonel Potter was Methodist. Hawkeye was either an athiest or an agnostic (I _think_ he was an athiest in one episode and I _know_ he was an agnostic in a different episode). [/QUOTE] and Major Burns was Presbyterian. I remember Hawk being agnostic, perhaps he wavered between the two. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/36 "2006-12-14T05:12:23Z")
Satan on _South Park_ is a Satanist (presumably), and God is a Mormon (presumably). If Earl of _My Name Is Earl_ believes in karma, is he a Hindu or a Buddhist? ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/37 "2006-12-14T05:15:39Z")
In the O.C the father’s side of the family is Jewish, the mother’s side some Christian faith. I’ve only watched two complete episodes, and in one of them the son celebrated his own special holiday, Christmakkah, so everyone would feel involved. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/38 "2006-12-14T07:46:01Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Well, **most** Irish . . . (paging Ian Paisley!) [/QUOTE] [OT]Does Paisley really consider himself Irish?[/OT] [QUOTE=Skammer] I thought the Simpsons were Episcopresbylutheran or somesuch amalgamation. I maintain that The Simpsons is one of the most religious shows on TV (in a positive sense). [/QUOTE] The Simpsons belong to a generic Protestant sect. They’re not Episcopalian since one of the running gags in recent years has been Rev. Lovejoy’s open jealousy of the Episcopalian church in Springfield. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/39 "2006-12-14T14:56:46Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Satan on _South Park_ is a Satanist (presumably), and God is a Mormon (presumably). [/QUOTE] But according to [this,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_Characters_in_South_Park#God) God is a Buddhist. Must’ve missed that episode. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/40 "2006-12-14T15:16:11Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] On that Tim Allen series…can’t recall the name…the one where he does “Tool Time” as a show within the show…the family is somewhat religious. Christmas shows have shown the family attending a protestant church–possibly Methodist…but fairly sedate, low key stuff. Think one of the kids is an acolyte or something. [/QUOTE] On the short-lived spin-off, _Soul Man_, Dan Ackroyd played an Episcopal priest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972.md?page=3)