# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/41 "2006-12-14T19:15:58Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] If Earl of _My Name Is Earl_ believes in karma, is he a Hindu or a Buddhist? [/QUOTE] Earl believes in a very thin version of karma- he’s so clueless on the subject he believes it was invented by Carson Daly. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/42 "2006-12-14T19:29:24Z")
On _Sex and the City_, Charlotte eventually converted to Judaism. On the 70s sitcom _Alice_, something is making me think that Mel Sharples was an atheist. I can’t substantiate that, though. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/43 "2006-12-14T19:47:10Z")
Dana Scully on _The X Files_ was Catholic. There were several references on the show to her struggles with her religious beliefs, and a few scenes of her attending church. ---
**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, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/44 "2006-12-14T19:48:05Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] On _Sex and the City_, Charlotte eventually converted to Judaism. [/QUOTE] And before that, she was Episcopal. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/45 "2006-12-15T00:59:19Z")
Did George Costanza actually finish his conversion to Latvian Orthodox? ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/46 "2006-12-15T01:55:05Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Well, **most** Irish . . . (paging Ian Paisley!) [/QUOTE] In the 19th century, Irish immigrants who were Protestant tended to use the more respectable-sounding “Scots-Irish.” You gonna discriminate against Andrew Jackson? I don’t think so. He’ll bust a cap\* in your ass. \*Technically, what he’d bust in your ass would be a “ball,” but that doesn’t sound quite right, WRT Col. Jackson ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/47 "2006-12-15T03:25:23Z")
[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] Yes, these folks are generally “portrayed as” Catholics, and we assume they’re Catholics, but how often are we actually given evidence that they are? Not too often. To add another L&O person (and another Catholic) to the list–Det. Rey Curtis was a practicing Catholic. His beliefs often affected how he felt about a case. Also, he was having some marital troubles, and mentioned that he was in counseling with his priest. From the Simpsons: Apu is Hindu. We saw his wedding, and he often makes reference to Hindu gods. Krusty the Klown, nee Herschel Krustofsky, was raised Orthodox Jewish, but is currently non-practicing. (I think he still feels guilty sometimes, though.) ---
**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 15, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972/48 "2006-12-15T03:34:22Z")
[QUOTE=Green Bean] Yes, these folks are generally “portrayed as” Catholics, and we assume they’re Catholics, but how often are we actually given evidence that they are? Not too often. To add another L&O person (and another Catholic) to the list–Det. Rey Curtis was a practicing Catholic. His beliefs often affected how he felt about a case. Also, he was having some marital troubles, and mentioned that he was in counseling with his priest. [/QUOTE] And Jack McCoy was raised Catholic, but no longer practices. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-denominations-on-tv-shows/383972.md?page=2)