# What religion are the Simpsons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144 "2003-06-20T13:20:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NFlanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@NFlanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NFlanders)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/1 "2003-06-20T13:20:51Z")
Obviously there is probably no one right answer, but which denomination most closely corresponds to the First Church of Springfield? Reverend Lovejoy wears a collar, is married, and is called Reverend. Yet the baptism ceremony (as performed by Ned Flanders) seems rather Catholic. Episcopalian? Presbyterian? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/2 "2003-06-20T13:22:45Z")
It’s the Church of Whatever Gets a Laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/3 "2003-06-20T13:28:25Z")
I would say they are probably stock Christian. Lisa is now Buddist. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/4 "2003-06-20T13:31:52Z")
They’re some undetermined protestant denomination. BTW, this thread is probably better placed in Cafe Society, as it concerns a TV show (and also asks a question which does not have a definitive answer). –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![NFlanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@NFlanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NFlanders)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/5 "2003-06-20T13:38:16Z")
That’s cool. I didn’t know about that board. Mods, please move thread if you think it’s appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/6 "2003-06-20T13:58:34Z")
In Homer’s own words, the Simpsons’ religion is “you know, the one with all the well-meaning rules that don’t work in real life. Uh, Christianity”. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/7 "2003-06-20T14:26:36Z")
All I know is Jeebus is involved somehow. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/8 "2003-06-20T14:52:21Z")
Ned Flanders goes to the same church, which confuses the issue. Because you know, Ned acts more like a Baptist. Homer: “Could Jesus microwave a burrito so hot that he himself could not eat it?” ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/9 "2003-06-20T15:04:04Z")
They are not Catholic, that’s for sure- After Marge asks about last rights, Rev. Lovejoy says “…that’s Catholic Marge. You might as well ask me to do a voodoo dance.” Then there’s- Rev. Lovejoy (to Catholic priest): Nice Dress Priest: Oh go home and have sex with your wife! Rev. Lovejoy: Oh that’s it, bring it on! ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/10 "2003-06-20T15:18:34Z")
ISTR that in one episode the family became Movementarians. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/11 "2003-06-20T15:27:46Z")
Off to Cafe Society. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/12 "2003-06-20T15:31:38Z")
I would recommend reading [The Gospel According to the Simpsons](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0664224199/qid=1056122839/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5271700-4633517?v=glance&s=books). ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/13 "2003-06-20T15:32:47Z")
Reverend Loverjoy being married is the biggest hint they aren’t catholic! ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/14 "2003-06-20T15:40:53Z")
There’s another episode where Bart complains, “Mom, I’m starving. Can we go Catholic so we can get crackers and booze?” And Marge replies, “No one is going Catholic. 3 children is enough, thank you.” ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/15 "2003-06-20T15:48:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by watsonwil \* > \*\*Reverend Loverjoy being married is the biggest hint they aren’t catholic! \*\* True, but aren’t there a handful of married priests that converted from other religions? Didn’t one episode have Marge being comforted by a priest: Marge: Sorry, but we’re not Catholic. Priest: Then enjoy your stay in hell! I might have imagined that one… ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/16 "2003-06-20T16:38:10Z")
I think they’re Presboluthertists. Either that or Epyscobatheran. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/17 "2003-06-20T16:51:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Lisa is now Buddist. No, Lisa’s religion is whatever is “cutting edge”. She’ll probably go Scientologist one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/18 "2003-06-20T16:55:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by smiling bandit \* > \*\*No, Lisa’s religion is whatever is “cutting edge”. She’ll probably go Scientologist one of these days. \*\* Well, you are right about saying she is “cutting edge”, but wrong in saying, “No.” She did convert to Buddhism in the Richard Gere episode. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/19 "2003-06-23T15:43:31Z")
After walking past a few churches such as “Bed, Bath and Ba’Hai,” “Whiskey a God God,” and “Amish,” which was the best since it was all in lights. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144/20 "2003-06-23T15:49:47Z")
Did she stay Buddhist? I remember the episode ending with Gere saying they respected other religions, so she went home to celebrate Xmas. I figured she was slowly easing back to Christianity. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religion-are-the-simpsons/183144.md?page=2)