Springfield‟s Sacred Canopy: Religion and Humour in The Simpsons by David Seward Feltmate A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2010 ©David Seward Feltmate 2010 AUTHOR'S DECLARATION I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract This dissertation examines religion‟s satirical portrayal in The Simpsons. Building upon a sociological theory of humour developed from Peter Berger‟s sociological theories of knowledge, religion, and humour, it assesses how The Simpsons criticizes America‟s major religious traditions and their social roles. Arguing that the program presents a spectrum of acceptable religious practice, this dissertation demonstrates how The Simpsons constructs its arguments by selectively interpreting each tradition through its most recognizable characteristics and the common sentiments through which those characteristics are interpreted. These “ignorant familiarities” are used as a basis for understanding what Americans presumably know about religion, what is deemed acceptable “religious behaviour” in the public sphere, and what the consequences are for those religions that The Simpsons caricatures. iii Acknowledgements A work of this size does not come to fruition without the help of others. First, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Douglas E. Cowan, for recognizing the value of my work and encouraging me to pursue it. His relentless criticism of my writing has made this dissertation accessible, while his support saved me from despair when I wondered if this was worthwhile. In the end, he encouraged my ambitions when others thought I was stretching myself too thin, and his guidance has made my PhD experience deeply rewarding. He set the bar high, and then showed me how to meet it. Thank you, Doug. I also need to recognize the contributions of my dissertation committee. Lorne Dawson and Scott Kline both provided helpful feedback and challenged my ideas as they developed, making me into a better scholar in the process. Their helpful comments throughout the writing process helped me clarify my ideas and arguments, shaping this work for the better. The Department of Religious Studies at the University of Waterloo has been a fantastic home for the last four years. I would like to thank all the faculty and staff who have helped me in some way during that time, whether asking insightful questions about my research, making me a better instructor in my capacity as a teaching assistant, or organizing social events. Maureen Fraser deserves special thanks for her tireless efforts to build the graduate students into a community and for helping me with all manner of paperwork. Furthermore, without financial assistance from the University of Waterloo and the department, my doctoral studies would have been far more difficult than they already were. Librarian Sandra Keys was also helpful whenever I had issues tracking down sources. The help is much appreciated. Continuing this theme, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for their support through a standard SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship. SSHRC‟s funding enabled me to travel around the world to present my research, and afforded me the time to think and write without worrying about finances. For that, I am grateful. Doctoral studies are a lonely journey, but the people of Glen Acres Baptist Church and Kitchener Kicks Martial Arts have made Waterloo a place where my wife Krista and I will always be welcome. The people at Glen Acres accepted us from the time we arrived in Waterloo, and gave us a place to worship and feel as if we were among family. Living away from our extended families, Krista and I now feel like we have roots in Waterloo thanks to the church. I would also like to thank iv the members of Dave Carr‟s Sunday school class for keeping me sharp and encouraging me along the way. The members of Kitchener Kicks Martial Arts will always be family, just as SiGung Ronald J. Day would have wanted it. The lessons I learned through practicing basics, sparring, and observing the club‟s leaders enabled me to finish this challenge. To the members who have been with me over the last four years, I am a better student and person for training with you, and your friendship has been a welcome shelter from the challenges of dissertation writing. Of course, this dissertation would not have come to pass were it not for the help of my parents. Their love, support, and unwavering belief that I would finish has been a blessing during the difficult times over the years. Mom, thank you for thinking that buying me books is supporting something meaningful. Those gifts made this dissertation possible and many of your presents are listed in the bibliography. Dad, you are one of my strongest critics, never letting me get away with half-formed ideas or incoherent arguments. Talking with you has helped me become a better communicator, teacher, and scholar. Last, and most important, I want to thank my wife. Krista, your unwavering love, support, and pride have seen me through to the end of this project. You have been a dissertation widow many nights, but you stuck with me on this journey, and I look forward to the next steps together. Anybody who has written a dissertation and come through with their spouse still loving them realizes just how lucky they are, and I am truly lucky. Thank you. v Dedication For Mom and Dad, who taught me the joy of humour and For Krista and Dominic, who keep me laughing vi Table of Contents AUTHOR'S DECLARATION .................................................................................................. ii Abstract .................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. iv Dedication ................................................................................................................................ vi Table of Contents .................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1 —Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 —The Study of Religion and Popular Culture: A Literature Review ..................... 10 2.1 Religion in Theory and Practice .................................................................................... 10 2.1.1 Lived Religion in America ..................................................................................... 15 2.2 Popular Culture and Its Significance ............................................................................. 20 2.2.1 Popular Culture‟s Significance: A Matter of Taste ................................................ 24 2.3 Religion and Popular Culture: A Diversity of Approaches ........................................... 29 Chapter 3 —Are Catholics Funny? Religious Comedy in The Simpsons ............................... 37 3.1 The Sociologies of Knowledge, Religion, and Humour: Interwoven Elements in Berger‟s Thought ............................................................................................................ 38 3.1.1 Berger‟s Sociology of Religion: Legitimating Sacred Canopies ............................ 41 3.1.2 Humour and Knowledge in The Simpsons ............................................................. 44 3.2 Catholicism in The Simpsons: A Preliminary Theoretical Application ......................... 56 3.3 Where Do We Go From Here? ...................................................................................... 63 Chapter 4 —Spirituality and Science: Acceptable Religion in The Simpsons ........................ 65 4.1 “Spirituality” in The Simpsons ...................................................................................... 65 4.1.1 Spiritual Appropriation in The Simpsons................................................................ 72 4.1.2 Spirituality and Consumerism ................................................................................ 82 4.2 Science‟s Rational Challenge ........................................................................................ 90 4.3 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 94 Chapter 5 —Protestant Contributions to The Simpsons‟ Unseen Order .................................. 96 5.1 God: Too Old and Too Rich to be a Class Act? ............................................................ 97 5.2 Reverend Lovejoy and the Protestant First Church of Springfield ............................. 106 5.3 Ned Flanders‟ Dynamic Evangelicalism ..................................................................... 113 5.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 120 vii Chapter 6 —Insiders or Outsiders? Judaism and Hinduism ................................................. 123 6.1 Crossing and Dwelling: Migration and Changing Religious Identities ...................... 124