Christians have a long history of being mocked on TV. However, at the same time, there are quite a few that are represented as nearly perfect people. But very few Christians are portrayed how the average Christian really is.
“Parks and Recreation” has the conservative leader of the Society for Family Stability Foundation, Marsha Langman. She is portrayed as basically every extreme Christian protestor and politician all rolled into one person. She is intolerant to the point of blatant ignorance, yet she is so convinced she is right, that she doesn’t care. And she aims to make sure everyone lives just like she does.
“The Office” has the hypocritical (and blind of it) character, Angela. She lives in a constant state of judgment of other people for not following her Christian morality and beliefs. Yet, she is woefully ignorant of even basic tenants of the faith, as she believes she should be vegetarian and also that cats go to Heaven (unless they are euthanized). Oh, also, she just can’t stop sleeping with people who she isn’t in a relationship with.
“The Middle” has the song-singing advice-giving God-loving traveling youth pastor who is so non-judgmental and sweet and perfect that it makes me queasy. He always has an upbeat attitude and a song in his heart and everybody wants his advice, which is treated as advice from God himself, because it’s always right.
And of course, we have good ol’ Ned Flanders. In the 24 laugh-filled seasons of “The Simpson’s,” Ned Flanders has largely been the holiest-of-thous. Nice to your face, but sure of your damnation in private. And sure, he’s gone through quite a few tough times – hurricane destroys his home, wife killed by T-shirt cannon, the Leftorium being on the verge of bankrupting his entire family, and even holing up in the church when the whole town of Springfield was minutes from being destroyed by the government – and yet, despite it all, he has kept the faith. But he’s done it in a way that anyone looking at him from the outside thinks he’s insane, delusional, annoying, and in denial.
But, out of all the “Christian” characters portrayed on TV today, I think that the most realistic of them all is Shirley Bennett, played by Yvette Nicole Brown (a Christian herself) on NBC’s “Community.” Here are 7 reasons why: Continue Reading