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Reviewed by Skip Parvin, pastor, Tuscawilla United Methodist Church, Casselberry, Florida The Gospel According to the Simpsons by Mark I. Pinsky If you believe in the power of popular culture to teach Christian theology, ethics and values, then Mark Pinsky’s The Gospel According to the Simpsons needs to be at the top of your reading list. As one of many whose original response to The Simpsons was one of casual disdain, I was amazed at the depth of theological content Pinsky has revealed in this book (which has led me to join my sons as a confirmed Simpson fan!) Pinsky demonstrates that The Simpsons is a foundational source for satirical commentary on the state of contemporary spiritual culture. His insightful observations and witty style make the book a joy to read. He has organized the content around key issues which makes the book even more accessible. The chapters focus on topics such as heaven, hell and the devil, the church and the preacher, personal prayer, moral dilemmas, and the Bible. This makes it easy to move from one issue to another. I even found myself jumping ahead to read about issues that intrigued me more than others. This makes The Gospel According to the Simpsons a valuable resource for preachers everywhere. Stuck for a hip sermon illustration? Why not see what Bart and Lisa have to say about it? Looking for that quick, spontaneous 15-minute devotional that will prove to the youth group that you’re actually cool? Why not turn to Homer and Marge? My only minor criticism is that the book has no index, but you really don’t need one as the organization of the ideas is so logical, clear and concise.
All that being said, what impressed me the most about The Gospel According to the Simpsons was Mark Pinsky’s insightful sensitivity into the ways that The Simpsons could divide or offend viewers. About a third of the book is dedicated to the way the series satirizes various cultural subgroups. Chapters on the way the show treats Catholics, Jews, Hindus and Evangelical Christians provide a starting point for ecumenical dialogue on the way these groups are viewed by larger culture. Pinsky is careful to present both sides of every issue, often disarming potential critics by anticipating their concerns. Pinsky also demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of “high culture” as he is able to credibly tie the Simpsons to classic literature from Thomas Mann to Issac Bashevis Singer. While you might be hard pressed to find two or three people in a local congregation who have read Mann or Singer, you will have no problem finding people who know and love the Simpsons.
We can spend our time telling people what they should be reading or watching, but does that mean they will read it or watch it? On the other hand, as Pinsky points out for us, we can use what people do watch as a starting point for helping them to understand their own theology and spirituality. Even if you want to be “in the world but not of the world,” you still have to know what the world is thinking. More people than we realize agree with Homer Simpson when he says, “It’s better to watch things than to do things.” For some people, popular culture is their only culture. Mark Pinsky helps us to find what we believe in relation to what we watch, and that is as important a task as one can find at the beginning of the 21st century.
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