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Summary: Every Christian can watch the Simpson's
Review: I've always told my Christian friends that The Simpson's is a great show and that I'm not some heathen becuase I watch it. Now thanks to Mark Pinsky I can show them I am not alone.Pinsky argues that while The Simpson's is an irreverant show and does indeed make fun of Christianity it is still one of the most Christian shows on TV. While it's not in a league with 7th Heaven and the like it is one of the few shows on TV that ever shows people going to church. Half the people in America go to church at least once a week yet it's rare to see a TV family even mention church let alone attend. If you're a Christian and you love the Simpson's (or know someone that does) then this is a book you should read.
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Summary: NICE STUDY OF THE SIMPSONS
Review: If you're buying this book thinking that it shows how watching "The Simpsons" saves souls, you should reconsider. This book doesn't focus on Simpsons providing the gospel through the show, this book focuses on the spirituality in general of the television series. I found this book to be an entertaining and serious look at the life of our beloved animated family, the book uses extensive show references to point out that "The Simpsons" *is* more spiritually relevent than "Touched by an Angel" or any other prime-time show. Pinsky points out time and time again how often "The Simpsons" tackle issues of morality and spirituality and even theology. While often satirizing Christianity and many other major religions, the show brings to light serious problems with the Church today. Again, this isn't a Simpson's sunday school reader, this is an organized and in-depth look at how The Simpsons relate to religion and deal with problems of spirituality.
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Summary: A Stretch? Possibly, But Very Compelling
Review: If you're buying this book thinking that it shows how watching "The Simpsons" saves souls, you should reconsider. This book doesn't focus on Simpsons providing the gospel through the show, this book focuses on the spirituality in general of the television series. I found this book to be an entertaining and serious look at the life of our beloved animated family, the book uses extensive show references to point out that "The Simpsons" *is* more spiritually relevent than "Touched by an Angel" or any other prime-time show. Pinsky points out time and time again how often "The Simpsons" tackle issues of morality and spirituality and even theology. While often satirizing Christianity and many other major religions, the show brings to light serious problems with the Church today. Again, this isn't a Simpson's sunday school reader, this is an organized and in-depth look at how The Simpsons relate to religion and deal with problems of spirituality.
Rating: 
Summary: An Apologetic Aimed Squarely at Protestant Evangelicals
Review: In "The Gospel According to the Simpsons," author Mark Pinsky ostensibly sets out to provide a researched (and one would hope, reasonably objective) overview of the diverse religious and spiritual content in "The Simpsons." Sadly, he clearly misses that aim, wasting no time in celebrating his own sectarian biases. He persistently appeals to Protestant evangelical interpretations (both his own and those culled from numerous other writers and religious leaders) of the television show, giving little more than a half-hearted nod to the input of adherents of other belief systems. Furthermore, in the midst of the unceasingly Protestant evangelical themes that dominate this book, Pinsky's tone regarding the numerous objections by Catholics to "The Simpsons" content is condescending, and he pays relatively little attention to Jewish and Hindu issues. In the end, the author has abandoned the opportunity to produce an objective and entertaining work, and has instead written a 152-page pamphlet (bolstered by testimonials from people like Mike Tilly, the "national director for U.S. expansion" for Campus Crusade for Christ), whose primary goal is to reassure skeptical Protestant evangelicals that 'The Simpsons' might not be so sinful after all.
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Summary: Finding God In Unexpected Places
Review: In THE GOSPEL ACCORDING THE THE SIMPSONS, Mark Pinsky shows us that it's possible to find God in some of the most unexpected places. Originally, The Simpsons was largely eschewed by the evangelical Christian community, because of Bart's rebellious ways. But as the show grew older, and the focus turned more towards Homer, Pinsky shows that people of faith who weren't watching were missing out on some of the most "Christian" television around. Seriously. The Simpsons not only contains blatantly Christian characters but it explores issues of faith that other shows would never touch with a 50 foot pole. Ned Flanders, though ragged on by Homer a lot, is perhaps the best depiction of an evangelical-type Christian in mainstream television history. Lisa Simpson seems to present the side of the social Gospel. Marge's real faith in God also shines through. Though characters with faith are often made fun of, in the end the show always seems to prove that the joke is on the joker, not the jokee. The Simpsons isn't trying to evangelize, but it is surprisingly fair and evenhanded in its presentations, and with how it deals out the humor. In its history the show has dealt with subjects like cults, hypocricy, why God allows evil, hell, and forgiveness. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE SIMPSONS surprised me, made me laugh out loud multiple times each chapter, and was just an all-around enjoyable read. The picture of Christianity that is presented isn't perfect. The writers stumble on theological points many times (such as grace vs. works). This will happen when you're not a theologian and, in most cases, not even a Christian. But in spite of that, Pinsky shows that the Springfield world of Homer is one that is rich in faith and religious devotion. For Christians who can let their hair down and roll with a few jokes, The Simpsons proves that even in the midst of our post-Christian culture, in Hollywood, and even on the Fox Network, God can be found if you dare to look for Him. As Homer might say, "Mmmmm.... a FIVE STAR book..."
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Summary: Word! Think and laugh
Review: Makes watching the Simpsons more fun after you read this book. Love how this book blends episodes and religious themes. Would love to see a book on the classics they spoof in the Simpsons. Even I can't catch all the references. Gotta love reruns!
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Summary: Examination of Springfield Religion
Review: Mark Pinsky grew up in a Conservative Jewish home and is an experienced writer. Writing for the Orlando Sentinel and specializing in evangelical Christianity, he is able to offer a unique and analytical perspective on religion as it appears in The Simpsons. His topics of examination vary from morality to the afterlife to the established church and even to religions other than Christianity. The book does focus mainly on Christianity and is disserving of its title. One will not come closer to God by any means through reading this book, but one will have a greater appreciation for the show's creators and their development of the residents of Springfield. The Gospel According to the Simpsons casts not necessarily a new light on the characters but rather a much brighter and more penetrating one. The book itself takes a reverent tone toward religion and even portrays, to a point, The Simpsons this way. Pinsky does an excellent job of presenting the spirituality and religion of several characters and the town weather it be pious, hypocritical, indifferent, or of another faith all together. Any fan of the series will appreciate this book and feel a more kindred spirit with the characters as they are made more real. They still remain yellow cartoon characters, but as this book points out, the producers, at times, give them some inner substance.
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Summary: A Good Look at Religious Content in the Simpsons
Review: My mom's church had a seminar on religious content in the Andy Griffith Show a few years back. I told her that she should suggest doing a similar study on the Simpsons, which I believed touched on more religious issues than the Andy Griffith Show could ever come close to (such issues were way to controversial for the 1960s). I told her about the episode where Bart believes there is no such thing as a soul and "sells" his soul to Milhouse. I described the episode where Rev. Lovejoy loses interest in his profession only to see his congregation rushing to Marge because she would listen to their problems. I told her about the fundamentalist character Ned Flanders and Krusty the Clown who had a falling out with his father, a rabbi, and on and on to no avail. My mom felt her fellow churchgoers would be offended by such an uncouth program as the Simpsons. Low and behold, I find this book and buy it for her as a Mother's Day gift(the Simpsons probably do go to church more often than any other TV family), and I think she finally gets it.
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Summary: A reverent look at an irreverant show
Review: One of my favorite TV shows these days is "The Simpsons", which is arguably the funniest thing on the air. People who give the show a cursory glance always seem to think it lowbrow and crude, but as any fan of the show will tell you, it is intelligently funny, and if you peel back the intricate layers, you will ultimately find a moralistic foundation. As such, I was drawn to "The Gospel According To The Simpsons", which proposed an interesting thesis for the show's quality: that of strong religious roots, and that the show portrays religion in a very positive light. Mr. Pinsky begins his book by relating his way of coming to watch the show. He fell into the category of people who found the show crude, but never sat long enough to dissect it. Finally he came around, and recognized that a case could be made for "The Simpsons" to be the most religiously-based show on television today. Each chapter tackles a specific topic - primarily the individual characters in the show. Mr. Pinsky develops a very strong character profile, showing how each character can be related to people we run across in real-life - or even who we may be in real-life. In doing so, he tackles the religious complexities of each character, and weaves this into his broader thesis. He shows that despite Homer's numerous flaws, he does have Christian beliefs, suggesting he is like a person who believes in God, but doesn't grasp it firmly - using his belief when it serves him. Ned Flanders is described as a cariacture of the born-again or evangelical Christian. Throughout the chapters, Mr. Pinsky highlights many episodes in which religion - or a religious moral - was very much at the forefront. Again, he uses these examples to bolster his main thesis. These episode descriptions do become somewhat repetitive, if only because he focuses on three or four and relates the same description over and over again. This becomes a minor drawback in reading this book, because you wind up feeling like you are re-hashing the same material over and over again. All in all, however, Mr. Pinsky does lay out a very provocative and convincing argument that religion is positively portrayed in "The Simpsons", and that the show is one of the most religiously-based shows on television. It is a fun read for fans, providing a nice new angle on the show. For the skeptics, it may be compelling enough to at least give the show more than a passing glance.
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Summary: Know what you're getting, or get the guide instead!
Review: Pinsky's book is great for "skeptics" of the Simpson's spiritual content and who need convincing. But if you're already on board, his book serves as more of a catalog rather than a source of enlightenment. I read it because I hoped to use the Simpsons with spiritually interested students. In retrospect, the group guide by Mark Pinsky and Samuel Parvin would have been a much better bet. If you're looking for the former, it's a great book (hence the 4 stars). If the latter, stick with the guide.
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