We have an Atheist on popular TV

[SiouxJ]

I was reading the paper Sunday evening and someone else at my home was watching "Malcolm in the Middle" (just so you don't get the idea that I chose to watch it myself). Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised at the episode as in it, the mother revealed to the father, that she was an Atheist. He became obsessed with the issue because he wanted her to share in his belief that they would spend eternity in heaven together and at one point he insisted she, well, basically renounce her Atheism so he could sleep at night, lol. I didn't watch the whole thing so I don't know what ended up happening but I thought it was cool that they at least had the balls to present the issue. Anybody else hear about this? I'm surprised the fundies aren't all up in arms about it actually.

[Dookus]

1. I saw it

and liked it.

Actually, she never stated she was an atheist. She said she didn't believe in heaven or an afterlife, although the implication is that she was an atheist.

Hal begged her to even PRETEND she believed, because he had planned to spend eternity with her, but she refused.

Then, at the end, her son had an important revelation about his own behavior that showed maturity and insight, so she went to Hal and said "OK honey, I DO believe in heaven".

It was sweet.

[SiouxJ]

2. Thanks for the re-cap

I was reading and my friend suddenly said - "she's an atheist" and then I got interested and started watching a bit. I thought the conversation in bed was sweet as well. He just couldn't handle the thought of not always being with her. I could overlook any religious overtones just because that message was so endearing.

[Taxloss]

3. I haven't seen the episode, but I love MitM.

I don't know if that is a positive thing; Lois is great, but she's hardly a positive role model. Of either of the parents was ateist, I would say Hal - secular upper middle class upbringing. Lois comes from Russian immigrants. I'm not buying that Hal is the faithful one.

[SiouxJ]

4. I come from Russian immigrants too

I don't really understand what that has to do with it. My grandparents never went to church. My mother and her sister did but I don't recall my "could barely speak English" Russian grandparents ever going with them.

I was raised in an upper middle class environment, by my 100% Russian Orthodox Mother and 100% Episcopalian Swedish father. We went to church every Sunday and I'm an agnostic now. I think a lot of times we become atheists and agnostics BECAUSE we had that experience growing up. I don't think you can predict who will be religious and who won't based on who they were raised by. Most of my friends who aren't religious, were raised by very religious people.

I haven't really watched MITM much lately but I did when it first came out and I think they played it right by making Lois the "atheist." She was always the more rational one of the two (as I recall). Hal is more emotional. Just my opinion and maybe it's not valid since I don't really follow the show anymore. It's interesting that you see them differently :-) .

[Taxloss]

5. Sorry for stereotyping. I didn't mean to.

I'm not sure about Hal being the more "emotional" one though - maybe the more compassionate one. Anger is an emotion, after all. As for rational, she is a lateral thinker and no mistake!

[progressoid]

6. Shhot, missed it - will have to catch the rerun this summer.

kinda reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when Elaine and Puddy get into an argument about the after life etc.

-----------------------

Elaine's hallway. The door opens, Puddy steps out in his bathrobe. There's a newspaper in front of the door across from Elaine's.

Puddy: Elaine, they forgot to deliver your paper today. Why don't you just grab that one.

Elaine: 'Cause that belongs to Mr. Potato Guy, that's his.

Puddy: C'mon, get it.

Elaine: Well if you want it, you get it.

Puddy: Sorry, thou shalt not steal.

Elaine: Oh, but it's ok for me?

Puddy: What do you care, you know where you're going.

Elaine: Alright, that is it! I can't live like this.

Puddy: Nah.

Elaine: C'mon.

Puddy: Alright, what did I do?

Elaine: David, I'm going to hell! The worst place in the world! With devils and those caves and the ragged clothing! And the heat! My god, the heat! I mean, what do you think about all that?

Puddy: Gonna be rough.

Elaine: Uh, you should be trying to save me!

Puddy: Don't boss me! This is why you're going to hell.

Elaine: I am not going to hell and if you think I'm going to hell, you should care that I'm going to hell even though I am not.

Puddy: You stole my Jesus fish, didn't you?

Elaine: Yeah, that's right!

Elaine places her hands beside her head, index fingers raised as 'horns' and she emits a gutteral growling sound.

[onager]

7. I'll REALLY know we've arrived...

...when I see an exchange like this one on 'Murican network TV. This is from the very old "BlackAdder Xmas Carol" with Rowan Atkinson:

Baldrick: Well, I was a bit rushed. I've been helping out with the workhouse nativity play.

Ebenezer: Oh, of course! How did it go?

Baldrick: Well, not very well -- at the last moment, the baby playing Jesus died!

Ebenezer: Oh, dear! This high infant-mortality rate is a real devil when it comes to staging quality children's theatre. What did you do?

Baldrick: Got another Jesus.

Ebenezer: Oh, thank goodness. ...and his name?

Baldrick: `Spot'. There weren't any more children, so we had to settle for a dog instead.

Ebenezer: Oh, dear... I'm not convinced that Christianity would have established its firm grip over the hearts and minds of mankind if all Jesus had ever said was "Woof."

Baldrick: Well, it went all right until the shepherds came on. See, we hadn't been able to get any real sheep, so we had to stick some wool--

Ebenezer: ...on some other dogs.

Baldrick: Yeah... and the moment Jesus got a whiff of them, he's away! While the angel's singing "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Mankind," Jesus scampers across and tries to get one of the sheep to give him a piggyback ride!

Ebenezer: Scarcely appropriate behaviour for the son of God, Mr Baldrick. Weren't the children upset?

Baldrick: Nah, they loved it. They want us to do another one at Easter -- they want to see us nail up the dog.