Cartoons and Religion: Bender Meets God

"Bender, being God isn't easy..."

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Haha I love that 'God' explains what he does in this single, paradoxical statement: "When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."

Anyways, this clip is from an episode of Futurama, one of my favourite animated shows. Futurama is set in the year 3000, and focuses on the adventures of the employees of 'Planet Express', an intergalactic delivery service. The cast of characters includes: Philip J. Fry, a dim-witted average joe who was accidently frozen in the year 2000 and revived in the next millenium; his distant nephew Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, who is a mad scientist; Bender, a foul-mouthed heavy-drinking robot who is Fry's best friend and roommate; Leela, a one-eyed mutant who is captain of the delivery ship; Dr. Zoidberg (one of my favourites), a lobster-like alien whose medical training is rather questionable; and other strange and hilarious characters that include a Jamaican accountant (Hermes Conrad) and a Martian with an asian heritage (Amy Wong). Futurama was developed by none other than Matt Groening, who created The Simpsons, and David X. Cohen, who was one of the main writers.

What I love about Futurama is that it is not just a funny show but one that is really cleverly written. The show often alludes to complex mathematical and scientific theories and equations, which is perhaps not suprising considering that head writer David X. Cohen holds degrees in Physics and Computer Science. This show is satirical, intelligent and funny, and most certainly a little geeky.

One of my favourite episodes, from which the above clip is taken, is called "Godfellas" (Season 3 Episode 20). In this episode, the robot Bender becomes lost in space. After a collision with an asteroid a civilization of tiny human-like creatures live on him and worship him as their god. However, this civilization soon becomes divided, and they destroy themselves in the process. Shortly after Bender meets a god-like entity and asks him what he should have done for his worshippers - as shown in the clip above. Meanwhile, Bender's friends Fry and Leela are looking for him, and eventually find a group of monks that are using a telescope to 'find' God. Here are some other great quotes from this episode:

Fry: Is there anything religion can do to help me find my friend?
Pastor: Well, we could join together in prayer.
Fry: Uh huh, but is there anything useful we can do?
Pastor: No.

and

Monk #1: He speaks out of love for his friend. Perhaps that love in his heart is God.

Monk #2: Oh, how convenient, a theory about God that doesn't require looking through a telescope. Get back to work!

This episode is a great example of what I love about this show. It tactfully satirizes God and religion, but in a non-offensive and humorous way. The 'God' it depicts has nothing to do with the world anymore (he even asks, "Earth, which way is that?") and explains the problem of free-will versus divine intervention by telling Bender, "If you do too much, people get dependent on you. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch, like a safecracker or a pickpocket." And yet, this 'God' actually seems somewhat plausible.

In this episode Futurama singlehandly satirizes, critiques, and actually offers a pretty good analysis of God and religion, and that is why I think this show is brilliant.

...and remember, "when you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."

(Quotes are taken from: http://www.gotfuturama.com/Multimedia/EpisodeSounds/3ACV20/)