October 17th, 2007 | 
Author: I’m still counting down The Best Moments of Futurama.
This mini-series of posts is counting down to the release of the all-new Futurama DVD, Bender’s Big Score, set to be released on November 27, 2007.
What’s God like? There’s sorta the traditional version of an authoritarian bearded old guy, and there’s the hippy version of commie Jesus, and all points in between.
6. Bender meets God
One thing I’ve always liked about Futurama is that when it’s political, it’s not overtly partisan like, say, “Family Guy”, “American Dad”, or 90% of the other shows on Adult Swim. In this episode, there’s lots of commentary about religion, war as a result of misuse of religion, and misconceptions about religion. It’s not calling believers stupid, and it’s also not preachy. It’s very good, and most importantly, it’s entertaining.
So, what is God like? Personally, I think the Futurama version is close. Futurama delivers a very serious, meaningful moment, but peppers it with appropriate humor.
So what lesson did I learn? You can’t count on God for jack!
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This is another great episode, and it took me several watchings to get the meaning of the ending. “When you do things right, people won’t be sure you did anything at all.” Even after several viewing, even I, as an external viewer, didn’t realize what had actually transcribed — that the monks’ God had actually saved them via Bender, with no one realizing anything had been done at all…
Isn’t it calling believers stupid by the very inclusion of God in a science fiction show?
Oh, I’ll play your game, you rogue.
Are you also ready to say that “The Outcast” (TNG episode first broadcast on March 16, 1992) is calling homosexuality a work of science fiction as well?
Star Trek isn’t science fiction! It’s real!!!