Family Guy, an animated television show, called Adventists "crazy" and mocked Methodists Sunday night.
It happened during the show's Jan. 29 episode, "Livin' on a Prayer." Watch the clip below:
So far, online reaction from Seventh-day Adventists has been mixed.
The majority of people said they felt it was neat to have their faith mentioned on television. They felt the clip didn't make Adventists look bad and say it illustrates other people's reactions to Adventists worshipping on Saturday.
Others said they were offended for being called "crazy." They hoped Saturday worship isn't the only thing Adventists are known for, especially since the show incorrectly said the only difference between Adventists and Methodists is the day they worship on.
Family Guy has a history of mocking different world religions and individuals. The Parents Television Council has called Family Guy one of the "worst prime-time shows for family viewing," due to graphic adult content and themes.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church commented about the video on Twitter.
At least it wasn't South Park ... RT @asabbathblog Family Guy calls Adventists "crazy," mocks Methodists. WATCH: bit.ly/whgqLY
— Adventist Church (@adventistchurch) January 30, 2012
What do you think about this? Join the conversation in the comments below.
14 comments:
This doesn't even make us look so bad. It's the majority of Christians that are made out to look bad, I think.
I hated that show before and I hate that show now. It makes no sense, like it was directed by a toddler.
Okay, here's my take:
I know reality when I see it. People will make fun of people, people will tease people and that's just reality.
So, I watch the show, but I don't take it as something to BELIEVE in. I can grasp that this is fictional and one person's viewpoint.
If we really know the truth, why do we have to be shocked as to how others perceive us? If you're saying "Oh my! I'm boycotting this show!" You're saying that you're not really understanding the whole picture.
Removing ourselves from the world is not how we can reach the world; removing ourselves from a circle of people because they tease us or believe in different things than us won't help us reach out to them.
So, when people ask me: "Have you watched that Family Guy episode where..." I'm going to say "Yes I did; it was pretty funny, stupid but funny. I don't agree with it, but I still laughed." We'll get on to the topic as to why I think it's stupid or don't agree with it... which will start, hopefully, a good discussion, planting a seed.
IF we boycott the world and all the worldly things, how can we perceive ways to reach out to other people?
Jesus came down to be a part of this world; if we are Christians, Christ followers, we too need to do the same thing. You may not agree with it but that's how we can understand the way this world is so we can better reach out to other people.
In all reality, I like Family Guy for doing this; they may have mocked us, however, someone is going to go do research about Adventists and hopefully / prayerfully will read something that will guide them to the truth!
This mainly makes fun of anyone who thinks Adventists are crazy just for the day we worship on. I enjoy Family Guy and this doesn't make me change my opinion of it.
Interesting... even though the Adventists are called "crazy", the so-called "representative" character for Adventists is the most composed and least crazy individual in the scene.
I didn't think it made us look bad either. I mean how many times have you told another person that we worship on saturday and got those stares of disbelief? I think it was humorous, that has happened to me numerous times.
Phew. When I saw the headline, I was fearing much worse. I still hope that the South Park guys never take on Adventists.
I for one have never seen the show, however I did post the clip on my FB page earlier. I found it for what it is. Funny, maybe not for everyone, but if this is going to bother us as SDA Christians, I believe some may need to grow thicker skin. You are going to need it. What is coming down the pike for us Christians will be way worse than a silly cartoon (that shouldn't be watched by children btw)
I've never seen Family Guy, and this little clip is too short to make any firm decisions. But it seems to me that it was the Methodist who was acting crazy, not the Adventist. It was mocking people who over-react to differences, not Adventists.
This was really the first time that our Faith has been mentioned on a pop-culture show, and I laughed my head off. Most people in the Hollywood area seem to know who Adventists are and what we're like. They know about our medical systems and world relief societies, and they know we are decent people. Mormon's, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, and Christian Science gets mocked way more than us.
It's true that if Trey Parker and Matt Stone(South Park, The Book of Mormon Musical) wanted to, they could make a South Park episode about Adventists, I mean look at what they could attack: Ellen White, Vegetarianism, Sabbath Keeping, End Times Belief, and Foot Washing as part of the Communion.
Luckily we have managed to not be made a major public figure of mockery. Funny thing is, people do give me odd reactions at first to what I tell them I believe as an SDA Christian, and whats cool is that the atheists I have talked to have said that what we believe makes more sense. :]
I watched this episode with my wife. We talked about it and felt like we got free publicity!!! I watched a few well known African American SDA pastors during a an interview recently at PELC @ OAKWOOD U. THey spoke about Adventists not being "known" in the U.S. and World community. Well... this show just gave us some airtime. But the question I have is....Did they really call us "Adventists" crazy or did they mean everyone else?
There are only two masters, you can't watch one while serving the other. I have come to the conclusion that MOST TV shows are not acceptable in my opinion. I downloaded the clip of this and watched it and was glad we got mentioned. Anytime we get mentioned I wonder who was thinking "What's a Seventh-Day Adventist?"
You would be surprised how many people have never heard of an Adventist here in the country where the church was formed. To me that is a huge embarrassment.
The joke was definitely intended to make fun of people who are irrationally intolerant of other religions. In this case, it was very funny, because there are more similarities between "mainstream" christians denominations and SDA than there are differences. The obvious biggest difference is day of worship. I consider this a big compliment to SDA. I guess it might have been a little insulting to methodists.
I think, being mentioned on Family Guy wasn't that bad at all. We, SDAs should know better. Why should we be offended with this worldly TV show when this show doesn't even know what we believe in? Besides, we've built hospitals, trained doctors and nurses. That alone, they don't know about.
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