Well the Simpsons is quite problematic to analyse. Its nominally subversive, but can a programme with such popularity and so ensconced in our schedules really be subversive?
I think the moment that Flanders burned the proof of the non-existance of god was entirely in keeping with the rest of his character portrayal. As I have remarked before, IMO 99% of christianity is not about god at all, but about about being some kind of Good Citizen, and Flanders relentless politeness, the small-mindedness of his family, and their inability to think beyond their box bear this out. In this regard the Simpsons accords with being perceived as having a subversive message about christianity, as Flanders does not appear to be in touch with the real world, and to use his faith as a crutch for so doing. Unfortunately, I have met people very much like him.
And yet, the moments in which religion is portrayed as being genuinely, rather than opportunistically, important to Flanders undermine this subversiveness, and I wonder if there is some extraneous "balance" agenda at work. Similarly, I have little sympathy for the present lesbian controversy, because they have chosen to make their lesbian the very caricature of the ugly, sexless, hairy-legged woman beloved of homophobes and misogynists.
Anyway, I do not think Flanders paints christianity in a flattering light. A realistic and accruate light, yes, but not a flattering one, by and large.
™ Version 4.2
