I thought the article was a little too soft on ‘The Simpsons.’ Recent episodes have done everything they can to portray people of faith (Flanders in particular) as brainless, bigoted loons who are inevitably proven wrong every time they’re featured in an episode.
I just hope the Simpsons movie is less biased than the last couple seasons of the show have been.
I am not sure what version of the Simpsons you have been watching, but, I haven’t seen them ever portray Flanders as anything but a kind and protective (sometimes overprotective) father. He is sometimes shown as Naive, but, many people are naive without being stupid. Flanders is also shown as overcoming adversity with faith.
I have always thought the Simsons were very respectful to Faith, while ragging on religions.
In fact, when they actually have shown God, they show God with normal human features (five fingers and toes) and normal colored skin. Of course God is not human, but, many have personified God in the past, and, I am sure that many more will in the future.
Of course, the best show was left out.
(to the opening theme)
Futurama...Futurama...Futurama...FUturamamama.