Drawing on religion
For better — and sometimes worse — animated series are no longer rare venues for sharing spiritual messages
By DAVID CRUMM

Detroit Free Press

This isn't entirely a laughing matter.

When The Simpsons Movie opens next week, at least some of the folks flocking to theaters will be looking for spiritual messages among the hilarious exploits of America's most famous canary-hued family.

Among them will be Rabbi Daniel Wolpe of Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, Ill. Over the years, he has used clips from the TV series to raise moral issues for teenagers in religious classes.

"The Simpsons occasionally makes fun of hypocrisy in religion, but not the ideals of religion," Wolpe said. "Some of the episodes that I like best might be called, 'Homer Learns a Lesson.' Usually in those episodes, Homer winds up with new respect for religious values." the rest