Includes bibliographical references (pages 159-160).

Introduction: Epiphany on the sofa -- Divine imagery: "Perfect teeth. Nice smell. A class act all the way." -- Personal prayer: "Dear God, give the bald guy a break!" -- Does Lisa speak for Jesus? "There's something wrong with that kid. She's so moral." -- The evangelical next door: "If everyone were like Ned Flanders, there'd be no need for Heaven." -- The church and the preacher: "We don't have a prayer!" -- Heaven, Hell, and the Devil: "I'd sell my soul for a donut" -- Moral dilemmas: "Dad, we may have saved your soul" -- The Bible: "I think it may be somewhere toward the back" -- Catholics: "That's Catholic, Marge--voodoo" -- The Jews: "Mel Brooks is Jewish?--are we Jewish?" -- Miscellaneous: "Hindu! There are 700 million of us!" -- The creators: "Humor is in indirect proportion to one's true belief" -- Conclusion: Cloaking the sacred with the profane?

This is the first book-length treatment of the religious implications of "The Simpsons, " which has been called by some religious leaders the most theologically relevant show on TV. Using his accessible style, Pinsky explores the treatment of God on the show, the use of prayer in the Simpson household, Lisa as the voice of Jesus, the evangelical Flanders, and the moral dilemmas the characters face.