They show a surprising respect for the role that religion plays in American life. Eventually, Heeren became so intrigued that he analyzed 71 episodes of the animated series, taping re-runs at random. Now in its 12th season, The Simpsons just aired its 250th episode. This milestone came shortly after Heeren presented his findings before the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. He found that 69 percent of the episodes contained at least one religious reference and, in 11 percent, the plot centered on a religious issue.
Faith is just part of the mix.
But this is where things get complicated, said Heeren. The show specializes in mocking the generic pseudo-religion found in American popular culture. This only raises a bigger question. Several religious themes appear over and over, said Heeren. This concept appears so often that it cannot simply be dismissed as a joke.