Hollywood Ph.D.

Get your doctorate in pop culture.

by Ted Cascio

House & Psychology, Episode 23

By Ted Cascio, Ph.D. on January 13, 2012 in Hollywood Ph.D.

For my money, one of the least ambiguous passages in the Christian bible is Matthew 19:24:

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Alright, that sounds perfectly straightforward. Ritzy folks get everlastingly pitch-forked in the rump after they die. Ten-four, big buddy. Read More

A Lot Depends on an Atheist's Endgame

Submitted by astorian on January 13, 2012 - 9:16am.

Is Gregory House a valuable asset to atheists? Speaking as a Catholic, I'd have to say that depends on what atheists actually want.

Do they just want to hear a character on TV make the kind of anti-religious wisecracks they themselves would like to make? Do they just get a kick out of hearing somebody mocking religion on a popular TV show?

Okay, fair enough. No reason for me to deny you a laugh.

But if you think Gregory House is winning you any converts, well, let's not forget... Gregory House is kind of an ahole, isn't he? Not just to Christians, but to EVERYBODY. To steal a great line from "Miller's Crossing," even his friends don't like him!

Yes, House is a brilliant doctor and an interesting character. But do you really imagine any Christian watching "House" comes away thinking, By golly, he's right, and I'm completely wasting my life on a silly superstition"?

Of course not! They either change the channel, thinking "What an idiot" (which is what all of House's colleagues think, incidentally) or they laugh at him. Hey, there's a long history of people watching TV shows about characters who espouse repulsive views. Did any liberal watch Archie Bunker and suddenly realize, "Wow, he's right"? Did any law-abiding citizen decide to take up crime after watching Tony Soprano?

Of course not! Similarly, I can watch "House" and enjoy watching Hugh Laurie solve the central medical mystery. But Gregory House is such an obnoxious jerk, it's VERY easy to dismiss anything he says that's SUPPOSED to be profound. If Gregory House sneers at us Christians, well, it's awfully easy to sneer back, "Look at him- he's miserable and doesn't have a real friend in the world, but we're supposed to take HIS advice on how to live? No thanks."