The Theology of Scooby-Doo

[Paul DeBaufer]

In his blog, Experimental Theology, Richard Beck takes a look at Scooby-Doo (http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2011/06/scooby-doo-where-are-you-on.html)

Has some clips from the original seasons.

[Susan Unger]

Just when you think you've read it all....along comes Scooby Doo theology. ;)

[Bob Hunter]

Scrappy doo was the devil.

[Steven Martinez]

And to think there is a whole slew of people who are up in arms over the "meddling kids" who keep pulling the mask and revealing the true dangers of the Church... a Gospel void of grace.

[Doug Ward]

Dude..... usually people look for hidden drug references in Scooby-Doo. Litle did I know there was theology in there. Far out man! Someone pass the Doritos.

[Susan Unger]

Scrappy doo was the devil.

He was the reason why I stopped watching. bleh

[Bob Hunter]

He was the reason why I stopped watching. bleh

When scrappy came along it was a huge distraction and helped cause the show's demise. It's called "jumping the shark." It's what happens when a show reaches its peak and goes downhill. Named after the Happy Days episode when Fonzi jumped the shark. The whole series went downhill after that infamous episode. Scooby Doo jumped the shark when scrappy came along, hence, the reason I call him the devil.

[Steven Burton]

Oh there is a lot more such as:

Superman (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Worlds-Greatest-Superhero/dp/0736918124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308851392&sr=8-1)

Peanuts (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Peanuts-Robert-Short/dp/0664222226/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851441&sr=1-1)

Dr. Seuss (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Dr-Seuss/dp/0817014578/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851516&sr=1-12)

Just for Hans (http://www.amazon.com/Get-Carry-Each-Other/dp/0664232175/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851714&sr=1-1) :smilies1722:

[Gina Stevenson]

Oh there is a lot more such as:

Superman (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Worlds-Greatest-Superhero/dp/0736918124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308851392&sr=8-1)

Peanuts (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Peanuts-Robert-Short/dp/0664222226/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851441&sr=1-1)

Dr. Seuss (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Dr-Seuss/dp/0817014578/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851516&sr=1-12)

Just for Hans (http://www.amazon.com/Get-Carry-Each-Other/dp/0664232175/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851714&sr=1-1) :smilies1722:

Yes! I'd like to see the whole book re Peanuts' gospel, & like Charles Schulz's quote re allowing a cartoonist to "preach" ... if a cartoon's humor does not say anything, he suggests it may as well not be done/drawn.

And how did we know before looking what version of the gospel you'd have just for Hans? ;)

[Susan Unger]

Oh there is a lot more such as:

Superman (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Worlds-Greatest-Superhero/dp/0736918124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308851392&sr=8-1)

Peanuts (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Peanuts-Robert-Short/dp/0664222226/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851441&sr=1-1)

Dr. Seuss (http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Dr-Seuss/dp/0817014578/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851516&sr=1-12)

Just for Hans (http://www.amazon.com/Get-Carry-Each-Other/dp/0664232175/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308851714&sr=1-1) :smilies1722:

Actually, I do recall reading a bit of the gospel according to Peanuts eons ago.

[Billy Cox]

In his blog, Experimental Theology, Richard Beck takes a look at Scooby-Doo (http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2011/06/scooby-doo-where-are-you-on.html)

Has some clips from the original seasons.

What if the overplayed hysteria about God's wrath is just 'old man Jenkins' running around in a monster mask?

[Scott Moseley]

Scooby Doo on the "idot box" and a box of Capn' Crunch and cold Milk -- now thats a Saturday Morning.

[Dale Cozby]

One thing I noticed was the shift from everything that appeared supernatural or paranormal was a hoax(The stuff from my childhood) to the paranormal being a reality but actually a battle between good and evil forces with the paranormal being evil and the natural being good.(the stuff as released in my adulthood.)
Anyone care to explain why they did that? Theologically speaking....

[Billy Cox]

One thing I noticed was the shift from everything that appeared supernatural or paranormal was a hoax(The stuff from my childhood) to the paranormal being a reality but actually a battle between good and evil forces with the paranormal being evil and the natural being good.(the stuff as released in my adulthood.)
Anyone care to explain why they did that? Theologically speaking....

The idea that there is a rational explanation for everything is a quintessential modernist idea. As time goes by, we are exposed to an increasing number of modernist 'explanations' that don't add up or are shown to be outright false. Those gaps in credibility give rise to alternate explanations.

[Bob Evans]

I am still try to figure out if Reb Bell beleives in hell. I am really behind.

[Steven Burton]

I actually own the one for Superman. It is actually a pretty interesting read. It takes into account certain aspect from the old and new testament that I would have never thought of and adds in how Superman has evolved in the years and how much symbolism is attached to him.

[John Kennedy]

I am still try to figure out if Reb Bell beleives in hell. I am really behind.
Well, you may be behind, but you seem to have injected a bit of rhyme into things. Indulge me as I expand on what you started: "Does Rob Bell believe in Hell? Only time will tell."

[Billy Cox]

In his blog, Experimental Theology, Richard Beck takes a look at Scooby-Doo (http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2011/06/scooby-doo-where-are-you-on.html)

Has some clips from the original seasons.

I think there are some similarities between Scooby Doo and The Wizard of Oz, neither of which should lead those on the church's payroll to celebrate; namely that supernatural explanations are just a tool for greedy people to profit from the ignorance of others. The villains in Scooby Doo invariably use fear, the occult and/or the supernatural from a profit motive. In both Scooby and Oz, the protagonists overcome their own ignorance and see the supernatural scam for what it is.