Glee to Add a Christian Character?
As you can imagine, Glee‘s portrayal of Christians has ruffled more than a few feathers. The only outright Christian character, Quinn, was pregnant by the fourth episode, and subsequently kicked out of her house by her steadfast traditionalist father. Emma includes Anne Coulter in her list of detrimental children’s role models. Sue takes a jab at Sarah Palin. Quinn’s judgmental father watches Glenn Beck. While most applaud Glee for it’s promotion of acceptance and community, many of the show’s conservative Christian fans have yet to be gratified. So Ryan Murphy has decided to introduce a Christian character for season two.
“I’m adding a Christian character,” he says to TV Guide. “We’ve taken a couple jabs at the right wing this year, so what I want to do with this character is have someone who Christian kids and parents can recognize and say, ‘Oh, look—I’m represented there, too!’ If we’re trying to form a world of inclusiveness, we’ve got to include that point of view as well.”
Apparently, this new addition will “speak her mind and be listened to and respected — though likely not by Kurt, whose homosexuality she won’t accept.”
What do you think? Will this saintly new character stem the flow of conservative frustration, or will people accuse her of being too stereotypical? Post your response in the comments section!
Source: Glee’s Blessed Arrival – TV Guide
I think this whole idea of a christian character would be a good idea but at the same time i dont like the idea that she wont like Kurt and the way he is. The whole show is about them exceptting one another for being outsiders and if they do that then it would throw the whole dynamic off. I do however think that they should make her more accepting and forgiving like the bible says people should be and explain that too the Christains theyre trying to accept
I always admire Murphy’s quest to be inclusive, however I just don’t see the necessity of another Christian character. Quinn isn’t a bad character just because she is a pregnant Christian, and the Ann Coulter and Sarah Palin jabs were silly fun, to bend and apologize for the tone of the show seems a little excessive. I’m a Catholic, and overall it’s not offensive unless people lack faith in how they personally operate. Glee is dark comedy; It has spared nothing in between Puck and Rachel as Jewish characters… I don’t know. Either way I’ll watch, but I don’t think it’s necessary.
Seriously? The reason why the cast and the show work so well is because it’s all so natural, the chemistry and the storylines–it doesn’t seem forced. Adding a Christian character because people are complaining sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Ryan Murphy, rethink this idea!
Well, if they’re adding a Christian character,
why not a Hindu, or Muslim, or Buddhist character?
The whole thing seems kind of ridiculous.
im a christian and the idea that a christian wouldnt accept somebody based on race, gender, or sexual orientation is redonkulous. kurt is my hands-down favorite character and i think that if you really want a “christian” character, they got to love everybody as themselves and love God with everything they got. christians don’t have to be as conservative as everybody thinks because to tell you the truth, rarely any christians are that conservative. that’s all
It seems kind of insulting that we should have a token Christian to go with the gay guy, the wheelchair guy, the goth chick, the pregnant girl, and the black/fat girl. I guess we need a stoner (imagine uptempo Tommy Chong) and a ROTC dude now too.
Wait, so does this mean RM is adding this character along with the three for Season 2? Or is the Christian thing a characteristic of one of the already established new characters?
I feel that this character may not fully accept Kurt’s gayness, but she can be done in a way that doesn’t come off too judgemental.
And even if she has Kurt issues, everyone in the club has issues with someone else at some point.
I mean Mercades and Quinn had some rough patches. Everyones hated Rachel. Puck, Quinn and Finn had their issues. Kurt and Finn. Santana with Quinn and Mercedes
Get the picture.
Its not that big a deal.
Does it have to be a Christian girl? What about a guy? A Christian guy would be interesting because guys typically aren’t the face of what people would relate to Christianity, besides the Bible characters of course lol.
Really, RM? This show is NOT supposed to be a way of pleasing everybody. Everyone gets offended at some TV. Heck, people called Avatar racist and homophobic (Google it, I’m serious). And isn’t having a hardcore Christian who’s homophobic going to make them even more upset?
(Oh, and if you’re trying to include minorities…you must be forgetting when being asked about Brittany and Santana having a relationship you said “no, Glee’s not like that.” Hypocrite).
I’m a Christian and I see where Ryan Murphy is going with this. My guess is the character is going to be sort of like Mandy Moore’s character in Saved! which is going to be kind of funny and will make sense. I’m looking forward to it!
i see it both ways honestly
it would be funny to see how her conflict with her Kurt arises
i just hope it doesn’t get too Degrassi on us
(i love Degrassi btw for anybody who thinks i’m hating on that)
and like Tabitha says
everybody has had a problem with everybody by this point of the show
everybody needs just trust RM
he won’t let us down
Murphy never lets us down. I see it both ways as well; I just hope he’s making the decision for personal reasons and not to appease the people who were offended by the initial Christian characters. Frankly all the characters written in are so lovable! It’s like he’s trying to kill critics with kindness! Admirable effort!
I just don’t think he owes anything to anyone! He put up with so much heat for the pilot, and now that it is successful everyone wants to claim a piece of it. The only themes that matter to me is the constant annoyance of being cast out, mis-understood, and provoked for being yourself. The struggle with defining yourself, when people try to define you as an underdog. And mistake you as a loser because your positive approach to life.
The show has all it ever needs for us Musical Theater kids to connect to the characters! Religion, Race, Sexuality are all just “dramatic” issues, and for the better of Broadway audiences we are open to these lifestyle differences!
It would be kind of funny if he used this Christian character to boycott and truly satire the Newsweek article. Kind of to prove that sexuality is not of issue for the actor(tress)! haha
well, if it would make the show a lot better, then there’s no problem for me… :D
@arthur
I actually think it’s a good idea.
Personally, I think it’s a nice gesture and a nod to reality to include a strong Christian character. Regardless of how the media likes to portray religious people as a whole, there really are kids out there (of ALL religious persuasions!) who make a variety of friends and are able to interact with others in a mature and nonjudgmental manner while still staying true to their own beliefs and ideals. Here’s hoping that the writers will allow this character to shine as a real person and not fall back onto the “hypocritical Christian” stereotype that has already been displayed throughout the past season. And here’s hoping that she (or he, however it turns out) can eventually become friends with Kurt. Disagreeing with homosexuality is not the same thing as being a homophobe. Kurt is more than just his homosexuality, and someone who disagrees with homosexuality on religious grounds is more than just that as well. I hope the writers can flesh out their inevitable discussion in a respectful manner.
“…though likely not by Kurt, whose homosexuality she won’t accept.”
Right there, I disapprove. It doesn’t matter that I’m Jewish or incredibly liberal, but if you’re going to put in a character that says homosexuality is not okay, then IT’S not okay. The point of this show, as others have pointed out, is inclusiveness and accepting people for who they are – not pandering to whiny jerks who feel like their views “aren’t represented”. They are. Quinn comes from a very stereotypically Catholic and strict background, and the choices she made shed light on certain facets of that. Most other people in Glee Club ARE Christian, but the fact that their religion isn’t a big part of their lives is not and shouldn’t be a big deal. The only REALLY Jewish member is Puck, because Rachel has parents of two religious upbringings and celebrates both holidays – and no one knows if Tina is Jewish or just has ‘Cohen’ as part of her last name.
I’m sorry, RM, but if you’re going to put in a character who is Christian just to have her be Christian and then make her values exclude a beloved member of the cast, I can’t be completely happy with tis show. And you’re hurting yourself as well.
If you add a rival to Rachel that is a Christian country girl that dislikes Kurt because of his homosexuality, I vote for the William McKinley High School playlist director to be revealed to be a bisexual female who is an homeless orphan who got kicked out of her old high school in Toledo due to fighting girls and wearing inappropiate clothing, but now attends an Continuing Education school close to William McKinley High School, hoping to get a GED and redeem her former bad girl ways. Who is into rock, pop and punk, hates Rachel and the new Christian Girl and pits the two against each other for personality clashes so that Tina gets the lead parts in Glee? Who is friends with Brittany, Santana, Will Schuester, Emma and Sue Slyvester? That would be so awesome!
I think its a good idea to add a christian to the show!! but I dont think she or possibly he should hate on kurt that really gives a bad outlook on true christianity..people already have a misinterpretation of christians always judging people so with it being on a well established show like glee it will enforce that stereotype even more..
Anywho adding a christian character is something Im excited about as long as it is in the right way..
And I want a young hippie lesbian girlfriend for the “William McKinley High School” playlist director. I would like both lesbians and bisexuals TO BE PORTRAYED ACCURATELY, which IS NOT slutty, indecisive about love and what gender to date, just a phase where they either come out gay or straight, promiscous, adopted because it’s trendy, or that they have to be having multiple relationships with both women and men in order to maintain their identities, psychopathic, most likely to cheat, untrustworthy with children,immoral, dishonest and bisexual people always have multiple partners and/or can’t have monogamous relationships. WHEN IN FACT, the opposite is true (there is multiple sources and all kinds of people from the GLBT spectrum that don’t fit the bisexual/lesbian stereotypes)
I think that a Christian character would be great- male or female. I would audition for it!!! But i think that since a good 80% of American claims to be Christian it holds a good representation of what American would stand for…and for the theme of accepting, Glee also pertrays a normal high school environment, and so it would just add to the reality of the atmosphere. I would love to see a Christian character and maybe to have it fit the humor have the Christian be an extremeist or something…they shoudl hold auditions near Buffalo or Rochester though =]
I’m sort of on the fence about it. The media has always portrayed us Christians in two ways: Jesus-freaks (Im catholic and I’m not saying that worship for Jesus is bad AT ALL, I love Jesus) who are unnaccepting for no good reason, have no social skills, and are absolutely crazy (ex: God-Warrior from wife-swap). Or slutty, contradictory, mean, dumb people who rebuke their religion entirely (ex: every high-school portrayal of catholic school girls). I hope this character is still the way that RM describes but not as extreme as everyone assumes. I hope she’s nice, respectful, and everyone loves her, and at the same time I she doesn’t exactly agree with Kurts sexuality. I’m willing to bet she won’t hate him at all and she has 1 of 2 reasons for disagreeing: she has a distinct point of view of why she doesnt agree, or she was raised that way by an unaccepting family. In fact I think I know what he’s going to do with this character! She’s going to defy whatever outside source (not the church) is making her disagree with his sexuality and accept Kurt and want to be his friend because it truly is “The Christian thing to do” ! :D Yay! And also explain and diminish any stereotypes against Christians! YAY!
I’ve noticed that Christian portrayal in the media as well. It’d be good to have the Christian Character become open-minded about Kurt’s sexuality, and be a likeable character who just happens to have religion as just a “part” of who she is. Religion doesn’t define everyone. Have her be modest, humble, quiet (as opposed to the “loud” characters on Glee) , kind, nice, honest, trustworthy, sincere in her actions and thoughts, shy because she’s new, friendly and loyal, sweet and caring. And I hear from the other websites that she will be into country music and that everyone will love her but Kurt. I’m also for the explaining and diminishing stereotypes about Christians. Have her interests be philosophy, literature, poetry, math and science- just to make this character even more well rounded.
If we have a Christian character, we could have an atheist male character who is bold, daring, “risque” in actions and thoughts, a love interest for the Christian girl who also has a love for math, science, poetry, philosophy and literature. But this atheist male character is accepting of people who are “different”, and extremely open-minded, but have an easy going, laid back personality and get into trouble at school for listening to music, chewing gum and eating snacks- the things that would get anyone in trouble at school!
So we can have debates similar to “House Vs. God” and other Christian vs. Atheist debates on the “Glee” Show, but only openminded to both sides of the issues of religion, allowing the viewers to feel what they want about religion and keep all the viewers happy.
So everyone will love her? Gosh, I hope this character doesn’t end up a Mary-Sue. And not everyone will love her if she doesn’t like Kurt (Mercedes will loathe her just for that), so how does this even make sense?
And I agree about adding a Hindu, Muslim, or Buddist character — especially Muslim. The media portrays Muslims as violent people, when really, most of them believe in peace. Glee having a peaceful Muslim character would be great for the shows diversity.
no please!!!!!!!!!!!!! not another stupid christian!!!!!!!!!! i have enough with quinn
response to rachel—–she cant like science, she doesnt take facts as real……..myths you know…..she believes in mtyhs and all related to humanity is sin
I wouldn’t put too much stock in the article that says the new character is Christian and won’t accept Kurt. At different times, nearly all of the characters have been at odds with one another. We have also seen those introduced as villains (Sue) show their tender side, and those introduced as heroes (Will) show their dark side. The show can only remain entertaining by stretching itself. If you don’t agree, buy the DVDs of Season One and keep watching those. As mentioned, the show is a dark comedy and the actions of the characters should not be viewed through a lens of realism. They are there to entertain and make us think, not so we can take them literally. I love the Brittany character, but it doesn’t mean I think it is healthy behavior to make out with everyone in the school, including the janitor, and a 7-year-old soccer player. People say this show is about inclusiveness, but it is more about finding out who you are and accepting yourself. From that standpoint, a student who is really willing to take a stand for God from a Biblical perspective is going to be as much an outcast in a high school environment as any of the other characters. This idea can work if it is done well.
Please please dont have a hateful christian on the show…. :( I’m a young christian woman and I love glee…but how uncomfortable is it going to be if they’re throwing christian stereo types into the mix? btw one of my best friends happens tp be a homosexual and I love him to death.pleeease please be aware that we’re not all hateful people
Good post,This was exactly what I needed to read today! I am sure this has relevance to many of us out there.
Glee needs a CHRISTIAN character? Are you kidding me? The entire school represents a small christian town, most likely right wing. The Glee members are the liberal atheist outcasts. And most of the Glee members are christian! There is absolutely no need to include another Christian point of view. I understand adding more conservative views, that may be neccesary. But christian? The Glee religon episode was a sad attempt at showing atheist point of views, and in the end Kurt “saw the light”. As though Christianity is the only way to deal with grief.
So if you can back it up. That will really help us all. And this might bring some good repute to you.
It’s reported Sarah Palin is planning on visiting the UK. Unless she can see it from her house, how’s she ever going to know where it is? LOL!
why wont she except him being gay?? im Christian…Jesus ate with gays and prostatutes …..theres nothing wrong with being gay.. Christians EXCEPT EVERYONE.
I think this is a great idea… and people who say the christian character will probably hate on Kurt (because he’s a homosexual) that shouldn’t be true because real christians ”love their neighbour as themselves” and respect people’s choices.
Why not just take a couple jabs at liberal political figures and other religions? rather than make another negatively stereotypical Christian figure for the show.
@ Obesity Prevention Says– That would be a lot funnier if you hadn’t been making fun of Palin for something you misquoted. She NEVER said she could see Russia from her house. She said you can see Russia from parts of Alaska, which is TRUE.
The fact that the producers of Glee want to take this step also just makes me wish that — more people were aware of the fact that … tons and tons and tons of religious-scholars have repeatedly PROVEN that NEITHER God, the Bible NOR the true ‘Christian’ faith “condemns” homosexuality or anyone being gay.
These very same scholars have SHOWN that those few verses in the Bible that some rather unlearned people MISTAKENLY think/thought are/were speaking of “homosexuality” … ARE/WERE (in reality) actually REFERRING TO … the horrific and condemnable practices of EITHER:
—– 1) Rape (i.e. Sexual-Assault);
—– 2) Pederasty (i.e. Child-Molestation) AND / OR
—– 3) Pagan-Temple Sex-Rites (i.e. Religious-Brothels) … most of which involved the used of “Catamites” (i.e. ‘Child-Prostitutes’)
[Also – there are some comments at the ‘Chris Colfer / Trevor Project’ and ‘Max Adler / It Gets Better’ YouTube videos that also discuss this is much greater detail.]
As is well-known, in their efforts to become a hate-mongering power-elite, the so-called “Religious Right”(RR) have chosen to continually LIE both to and about the gay-community for decades (hoping that no one would dare research the RR and expose them and their lies).
(What’s interesting about all of this is that most members of the RR will constantly quote from the King James Version (KJV) Bible in an effort to unfairly attack gay people.
What’s ironic about that is the fact that most of the members of the RR are clearly UNAWARE that their beloved KING JAMES (of KJV-fame) was an openly GAY man — and one of the main reasons he commissioned the KJV, said the be the ‘most accurate’ of all Bible versions, was to prove to the world that God loved and accepted gay people.
This also refutes the widely believed myth that the KJV is homophobic — when, in reality, it was the post-KJV versions that attacked gay people – while the KJV did not attack being gay.)
So anyway —this all just makes me wish that more people were informed that NEITHER God, the Bible NOR the true ‘Christian’ faith “condemns” homosexuality or anyone being gay.
YES!!! I’m so tired that there is shows about witchs, demons, and other stuff thats bad! I want to turn on the T.V. and know there is a show I can relate to… I feel bad that gay people think that God doesn’t love them because of that! He does, he gave them a free will and they chose to be gay…. I love that Finn and Quinn and Mercadies are Christians….
I think it will depend on how the character is created. It would be okay if she were a character who sincerely liked and cared about Kurt, Blaine, Brittany, Santana, but held her opinion that she didn’t agree with everything they thought or approved of everything they did. That kind of “love the sinner, hate the sin” approach and the idea that people would know where she stood without her always harping on it wouldn’t be too bad. However, there is a difference between being the kind of Christian who privately sees the teacher after class to say “This dance/song because it is more sexy than I am comfortable with,” compared to a repeat performance of Mandy Moore’s Hilary Faye from Saved! I’m not sure which Glee plans to write into the show at this point.