Religious Affiliations around The Office

Posted by Siamang on: 01.29.2007 /

By Siamang

I made a reference to the funniest tv show currently running in a previous post. A number of other posters here chimed in. Which got me to thinking…. what religions ARE the characters of NBC TV’s The Office?

I’ve seen webpages speculating about the political beliefs of cartoon characters. I’ve seen insanely elaborate ones about the religious beliefs of superheroes.

I figured this would be worthwhile. Actually useless and sad. But maybe fun.

I think only the accountant character, Angela has referenced any beliefs on the show. So these are my conjectures. Hopefully they’re on-target to the characters as I see them.

Per Wikipedia rules, here’s the link to where I got the photos I’m using.

So let’s start!

………

Michael Scott

Steve Carell as Michael Scott

Scientologist. Well, actually dabbles in Scientology. Thought Scientology was a good path for him until he found out that it costs money. Attempted to save money for a time by trying to gain free audit sessions by constantly returning for personality tests and steering the conversation. Today Michael’s entire adherance to the faith consists of a few helpful hints he clipped out of a free copy of Dianetics, and watching the videos “Battlefield Earth,” “Phenomenon,” and the “Look Who’s Talking” trilogy. Considers himself an OT-VIII.

……

Jim Halpert

John Krasinski as Jim Halpert

Committed Agnostic. Deeply feels that nobody can possibly know of the existence or non-existence of God, so why worry?

……

Pam Beesly

Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly

Theist. Former Methodist and choir-singer as a girl, Pam has drifted away from structured Christianity. She firmly believes there is a God, but she believes that organized religion has gotten so far away from the deeper mysteries. She considers herself a deeply spiritual person, but has a hard time expressing her beliefs in ways that others can relate to.

….

Dwight Schrute

Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute

Horakthiest. Follows a religious tradition of his own invention, Horaktheism. Horaktheism is based equally upon portions of Sun Tsu’s The Art of War and an ancient Sumerian war god cribbed from the Deities and Demigods rulebook from the First Edition of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. Dwight is the sole adherant of Horaktheism, which, according to the Horakian Rules of Engagement, makes him First General and High Priest Exhaltant.

……

Ryan Howard

B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard

Catholic. Attends Mass three times a week. Afraid to tell anyone in the office of his beliefs for fear of endless dirty nun jokes from Michael.

……

Angela Martin

Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin

Nondenominational Christian. Angela belongs to an evangelical “megachurch” outside greater Scranton. Her most fervent belief isn’t in God, but in the immortality of the souls of animals. Her favorite piece of literature is the poem “Rainbow Bridge” which she cannot read without crying. She reads it at least once a day.

…….

Oscar Martinez

Oscar Nuņez as Oscar Martinez.

Episcopalian. Oscar was brought up in the Catholic Church, but since coming to grips with his own homosexuality has joined a liberal Episcopal Church near the University of Scranton. Is a member of the Scranton All-Men’s Jubilee Choir, even though sadly he is tone-deaf.

…..

Kevin Malone

Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone

Deep Thinker. Sometimes likes to “get deep” and think about Carl Jung. Once blew his own mind by repeating the word “reality” over and over until the word just sounded like gibberish to him.

…..

Stanley Hudson

Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson

Pentecostalist. Very involved in his church, which his family has belonged to for four generations. Has 43 Godchildren, half of whom are named “Stanley”.

…….

Phyllis Lapin

Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Lapin

New Age Beliefs. She believes herself to be the reincarnation of Cleopatra because of her strong dislike of snakes. She dabbles in love potions and she once burned a magic love candle that was the shape of a male sexual organ. The next day, Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration asked for her hand in marriage. She has saved every fortune-cookie fortune she’s ever gotten.

……..

Meredith Palmer

Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer

Higher Power. Meredith is an on-again, off-again member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and turns-it-over to her Higher Power on occassion. She thinks the Serenity Prayer is complete bull-crap.

…….

Kelley Kapoor

Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor.

Superstitious. Raised in a Hindu family, Kelley hasn’t the patience for following all the rituals of that ancient tradition. She instead relies on a lucky cell-phone charm, and a few special bells on her key ring. She attributes her romance with Ryan Howard to their astrological compatibilty and her collection of lucky trolls. Doesn’t make a move without consulting the Cosmopolitan Bedside Astrologer.

…….

Creed Bratton

Creed Bratton as Creed Bratton

Other. Creed has had a variety of religious experiences. Creed is a former leader of a Peyote cult he founded in Arizona in the 1970’s. He is currently an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church, which he operates as a tax dodge. The residents of a small villiage in Laos revere him as the 43rd incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Forbearance.

…….

12 Responses to "Religious Affiliations around The Office"

  • Comment by: links for 2007-01-29

    1 01/29/07 3:19 PM | Comment Link |

    [...] Religious affliations of Office characters (tags: humor religion office) Posted by Brandon { article rss } Trackbacks [...]

  • Comment by: Mike O

    2 01/29/07 6:01 PM | Comment Link |

    That’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time! Did you write that?? It’s perfect!

  • Comment by: Siamang

    3 01/29/07 6:34 PM | Comment Link |

    Thanks!

  • Comment by: Ir (Helen)

    4 01/29/07 7:48 PM | Comment Link |

    Siamang, I enjoyed this very much!

  • Comment by: Karen

    5 01/30/07 2:31 PM | Comment Link |

    ROTFL! those are perfect. :-)

  • Comment by: Friendly Atheist » Office Speculation

    6 02/7/07 10:48 AM | Comment Link |

    [...] Siamang made a great post on the eBay atheist blog last week, where he speculates on the religiosity of the characters on The Office. [...]

  • Comment by: exmoron

    7 02/8/07 4:43 AM | Comment Link |

    The crazy thing is I think you’re dead on. Amazing how you can peg people like that (even though they are actors).

  • Comment by: Religious Affiliations around The Office at Atheist Perspective

    8 02/8/07 6:39 AM | Comment Link |

    [...] Anyway, there’s a superb post on The Ebay Atheist about which characters from the show belong to which religion. [...]

  • Comment by: Siamang

    9 02/12/07 1:05 AM | Comment Link |

    Thanks, folks!

  • Comment by: hell’s handmaiden » Blog Archive » The Carnival of the Godless #61: Things God Wants

    10 03/4/07 12:11 PM | Comment Link |

    [...] Siamang presents the eBay atheist | posted at the eBay atheist. [...]

  • Comment by: Micky

    11 06/29/07 6:02 PM | Comment Link |

    SAVED BY GRACE

    I originally got to AA in 1974 and drank after nearly 11years…AA doesn’t keep one sober. I actually attempted suicide before I drank, and after my suicide attempt was unsuccessful, I drank to kill the pain.When I eventually recovered from my suicide attempt and “bust” I went back to AA, because it was familiar. I imagine AA to be quite controlling, which was very much like my history. In 1994 I started seeing a therapist and he helped me process my feelings. He is a recovered alcoholic and had processed his own history. Anyway, I did years of group therapy and EMDR. [Body Memory Therapy].All I knew from my childhood was terror, pain, shame, and guilt and I was able to feel these feelings and get support by other people in my group. About 3 years ago, I dropped into a “black hole” and had to be hospitalized…. I had 4 months of absolute terror; I thought I was in hell. One day I asked Jesus Christ {not a bedpan} to have mercy on me and forgive me my sins. Slowly all my fear and guilt has dissipated and today, I am just, Micky [A child of God]. What I had learned — my process in Hospital - that is what it was like for me as a child [METAMORPHOSIS]. I am not an ALCOHOLIC - I am a SINNER. AA [Satan] nearly got my soul but Jesus Christ the Son of GOD delivered me. I am blessed - because, I had to lose control to gain control [JESUS CHRIST] which has nothing to do with handing my will over to a higher power. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life John 3: 16].
    Peace Be With You
    Micky

  • Comment by: Julie Marie

    12 02/3/08 10:21 AM | Comment Link |

    and the winner for latecomer to the joke–

    hilarious Siamang! Especially since back when I was a nondenominational megachurch devotee, The Rainbow Bridge did make me cry! (actually though, it still would make me cry. I just avoid things that make me cry anymore).