I completely understand how beloved this show is and that it has a beloved fan base. I totally understand why, and the show deserves that love and support for its multilayered plots, theme of unifying despite critical differences (and other relationship-based themes of course), incredible comedic and dramatic acting, very likeable characters, and episodic conflict that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

There have been a lot of times where the absurd humor has made me bust up laughing. So, so great.

I personally think that this show is not AS clever as it thinks it is. And, EVEN THOUGH it's made me laugh really hard, I don't think it's AS funny as it thinks it is, either.

One thing that really bothers me is the anti-Christian current running through it in some episodes. Of COURSE I understand that this show is CONSISTENTLY making fun of a BUNCH of groups of people, and NOT just Christians. And the most liberal characters like Britta are seen as kinda unhinged and crazy, and THEY get made fun of constantly. Yes, I totally get that! And I think it's funny that they do that. I just wanted to focus on the Christianity aspect.

Shirley is ruthlessly overbearing about her Christian standards and is extremely passive-aggressive about how immoral her peers are, even when SHE does very immoral things herself (like trying to emotionally manipulate her friends and stuff). I'm not saying that teasing a Christian culture is always horribly wrong. Sometimes it is super funny. But to me, it is way too much to watch in all the episodes.

I know that, while all the characters have their vices (some more extreme than others), the point is that you understand that they're ALL flawed, and that they are all still likeable in their own ways. However, Shirley's character in particular sparks criticism of Christianity that has become more commonplace in mainstream TV. Other popular overbearing evangelist characters (on TV or Internet) include Momoko from Ghost Stories and Angela from the Office. I think these two characters ARE really funny! They DO make me laugh. But it's more popular now than ever to bash Christian beliefs and spread the idea that, because you've seen so many lunatic examples, ALL Christians must be unlikeable little pukes who want to manipulate their peers.

Irreverent humor is not always bad. Sometimes I love it. But this show is just one of many to entertain the "overbearing Christian" stereotype to nauseating effect. Dan Harmon, who also co-created the nauseatingly nihilistic "Rick and Morty," has a humor style that I am really, really tired of.