Line #36 Main/ReligiousEdutainment


1	Religious Edutainment is that genre which seeks to teach children and sometimes adults the tenets and values of their religion. (Or at the very least, their care-givers' religion.)
2
3	Subtrope of EdutainmentShow (a {{portmanteau}} of Education and Entertainment), and shares many of the same tropes.
4
5	Compare and contrast TheMoralSubstitute, which draws inspiration from an existing secular property and whose lessons don't always include specifically religious content. See also ReligiousProgrammes and ChristianFiction.
6
7	Religious media is sometimes stereotyped as low quality, especially by viewers who may not share the religious beliefs in question. However, SturgeonsLaw applies in the same degree as any other genre, and you're just as likely to find a well-made show with good production values. Be that as it may, DontShootTheMessage.
8
9	!!Tropes often found in Religious Edutainment:
10
11	[[index]]
12	* AbridgedForChildren: Most religious edutainment [[JustifiedTrope is meant for children and families]], so expect some of the more violent and gruesome parts of a story (or an entire story) to be [[{{Bowdlerise}} toned down]] or AdaptedOut altogether.[[note]]For example, Jesus will simply be tied to the Cross with cloth instead of nailed to it.[[/note]]
13	* AdventuresInTheBible
14	* AesopEnforcer: At least one character will serve as a LighterAndSofter version of this trope.
15	* AnAesop
16	* AsTheGoodBookSays
17	* AuthorTract
18	* BibleTimes
19	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Often done on purpose to deliver the Aesop, a character will turn to and address the audience.
20	* ChristianRock
21	* ChristmasSpecial: At least the ones that tell the religious take on the TrueMeaningOfChristmas.
22	* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Most religious edutainment stories have easy-to-solve problems that could have been avoided if one character hadn't made a mistake. And the show itself and/or the characters themselves will address it.
23	* HeelFaithTurn: Also known in some religions as "repentance."
24	* HeelRealization / JerkassRealization: A character who was causing the problem will be shown their mistake and they will (usually) realize the error of their ways and try to do better next time.
25	* DeusExMachina: Literally. Generally [[JustifiedTrope justified]].
26	* DivineIntervention
27	* DivinePunishment
28	* EasyEvangelism
29	* GodIsGood: All the time.
30	* GoodShepherd
31	* HanukkahEpisode
32	* InspiringSermon
33	* JesusWasWayCool
34	* OnlySaneMan: One character serves as the voice of reason and tries to set everyone on the right path when things get out of hand.
35	* PalsWithJesus
36	* PhilosophicalParable: A religious ideology or philosophy is illustrated via a fictional work.
37	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: For the same reason as "Only Sane Man/Woman/Child" listed above.
38	* ReligiousRedub: When shows that don't do well in syndication are remade to preach religious virtues, so they can air on religious networks for years to come.
39	* SuspiciouslySpecificSermon
40	* TurnToReligion
41	* WriterOnBoard
42
43	----
44	!!Examples
45	[[AC:Christian]]
46	* ''WesternAnimation/ThreeTwoOnePenguins''
47	* ''100 Days to Heaven'', a 2011 ABS-CBN television series aired from May 9 to November 18, 2011.
48	* ''3 Palavrinhas'' ("3 Little Words"), a Brazilian series of Christian children's music videos.
49	* ''The 700 Club''
50	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresFromTheBookOfVirtues'' (Not a Christian show per se, but several of its moral fables are stories from Literature/TheBible)
51	* ''Radio/AdventuresInOdyssey''
52	* ''The Adventures of Carlos Caterpillar''
53	* ''Agua Bendita'', a 2010 ABS-CBN television series aired from February 8 to September 3, 2010.
54	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingBibleSeries''
55	* ''WesternAnimation/AngelWars''
56	* The ''Film/{{Apocalypse}}'' series
57	* The ''Literature/BabylonRising'' series
58	* While ''Series/BarneyAndFriends'' is a secular series, much of the production staff members were of the Christian faith (series creator Sheryl Leach and her father-in-law, Richard Leach were devout Christians, and they were successfully convinced to allow a Israeli Hebrew-language adaptation because the version's producer Itzik Kol gave her the idea of Barney speaking in "the language of the Bible") and the show shares many tropes with the "mascot teacher" Christian edutainment shows, plus the show used the explicitly religious Christmas hymns "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night" in the Christmas special "Barney's Night Before Christmas" (albeit instrumental to allow a sign language interpretation by Hannah). Plus, several staff members went on to create a SpiritualSuccessor, ''BOZ the Bear'', which is more explicit Christian edutainment.
59	* ''Becky's Barn''
60	* ''WebAnimation/BecomeJehovahsFriend''
61	* ''The Bedbug Bible Gang''
62	* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' (Several titles authored by the son of the original creators, as well as a children's Bible featuring the characters.)
63	* ''VideoGame/BibleAdventures'', one of the first religious video games, developed by an independent producer for the Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem.
64	* ''Bibleman'' (both [[Series/{{Bibleman}} the original TV series]] and the [[WesternAnimation/{{Bibleman}} animated adaptation]])
65	* ''WebVideo/BibleIllustrated'', a web sieries documenting a Serbian Orthodox Christian's illustrations of the whole Bible.
66	* ''WesternAnimation/BoysOfValor''
67	* ''VideoGame/CaptainBibleInDomeOfDarkness'', a surreal video game designed to help kids memorize Bible verses.
68	* ''The Charlie Churchmouse Show''
69	* ''Cherub Wings''
70	* ''Circle Square'' (based around the "Circle Square Ranch" summer camps in Canada)
71	* ''Colby's Clubhouse''
72	** ''Colby's Place'', its lesser known Christian {{KidCom}} spinoff. Mocked by Chadtronic [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czDIUdJQFU4 here.]]
73	* ''ComicBook/ChickTracts''
74	* The ''Literature/ChildrenOfTheLastDays'' series
75	* ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'' isn't an example for the most part, however, one of its occasional musical segments is a song called "Oyelo, escuchalo" ("Hear Him, Listen to Him"), which has appeared at least twice.[[note]]Once in the main series, and again in the El Chavo segments of the 1980s Chespirito show.[[/note]] The "Him" in question is Jesus; it reminds the viewers/listeners to look for Jesus.
76	* The ''Literature/ChristCloneTrilogy''
77	* ''WesternAnimation/DaveyAndGoliath'' (one of the earliest religious edutainment TV series; it was made in the 1960s)
78	* ''Franchise/{{Distroller}}''
79	* ''Dr. Wonder's Workshop''
80	* ''Series/TheDonutMan''
81	** ''The Massterpiece Donut Shop''
82	* ''Dooley and Pals'' (has two versions; the secular version aired on PBS)
83
84	* The Literature/DragonKeeperChronicles
85	* EWTN, or Eternal Word Television Network (a Roman Catholic network) has blocks of programming aimed at [[http://www.ewtn.com/tv/kids/index.asp children]] (e.g, ''The Friar'') and teenagers (e.g., ''Life on the Rock'').
86	* ''Faithville'' has yielded two spinoffs to date:
87	** ''Miss Charity's Diner''
88	** ''Gospel Time Square''
89	* ''Filling Station''
90	* ''Fire By Nite'' (a youth/teen-oriented series produced by the ''Gospel Bill Show'' crew)
91	* ''Anime/FlyingHouse''
92	* ''The Friar''
93	* ''Series/{{Gerbert}}'' (a secular version was produced as the show's second season)
94	* ''Gina D's Kids Club'' (despite the show actually being secular)
95	** ''Sing Along with Gina D''
96	* ''WesternAnimation/GodRocks''
97	* ''Series/TheGospelBillShow''
98	** ''Bill Gunter, U.S. Marshall'' also known as ''The Cimarron Trail''; direct-to-video successor series
99	* ''The Gospel According to St. Bernard'' (12-episode miniseries involving a talking St. Bernard dog)
100	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatestAdventureStoriesFromTheBible'' (direct-to-video series created by Creator/HannaBarbera)
101	* ''ComicBook/HandOfTheMorningstar''
102	* ''Hermie and Friends''
103	* ''WesternAnimation/HoopDogz''
104	* Creator/OsamuTezuka's ''Anime/InTheBeginningTheBibleStories''
105	* ''Injil Hidup Berkemenangan''
106	* ''Series/{{Insight}}''
107	* ''iShine Knect''
108	* ''WesternAnimation/JoshuaAndThePromisedLand''
109	* ''WesternAnimation/{{JOT}}''
110	* ''WesternAnimation/JayJayTheJetPlane'' (although not originally a Christian series, it was redubbed on Tommy Nelson videos to make references to Christianity)
111	* ''Joy Junction'' [[note]]Uses a cover of Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World" (not the Christmas carol, but the band's original song) as a RealSongThemeTune.[[/note]]
112	* ''Series/TheJuniorChristianScienceBibleLessonProgram''
113	* ''Just Kids''
114	* ''Kids Like You''
115	* ''Music/KidsPraise'' (the one with Psalty the Singing Songbook)
116	* ''Kids Ten Commandments'' (aired on Creator/{{TLC}} in 2003)
117	* ''Series/KingdomAdventure''
118	* ''WesternAnimation/TheKingdomChums''
119	* ''The Knock Knock Show''
120	* The ''Literature/LeftBehind'' book series
121	** ''Film/LeftBehind2000''
122	** ''Film/LeftBehind2014''
123	** ''Film/LeftBehindRiseOfTheAntichrist''
124	* ''WesternAnimation/LennyAndSid''
125	* ''WesternAnimation/LittleDogsOnThePrairie'', a 2000 DirectToVideo animated series produced by Tommy Nelson and Fancy Monkey Studios consisting of three videos of two to three shorts each that taught Christian morals to kids. It limited any mentions of God to the narration, theme song, and music videos.
126	* Creator/LiveBaitProductions's direct-to-video films:
127	** ''WesternAnimation/GaithersPond''
128	** ''WesternAnimation/DorbeesMakingDecisions''
129	* ''WebVideo/LutheranSatire''
130	* ''Maralee Dawn and Friends''
131	* ''Series/MayBukasPa'', a 2009–2010 ABS-CBN television series inspired by ''Marcelino pan y vino'' (Miracle of Marcelino). It lasted for 263 episodes and aired from February 2, 2009 to February 5, 2010.
132	* ''Series/McGeeAndMe''
133	* ''My Catholic Family''
134	* ''My Little Angels''
135	* ''WesternAnimation/MyTimeWithJesus''
136	* ''Nathaniel'', a 2015 ABS-CBN television series aired from April 20 to September 25, 2015.
137	* ''Film/TheOmegaCode''
138	** ''Megiddo: The Omega Code 2''
139	* ''Film/OnceIWasABeehive''
140	* ''Pahappahooey Island''
141	* ''Radio/PatchThePirate'' (the reason the main character is a pirate is due to series creator Ron Hamilton [[WrittenInInfirmity losing his left eye due to cancer]])
142	* ''Paws and Tales: The Animated Series''
143	* ''Prayer Bear''
144	* ''Quigley's Village'' (sometimes called "Mr. Quigley's Village")
145	* ''Series/SecretAdventures''
146	* ''Star Family''
147	* ''Film/SixTheMarkUnleashed''
148	* ''WesternAnimation/TheStoryKeepers''
149	* ''Sunshine Factory''
150	* ''Anime/{{Superbook}}'' (an evangelistic anime series created as a joint venture between Creator/TatsunokoProduction and Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network and broadcast in both Japan and the US)
151	** ''WesternAnimation/Superbook2011'', the western-produced, InNameOnly, AllCGICartoon remake of the above series.
152	* While ''[[Series/SwampCritters The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon]]'' is technically a secular series, the show's official website does offer various merchandise that have religious themes.
153	* ''WebAnimation/{{TektonTV}}''
154	* ''Series/TreasureAttic''
155	* ''Tune Time''
156	* The ''Literature/UndergroundZealot'' series.
157	* ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales''
158	** ''WesternAnimation/LarryBoyTheCartoonAdventures''
159	** ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTalesInTheHouse''
160	** ''WesternAnimation/TheVeggieTalesShow''
161	* ''We Are Catholic''
162	* ''Series/WhatsInTheBible''
163	* ''Series/TheWorldOfJonathanSingh''
164
165	...and many, many, '''many''' others.
166
167	[[AC:Hindu]]
168	* ''Animation/TheReturnOfHanuman''
169
170	[[AC:Jewish]]
171	* Creator/ShariLewis and her puppets Series/{{Lamb Chop\|sPlayAlong}}, Charley Horse and Hush Puppy
172	** ''Lamb Chop's Special Chanukah'' (in 1995)
173	** ''Shari's Passover Surprise'' (in 1996)
174	* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Door The Magic Door]]''
175	* ''Rechov Sumsum'', the Israeli co-production of ''Series/SesameStreet'', and its American spin-off ''Shalom Sesame'' (especially the latter)
176	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' had a couple of [[VerySpecialEpisode episodes]] centered on Hannukah and Passover.
177	* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdGug6RPUG0 Lights the Miracle of Channukah]]''
178
179	[[AC:Muslim]]
180	* ''Adam's World''
181	* ''Iftah Ya Simsim'', the Arabic co-production of ''Series/SesameStreet'', covered Islamic principles as part of its curriculum because of the importance of religion in Arab culture.
182	* ''WebAnimation/ImTheBestMuslim''
183	* ''ComicBook/The99''
184	* ''Series/ParaPencariTuhan''
185	* ''Series/TomorrowsPioneers'', for all its extremism, still counts due to its Quran segments.
186
187	[[AC:Other]]
188	* ''WesternAnimation/AngelsOfJarm'': It's more of a general {{edutainment show}} that teaches social values, but it has plenty of religious references from other faiths and averts JesusTaboo. The credits even mention a "Religious Advisor."
189	* ''WebVideo/TheDebbieAndCarrieShow'': A series made to promote teachings of Unitarian Universalism.
190	* ''WebAnimation/GodsGang'' is a multi-faith animated series that attempts to mash the religions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism into a group of four superheros.
191	* ''VideoGame/OracleOfTao''. It's teaching a [[Literature/MuneShinri strange syncretic religion]] (a mixture of at least three religions). But mostly Taoism, as the name implies.
192	[[/index]]

Context Main / ReligiousEdutainment