Veggie Tales: Careless Consumerism?

Question

(Preface: My nephews love these things. I've seen all of them up to the one with the SUV song and I've heard the song about about 100 times. I may or may not be taking it too seriously, IDK.)

Is it moral - in the middle of an energy crisis that has been building for nearly a decade now - for a children's religious video to advocate careless consumerism and gratification in a peppy song that glorifies the act of driving in a large, oversized SUV to the local gas station to pick up a single mini-bag of potato chips?

Is this symptomatic of consumerism in Christianity at large? Christmas is the largest, most lavish holiday of the year, and "Baby Jesus" is used to sell everything from cars to laxatives. Is this a Christian thing or an American thing? I don't know.

Answer 1

An SUV is simply a sign of the times and culture. Had it taken place in Iran or Vietnam, Im sure it wouldve been different.

I think its terrific when people downsize their vehicles if they dont need the power or towing or seating capacity, but I dont consider that "immoral" if someone does buy one that doesnt need one. I think it a bit unwise, but not immoral.

Veggie tales arent out to be liberal acitivists, they are simply trying to share a word from the Lord with kids. I think getting to Heaven is far more important.

I dont think that consumerism is a symptom of Christianity, I think its a symptom of prosperity. You live in a country where women have on average a closet full of shoes they hardly ever wear and your biggest worry is if you match or not. In other countries, they can barely afford the shoes they have. I think with faith, we have a great capacity to live within our means and be smart with the things God has given us and if any worldview out there teaches to do so, it is theism. But Im afraid the source of it is prosperity coupled with a minor lack of wisdom.

Answer 2

Personally, I think that you're taking it FAR too seriously. Kind of like looking at the old Road Runner cartoons and deciding that they're trying to teach kids to murder or something.

I haven't seen the particular video that you're talking about, but just the way it's explained sounds simply to me like they just chose an SUV either because that's just what so many people drive today.. or they wanted some "big" truck of some kind just to make the animation look fun, etc.

I don't think that this has anything to do with consumerism and Christianity.. I think it's a simple kids "silly song" which many of the Veggie Tales songs are.. I'd actually like to see it just so I could give a better view on it of course.

Your comments about Christmas being the largest, most lavish holiday and Baby Jesus being used to sell everything.. makes me laugh.. While I have seen nativity scenes in places at times, I have much more often seen the image of 'Santa Clause' used to sell things at Christmas. I don't remember seeing "Savior-Lax" laxatives or anything silly like that..

I find it very interesting that you're seeming to suggest that the consumerism in Christmas is all because of Christians. While I will agree that Christians have been caught up in the 'consumerism' of Christmas.. There are surely equal numbers of non-Christians that celebrate Christmas (the santa clause way) that contribute to it too!

Anyway.. My opinion is that people often take things just a little too far sometimes when they see things in cartoons, etc.. Yes, there can be bad stuff in there, but I think that this situation sounds pretty tame.

Answer 3

Do you think it was just an accident that the SUV song was put into Veggie Tales? I certainly don't. Consumerism, capitalism, christianity, the republican party - all part of the same club. This is how they begin their conditioning, start them out young. The next thing we will be seeing is a cartoon song and dance number of Jesus buying video games where you can be the finger of god zapping away all of the homosexuals, women of choice, atheists, liberals...

Answer 4

I always thought that the SUV song was really extraordinarily outside of the usual range of VeggieTales stuff.

Maybe it's a teaching moment-- you could use it to talk about consumerism/getting what you want, especially since there must be a VeggieTales song or story with a share/wait/be patient message. Can't think of one at the moment, maybe because I have the Song of the Cebu stuck in my head from Christmastime with my little cousins.

Answer 5

I have not seen that particular Veggie Tales, but I happen to love them. They are fun for kids, who I am sure are not concerned with how much energy an SUV consumes.
In my opinion you seem to be looking a little to far into it and taking it too serious.

Answer 6

You should see Veggie Tales' episode of Madame Blueberry.

"Stuffmart!"

Answer 7

I would peg this one as American.

Oh, and no, these babysitting shows are not moral, in content or intent. Did baby Einstein watch 'Baby Einstein'? Let's be real.