Does ‘Jeopardy!’ Have Too Many Bible & Christianity Questions?
After a question about The Lord’s Prayer left three contestants stumped on Tuesday’s (June 13) Jeopardy!, it’s brought a long-time debate back to light: Does the show have too many Bible-related questions?
While even the non-religious found Tuesday’s question (“Our Father, which art in heaven, [this] be thy name.”) easy, Jeopardy! has seen a number of Christianity and Bible questions in recent years, which viewers have started to notice more and more.
“There was just a bible question on Jeopardy that I knew the answer to, and none of the contestants did, and I feel the need to warn everyone that this may be a sign of the impending apocalypse,” tweeted one viewer on Tuesday night.
There was just a bible question on Jeopardy that I knew the answer to, and none of the contestants did, and I feel the need to warn everyone that this may be a sign of the impending apocalypse.
— Jolene (@obscurityknocks) June 13, 2023
But are there too many Bible questions in general? Some fans think so.
“[Jeopardy!] writers seem to know everything about the christian bible. Have you noticed almost every show these days has some #Jeopardy question or entire catagory about the christian bible? What’s with that?” tweeted one viewer last month.
“So tired of your Christian religion questions,” wrote another. “Too much Christian Bible. And the “Sufferings of Jesus” category was Sunday school stuff, it’s not part of a general education (your erroneous defense of all this).”
I don’t know. Ask @jeopardy. Their writers seem to know everything about the christian bible. Have you noticed almost every show these days has some #Jeopardy question or entire catagory about the christian bible? What’s with that?
— ATLGal (@AnnainAtlanta) May 20, 2023
@Jeopardy so tired of your Christian religion questions. Too much Christian Bible. And the “Sufferings of Jesus” category was Sunday school stuff, it’s not part of a general education (your erroneous defense of all this).
— Judith (@sqkywheel) May 13, 2023
The topic even became a discussion on the Jeopardy! Reddit forum, with one user saying, “Christianity/biblical categories get too much space.”
“Know two things going on Jeopardy: the Bible and Shakespeare,” quipped another viewer.
“While not my fave either, the Bible and religion are legit categories. I agree though, it seems like they get more than their fair share of clues,” added another.
Others had explanations for why Jeopardy! includes so much Bible-related trivia, with one fan writing, “I had a teacher tell me once that to truly consider yourself well-read (by US standards) you need to be passingly familiar with Greek mythology, Shakespeare and the Bible. Between those three, you can find almost every archetype that Western stories are built on.”
They added, “I think Jeopardy comes from a “Bible as Literature” place instead of a Christianity place.”
Others agreed, with one person stating, “I’m not religious but think it’s undeniable that the Bible had an absolutely enormous impact on Western civilization, architecture, literature, art and politics. Yes it’s featured more, but it’s also had a greater influence.”
“People should think of bible categories more as literature knowledge than religious. It’s no different than a contestant studying famous french novels,” said another.
What do you think? Does Jeopardy! have too many Bible-related questions? Let us know in the comments.
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Conversation17 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
Just for clarification I wouldn't call the "Lord's Prayer" question a bible question. Millions of people who don't know much about the bible are familiar with the Lords Prayer.
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O
Just for clarification, the headline and story are about biblical AND CHRISTIANITY questions.
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L
Are there too many inciting, ignorant, baseless, negative TV Insider headline questions? Yes
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P
I think jeopardy has too many obscure ‘answers’ relating to hip-hop, rap, pop music and allegedly ‘famous celebrities’ nobody over 30 ever heard of.
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R
I don’t know why people get so triggered over Christianity - is it because it was part of American colonization (where its message was abused), seen as representing “toxic” values (where it’s been misinterpreted) or merely because it exists. I watched Jeopardy! all the time during my childhood and there were tons of science questions - I have no doubt that’s still in the show and that’s never controversial. If a person doesn’t like a show, they ultimately don’t have to watch it.
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B
No, I do not think that Jeopardy, I believe they blend in nicely and throws the contestants off enough to make the challenge more interesting. It gives everyone a chance to have a breather from the more technical side and have those who are watching feel they have an opportunity to answer questions as well.
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G
No Whoopi for me--ever!
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G
To win Jeopardy knowing this crap is insane.
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G
Stop the Christian and Bible crap. Yes it has good teachings but it stuff from before the Middle Ages. I’m not reading that shit.
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O
The only problem is that too often, they require that specific verbiage be from the King James version, whose translation is not always precise where the original language is concerned.
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P
Nope. Never. Won’t watch Whoopi.
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O
Wrong article.
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G
Quran? Talmud?
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Both have been featured, along with the Bhagivadgetta.
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Thank-you, I appreciate your answer!
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P
The show is balanced with religion, Bible and other topics.
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G
I like jeopardy with Ken Jennings. Questions are fine just too many stupid people.
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