Postmodern Realities Episode 179 Rick and Morty: Scientism, Self-Centeredness, and the Search for Meaning

In America, nothing seems to validate pop culture success and permeation more than a Super Bowl commercial. When the animated television program Rick and Morty accomplished this feat in February 2020 in a commercial for Pringles chips, it reached more than 100 million viewers. Currently, in its fourth season, Rick and Morty first aired on the Cartoon Network in 2013, and in 2019 it was renewed for 70 more episodes guaranteeing it will be on TV for years to come. It’s a fast-paced series that packs a lot of content into an average air time of 22 minutes. Although animation is often pigeonholed as entertainment for kids, Rick and Morty is decidedly adult-oriented with its R rated language and many profane bits sprinkled throughout the show. Featured on Cartoon Network’s [Adult Swim] programming block, Rick and Morty garners its most viewers in the 18-34-year-old range. Given its popularity and its nihilistic world view, Christian apologists need to understand the show, its appeal, and how to reach Millennials who are its devoted fans. This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author Robert Velarde about his online-exclusive article, “Rick and Morty: Scientism, Self-Centeredness, and the Search for Meaning https://www.equip.org/article/rick-and-morty-scientism-self-centeredness-and-the-search-for-meaning/We’d also like to invite you to subscribe to the Journal. To subscribe to the Journal, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/crj-subscription/When you to subscribe to the Journal, you join the team of print subscribers whose paid subscriptions help provide the resources at equip.org that minister to people worldwide. These resources include our free online-exclusive articles, such as this review, as well as our free Postmodern Realities podcast.Another way you can support keeping our resources free is by leaving us a tip. A tip is just a small amount, like $3 or $5, which is the cost for some of a latte, lunch out, or coffee drink. To leave a tip, click here.https://www.equip.org/product/pmr-jnl-tip/​Other articles and Postmodern Realities podcasts related to this topic:Episode 148-In Defense of Pop CultureDitching Netflix? Engaging Pop Culture in the Age of Binge-WatchingEpisode 149 What Joker Gets Right About Human DepravityGetting What We Deserve: What Joker Gets Right about Human Depravity: A Film Review of Joker (2019) starring Joaquin PhoenixEpisode 037: Choose Your Own Enchantment: Freedom and Conscience in What We WatchChoose Your Own Enchantment: Freedom and Conscience in What We Watch Episode 075: Film Nostalgia & Heaven Looking for Heaven at the Movies: What our Fondness for Nostalgic Films Says about Us.”The Wisdom of Pixar Television as the New Literature: Understanding and Evaluating the Medium Prometheus: Finding God in Outer SpaceUnpacking Anime’s Thematic and Spiritual DepthThe Artistic Pro-Life Theme in Netflix’s I Am MotherPostmodern Realities Episode 132: The Artistic Pro-Life Theme in Netflix’s I Am MotherEpisode 87: Westworld & A.I.“HBO’s Westworld and the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.”The Gospel According to LostBreaking Bad’s Addicting Defense of Moral Realism Episode 039: The Gospel According to Marvel The Gospel According to MarvelEpisode 024: Dr. Strange (film review with spoilers)Fighting Scientism with the Occult in Doctor StrangeEpisode...