I USUALLY LOVE RAYMOND...

The tv show Everybody Loves Raymond is among the best of the current crop. They often really tag marriage and in-law relationships. Last night my wife and I were particularly disappointed in the show's portrayal of Christianity and Christians, however. Raymond's brother Robert is caught at his girlfriend Amy's apartment (after spending the night there) by her Christian parents. The parents are portrayed as naive, judgmental, uptight and self-righteous--a typical 'Christian' stereotype. Amy breaks out of her shell by telling her parents that she chose not to go to church and regularly sleeps with Robert at her apartment. Her parents are shocked. We are meant to cheer Amy's freedom from the shackles of her parents and of fuddy-duddy religion.

I really expected better.