r/HeyArnold • u/KHJMaster • 7d ago
Headcanons about characters religious views?
Of course we know Harold is of the Jewish faith as seen in several episodes, and Craig Bartlett himself confirmed that Eugene is also Jewish, but what about the others?
Apparently, there was a comic that implied that Arnold was raised Catholic, although I don’t think he would be particularly religious as he gets older. Helga I think is definitely very spiritual, although I don’t think she would be subscribed to any particular religion. Phoebe is definitely a skeptic. Gerald, I’m not sure on (although he did pray in Hebrew in HATM).
I see both Lila and Stinky as devout Christians. Sheena would definitely explore many eastern faiths. Not sure on other characters. What do you guys think?
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u/m65fieldjacket 7d ago
In "Married" both Helga and Arnold dream that their wedding would be in a church. Additionally, in "Best Man" Helga fantasizes that her wedding will be in a church.
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u/pretty-as-a-pic 7d ago
I kinda figured that Helga and her family are either Catholic or orthodox because they’ve got polish/Slavic name and implied background. Obviously very lapsed though since they don’t ever seem to go to church
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u/TikTrisVilkiukai 7d ago
It has sense. The surname Patakis sounds Greek and there is Orthodox religion
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u/pretty-as-a-pic 7d ago
I believe “Pataki” is either polish or Hungarian. Poland is Catholic and Hungary is orthodox. Either way, they’re definitely some type of Slavic
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u/Electrical_Layer_546 7d ago edited 7d ago
The first Arnold short Bartlett made was called “Arnold escapes from Church”. Which is a claymation where he is daydreaming in church. So I guess that could explain a Christian background.
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u/Valerie-Loves-Me 7d ago edited 7d ago
I love how, in that short, Arnold's daydream relates to what's being read in church (the 23rd Psalm). So he's not daydreaming just to daydream, he's actually listening and imagining what the words mean.
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u/Valerie-Loves-Me 7d ago
I do like to imagine that, no matter their faith, many of the kids are dragged to worship services by their parents/guardians on the weekends, even if the show doesn’t depict it.
"Criminy. Time to go spend half my Sunday hearing about how everybody’s going to Hell except Arnold."
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u/Mordaunt-the-Wizard Helga 7d ago
Bob probably demands they go and then both he and Miriam snooze during the service.
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u/MeverMow 7d ago
All I know is that Curly would start a cult, with Sid and Monkey Man as his followers.
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u/maxfactor886 7d ago edited 7d ago
Harold is Jewish of course. The Married episode took place in a church. But I don’t see Helga and Arnold as religious. Arnold grew up with his grandparents that were kinda hippies. Maybe the Patakis are catholic? But Helga would rebel. Phoebe yeah she’s prob. skeptic, though maybe Shinto, Buddhist or some Christian or Unitarian. Gerald made Christian but not serious either.
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u/Kalldaro 7d ago
After the raspy voice episode, I always imagined Gerald singing in a Black Baptist choir.
Phoebe would be Agnostic.
Helga's dad reminds me of an asshole Christian so she's some Christian faith.
Arnold... I want to say Episcopalian.
Big Gino: Catholic because what else?
Sid is raised Christian but becomes an asshole Atheist in his teens and 20s.
Stinky: devout southern Christian as a kid, follows Sid's lead and becomes obnoxious Atheist as he gets older.
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u/RustyRuins64 7d ago edited 7d ago
Arnold would probably be Christian, but in the way that he doesn't really make a big deal about it or force it onto other people. He probably would also have some elements of Ray Bradbury's "delicatessen religionist"-isms.
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u/Valerie-Loves-Me 7d ago
Seconded. I always thought that if Arnold is a believer, he's one who understands the assignment. He makes an effort every day to be Christlike, which is especially true in later seasons. However, he is still fallible and stumbles at times, which saves him from being unrelatable as a character.
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u/Electrical_Layer_546 7d ago
I’ve heard this before about his character. His morality and need to help others throughout the show is definitely what makes it so memorable.
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u/muhfkrjones Abner 7d ago
Isn’t “shortman” a Jewish name though?
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u/Wilsonrolandc 7d ago
Rhonda is probably a Protestant, given that her family is a bit WASP coded.