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Were the 3 Stooges Athiests?
If I need to lighten up I watch Larry, Curly and Moe. (now on youtube). I based my home renovations on skills I learnt from that show. Okay I did devalue the property but I had a laugh at my expense.
Of the 200+ episodes (set in the post economic depression era), religion never made it. Sure the Stooges were probably Jewish, judging by their surnames, but there was no religion. In fact many of the episodes sort of carried a bit of a social message embedded in the slapstick. They made fun of the rich and pompous.
Anyway got another episode to watch. Have fun.

jules4169 6 May 2
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13 comments

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Moses Horwitz was Jewish. So were his brothers. Louis Feinberg (Larry) was also Jewish. There was never talk of a god in interviews or even a book that Moe wrote on the Stooges.

1

I have many happy memories of watching the Stooges with my late oldest brother, who absolutely adored them.

I have no idea if they were atheists; they certainly lived and worked in an era when it would have been the kiss of death to their careers to say so. They were of Jewish heritage as you say. Their parents spoke Yiddish.

The only film in which they overtly acknowledged this heritage was You Nazty Spy, a spoof of Hitler. Per one reviewer, "Nazty is riddled with Jewish humor, as if ethnic and religious pride was the Three Stooges’ prime weapon in their arsenal of anti-Nazi munitions. Greeting their Nazi bosses, the Stooges leap back and salute: “shalom aleichem!” Moe proposes a blitzkrieg, and Curly strenuously agrees: “I just love blintzes. Especially with sour cream.” Hitler is said to have added the Stooges to his personal hit list because of this film.

This tells us very little about their existential beliefs and I can find nothing concerning those beliefs in the public record, at least not in a simple Google search.

Yeh, I've got that episode and remember it well. It was probably their most political episode. Thanks, I'll re-watch it tonight.

0

I loved old slapstick, but the Stooges suck in my honest opinion. I watched them, their movies, and they still sucked. I don't know, nor care what message they were sending out. Whatever message they sent it was lost by me.

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Thank you for the insight. Good to know this.

2

There were several times where they were seen flying off to heaven after Darwinning themselves out by the end of an episode.

godef Level 7 May 3, 2018
4

Judaism is culture and religion. To many Jews Judaism is not about religion, it's about belonging to a people, upholding traditions. Yes, the 3 Stooges were Jewish. My understanding is that Christianity carries a consequence for failing to believe in God. Many Jews (I don't know how many) are nonbelievers. I think many people on this site were indoctrinated into Christianity and to declare oneself a nonbeliever is to be against the church, it's a defined schism. There seems to be more fluidity in Judaism and I think in most religions beyond Christianity and Islam.
I like the 3 stooges too...especially Curly!

That's a good point you made. I'm still growing and learning.

@jules4169 I'm still growing and learning too. Actually, I thought what you brought up was pretty insightful...there really is zero hint of religion in these guys.

4

"I'm trying to think but nothing happens" [Curly]

lol nyuk nyuk nyuk

I have always loved the Stooges. People claim today that the Stooges were not for children. That is correct. They provided idiot entertainment for adults as the first feature film is being rewound so the second feature can then be shown.

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And many jews at that time were closeted socialists

good point. yes, closeted and not. a lot took a hit for their socialism

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Yes, they were jewish. I doubt though that having any hebrew twists would have been very popular to the audience at that time.

3

"I'm bald-headed in the mouth!" a classic line I'll never forget.

There are so many classic lines!

@jules4169 Nyuck nyuck nyuck

4

Love your post! Yes, the Stooges were Jewish. But your points are well taken

Fritz Level 3 May 3, 2018
1

Dangaroo kep awaaaa

Proto Level 6 May 3, 2018
2

Their jazzin' up the alphebet is great!!

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