2 questions

Question 1 - In the episode in which Jerry tries to get a "deal" on a new car from Puddy, Elaine is annoyed at having had lunch at a place called ? What is the name of this place and what is the joke? I can't recall the name but assumed the place was not all that good. Is it a cheap fast food joint or something? I've been to New York a couple of times but can't say I've heard of it.

Question 2 - Of which religious faith are the 4 characters and also the actors who play them? Jerry is Jewish in the show and in real life but what of the other 3?

They had lunch at "Arby's", and you're correct that it's a cheap fast food joint. It's actually not too bad as far as fast food goes, but it's no gourmet meal. Part of the joke is that Elaine said "I had the roast beef", which is funny because that's the main thing they serve. It'd be like saying "I had the chicken" after going to a KFC.

More info on Arby's here: http://www.arbys.com/

That's a hotly-debated issue. Jerry is Jewish, Elaine is Catholic, but George is a bit of a mystery. There's some evidence which suggests he's Jewish, but it's not conclusive. And Kramer... who knows? :-)

<<<They had lunch at "Arby's", and you're correct that it's a cheap fast food joint. It's actually not too bad as far as fast food goes, but it's no gourmet meal. Part of the joke is that Elaine said "I had the roast beef", which is funny because that's the main thing they serve. ....

Correct. Arby = R.B.= Roast Beef

^^^^^^ "Art is often hailed as the grandest expression of human spirit, but we know now ... that the grandest expression of human spirit is whatever it takes for a man or woman to rush back into a burning building to save more people."

Actually, "Arby's" doesn't stand for Roast Beef, although that's a common misconception. Here's what the one of the founders, Forrest Raffel, said about the name:

"We came up with Arby's, which stands for R.B., the initials of Raffel Brothers, although I guess customers might think the initials stand for roast beef."

[The only reason I know this is because the topic has been discussed before here in a.t.s.]

In article , [email] says...

At one time George was an Latvian Orthodox.

On Thu, 1 Nov 2001 11:56:38 +0200, Noone wrote:

.....

"It didn't take."

On Wed, 31 Oct 2001 23:59:23 -0000, "Imran Ali" wrote:

Jerry is Jewish.

Elaine is almost certainly Catholic, but this was never directly stated. She crossed herself several times, made references to Sister and Father so-and-so etc.

Estelle is probably Jewish ("I won't ride in a German car"), and Frank is in the Knights of Columbus which makes him Catholic, which would make George some sort of hybrid.

Kramer seems to believe in God in a vague sort of way, but he's no churchgoer.

"Trevor Smithson" schreef in bericht news:[email]...

I thought she was an atheist. That's why she was going to hell in the Jesus Fish episode.

In article , "Bart Tijmensen" wrote:

Sounds like she's possibly a lapsed Catholic.

Elaine: Oh my god the heat! Puddy: It's gonna be rough.

• Mark

Bart Tijmensen wrote in message ...

Puddy suggested she was "goin' to Hell" because of her sexual activity.. not because of her religious beliefs or the lack thereof...

homerr..

"homerr..2.1k" schreef in bericht news:9s471f$l0k$[email]...

the

Jesus

not

Well, I watched that episode today, and I am still convinced she was going to Hell for being an atheist. Elaine: Do you believe in God? Puddy: Yes. Elaine: So, you're pretty religious. Puddy: That's right. Elaine: So, is it a problem that I'm not really religious? Puddy: Not for me. Elaine: Why not? Puddy: I'm not the one going to Hell.

Later they discuss it with a Priest and he says that both Puddy and Elaine are both going to Hell because they sleep with each other but are not married.

Bart

Bart Tijmensen wrote in message ...

Elaine asked 'him' about his belief in God.. she didn't say "I don't"! She said merely that she wasn't 'really religious'. I think this is an example of people reading/hearing the same thing and coming up with different slants on it.

That's my point.. not because either is atheist.. but because of premarital sex.. denounced by all religions.

homerr..

Hmm, I'm with homerr & Trevor on this one--I think she's a lapsed Catholic (i.e. someone who does believe in God, but is fed up with organized religion and no longer considers themselves very religious). Her Catholic background would also explain why she crosses herself out of habit, and possibly her concern about the priest in The Face Painter ("El Diablo! El Diablo!" lol, that kills me).

I guess you could make the case that she was raised Catholic and has crossed the line from being merely a lapsed Catholic to a full-blown athiest, but that's a pretty big jump for which there doesn't seem to be any proof. Notice she does *not* say "is it a problem I'm an athiest" or "is it a problem I'm not at all religious"; instead, she says "is it a problem I'm not really religious" which implies at least marginal belief.

In article , "John Twernbold" wrote:

Right. A true atheist would make it a point to no longer perform motions of religious symbolism out of habit.

• Mark

"Mark Mellin" schreef in bericht news:[email]...

Catholic

religion

background

Well, I guess you guys have a point and that Elaine still beliefs in God, but doesn't consider herself to be very religious. But, if she still believes in God, why doesn't she believe in the Devil and Hell? After all, the only reason she's upset is because Puddy believes in them but doesn't seem to care she's going there. But since I wasn't raised religiously myself, my knowledge of God, the Bible and the degrees of believing in them may be too limited to interpret this matter. By the way, maybe my choice of words was poor. What I meant with atheist is not someone who is really fanatic against all sorts of religions, but someone who merely doesn't believe in any God.

Bart

Why should she? Many variants of Christianity don't officially acknowledge the existence of Hell. Elaine is entitled to whatever beliefs she wants. And as you pointed out, her beliefs (or lack thereof) are really secondary, since the real issue is that Puddy thinks she's going to Hell and doesn't care.

Trevor Smithson wrote in message news:...

what about the nun? he's definitely a church-goer :) .ted