Jeopardy! has faced criticism in the past for including numerous Christian-related questions, leading some to argue that the show asks too many of them.
On Jeopardy!, television’s most popular quiz show, the quickest and smartest trivia champions solve puzzles that astound most home viewers.
Several Christian viewers were astonished by a recent broadcast when all three competitors failed to pick up on a very obvious clue about the Lord’s Prayer.
On the episode of the program that aired on June 13, host Mayim Bialik read a hint for $200 in the category “Dad adjectives,” which is the lowest amount on the board and often the simplest. Matthew 6:9 states, “Our Father Who Art In Heaven, This Be Thy Name.”
As anybody who has prayed the Lord’s Prayer since Sunday School will confirm, the right answer is “hallowed” (or “what is hallowed,” per Jeopardy! rules).
Even seemingly basic Jeopardy! answers baffled the contestants, but the fact that no one correctly identified one of the most often said prayers in Christianity seems to have resonated with the religion.
“On Jeopardy last night, not a single contestant knew the answer to this, “Are you waking up yet? said one Twitter user.”
It was comparable to studying the Pledge of Allegiance to learn the Lord’s Prayer in school. One tweet simply stated, “You did it.”
Not one contestant on Jeopardy last night knew the answer to this…..
— Mimi Joeckel (@cantcancelmimi) June 14, 2023
Are you waking up yet? pic.twitter.com/bBIhVntHwd
Another person said, “While it DEFINITELY speaks volumes about Americans and their faith…or lack thereof, it MAY NOT be a sign of the end times.”
Some people were simply stunned that they had missed such a clear hint. This was seen by some viewers as a sign of declining faith in America.
One individual wrote, “I’m an atheist and even I knew the answer to that Lord’s prayer question.”
My 4-year-old niece had the answer to this Jeopardy! puzzle. Maybe some of the attendees have never heard of The Lord’s Prayer. Somebody else wrote.
Jeopardy and The Lord’s Prayer.
— NC_Boy59 (@NCBoy59) June 14, 2023
While it may not be a sign of the end times, if DEFINITELY speaks volumes about Americans and their faith…or lack of.
On Jeopardy!, people! Do nerds not realize this? Have they really never heard of Iron Maiden, I mean, come on? Another user made fun of the situation by using the Iron Maiden song “Hallowed Be Thy Name.”
While some viewers were shocked that no one in the competition could respond to such a seemingly straightforward question, others were empathetic.
How can those Jeopardy! nerds not know this answer. Have they never listened to Iron Maiden? pic.twitter.com/Z0sWeR8zBv
— Bob Janke: Honky (@Bob_Janke) June 15, 2023
Due to their low scores, two of the participants were likely attempting to play it safe in order to prevent falling further into the red.
It’s also important to note that contestants on Jeopardy! frequently give answers that would baffle even fervent Christians.
Because Christian questions cover such a wide range, some detractors have said the programming asks too many of them.
Furthermore, given that Jeopardy! welcomes competitors from many backgrounds and worldviews, it is probable that none of these three participants had the same Christian upbringing as many of the viewers.
The Final Jeopardy response, “He starred in the 2 films whose soundtracks were the top 2 bestselling albums of 1978,” shows that the participants struggled with the Lord’s Prayer but did better with ’70s flicks.
https://t.co/TqIYw2JBlW pic.twitter.com/4VCgEfcBxu
— president joe vibin (@TylerHuckabee) June 16, 2023
I assume this is the correct response. John Travolta is needed here, stat! (The soundtracks for Saturday Night Fever and Grease were used). Competitor Suresh Krishnan won the match, making it six wins in a row for him.
I was interested in your opinions on this Jeopardy! Unfamiliar with the Lord’s Prayer participants. Tell us what you believe took place here!
Despite the contestants’ struggle with the Lord’s Prayer clue, they performed better in other categories, such as ’70s films. The Final Jeopardy response regarding the actor who starred in the two bestselling albums of 1978’s soundtracks (“Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease”) demonstrated their competence in other areas. Suresh Krishnan, one of the competitors, emerged as the winner, securing his sixth consecutive victory.
I’m sure somewhere evilgelicals are going to whine about people not knowing the answer and then say there is a war on Christianity (there isn’t one). People are entitled to their own beliefs. It doesn’t have to be the one you have…damn.https://t.co/QZJItqmWhB
— KT (@sloyoroll01973) June 16, 2023
Opinions on the Jeopardy! contestants’ unfamiliarity with the Lord’s Prayer varied. Some viewers were surprised, disappointed, or concerned about the potential implications, while others understood the diverse backgrounds of the participants and the nature of the game’s wide-ranging questions. Ultimately, Jeopardy! continues to captivate audiences with its challenging clues, unexpected knowledge gaps, and moments that spark discussions and reactions among viewers.