‘The Bachelor’ Spoilers: Now just a Christian dating show?

‘The Bachelor’ Spoilers are finding that everyone’s favorite Monday night guilty pleasure is becoming more and more like a Christian dating show.

Religion is a big part of a lot of people’s lives. For many others it is an absolute afterthought. While religious compatibility is important, it was never much of a plotline on ABC’s The Bachelor. Until recent seasons, that is.

‘The Bachelor’ Spoilers: Now just a Christian dating show?

Season 8 Bachelorette Emily Maynard was one of the more outspoken Christians who took a lead role in the long-running franchise. To see the description on her Instagram file, one would think she loves Jesus above her kids and husband (that she met outside of the franchise, at her church).

 

However, it seemed to be more AFTER her season that religious convictions became a narrative in her choosing then losing Mormon Jef Holm.

Fast forward several seasons to our current Bachelor, Matt James. In a task very difficult to do after 25 seasons of the Bachelor (and 16 and a half seasons of the Bachelorette) James sprung a first on us. Now this is a show where viewers have witnessed everything from naked bungee jumping to bikini tractor races but Bachelor Nation set Twitter on fire when Matt asked the entire group of 32 women to bow their heads as he led them in prayer.

While some Tweeters were delighted:

 

Others were less down.

 

https://twitter.com/BrettSVergara/status/1346276316522422273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

 

While this group prayer was a first, the 16.5th season of The Bachelorette saw lead Tayshia Adams coldly handle a very sudden break-up with fan favorite and, at that time runner-up Ivan Hall, citing a religious incompatibility. The Bachelor season prior to that with Peter Weber saw contestant Madison Prewett’s father speak creepily, I mean, lovingly of his adult daughter’s sexual chastity due to her deep Christian faith.

Hannah Brown, the Bachelorette of season 15 bonded, maybe a little too much, with villain Luke Parker over their shared Christianity. However, when Parker’s values were no longer in line with Browns, Brown sent him packing, with the killer departing words: “I have had sex, and honestly, Jesus still loves me.”

So, with religion becoming a main storyline on the show, some feel like we are having a Chrsitian dating show stuffed down our throats. Is there no room for an atheist on US prime time television? What about Muslim or Jewish contestants?

The Bachelor is aiming to quell the white-washing of their show with more BIPOC contestants and leads, but now it seems they could be pigeonholing themselves again (and let’s not get started on representation of different body shapes or atypical handicapabilities here!)

It’s too late for this season now, but please Matt, next time you spring a prayer on someone, make sure they aren’t wearing goat feet or holding on to a VIBRATOR!  Awkward!

Watch ABC on Mondays at 8pmET to watch more Bachelor drama unfold. Until then, let us know what you think in the comments section below!

For any other soap opera and entertainment news, please visit again Daily Soap Dish.

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Ivan HallJef HolmMadison PrewettMatt JamesTayshia AdamsThe Bachelor
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