Bad taste(in my opinion) in using God's name in movie scripts in an attempt to be humorous.

"Steel Magnolias" is a movie I've enjoyed watching several times and one I expect to watch 2 or 3 more times in my mysterious little life(mysterious in the sense that I have no idea how long it will last--so that's all of us, isn't it?). I like its Southern flavor, its funny lines, the down home chummy atmosphere, setting, its portrayal or attempts to portray "real life" or a real sllice of Americana, and, most important, its excellent cast. Who, for instance, would be unhappy having Truvy Jones(Dolly Parton) as a cousin or sister? Then there is the presence of Shelby(played by Julia Roberts). Can anyone really be telling the truth if they say they get bored or tired of looking at her face or hearing her voice? The others are great, too. Thousands of unfortunate youngsters who have moms considerably inferior to M'Lynn(Sally Field) would surely feel envious while watching her in action.

So, after praising the movie, what is my point? Well, there is a line in the movie I've always felt uncomfortable with. It's when Miss Ouiser(Shirley MacLaine) says she has more money than God. Maybe it's because of my Bible-belt upbringing that I have never been able to accept that line. I don't think it's a funny line. I think it's a line that represents mortal arrogance. I wonder if I would have been able or willing to say that line had I been the actor. I suspect not but who can be sure? Then, a few weeks ago I heard the line again in a DVD episode of "The Jeffersons." George Jefferson(Sherman Helmsley) says something similar, that he's got more money than God. Same feeling--that the line isn't funny, it's just arrogant. Since the line on The Jeffersons occurs a number of years earlier than the line in "Steel Magnolias(1989)," it seems somebody working on the "Magnolias" script stole the line. Or did they? Is that the way movie writing works?

If God is going to be mentioned by writers of programs and movies, the use of His name should be done respectfully or should not be used at all. That's what I think. Are there writers so fearless? Furthermore, the line isn't funny because (honey) God doesn't NEED any money! No dollars, no yens, no francs, no rupees, no any kind of money. God doesn't have to go to some nearby supermarket and "shell out" money for the week's groceries as do we mere mortals. God doesn't have to write out monthly checks for lights, water, gas, etc. When they write lines like that one, are the writers trying to bring God down to our level in some way or are they trying to elevate their own level to His? If they are trying to do either one, then that's really funny(honey). Thanks for reading.