Jeopardy! is the most watched game show on television, known for its challenging questions. However, a recent episode surprised many Christian viewers when all three contestants were stumped by a seemingly straightforward clue about the Lord’s Prayer.
The $200 clue, read by host Mayim Bialik on June 13 in the “Dadjectives” category, was: “This ‘Be Thy Name,’ Our Father Who Art in Heaven,” declares Matthew 6:9. The correct response, “What is hallowed,” should be familiar to anyone who learned the Lord’s Prayer in Sunday school.
Many viewers were shocked and took to social media to express their disbelief. One tweet read, “Growing up, learning the Lord’s Prayer was similar to learning the Pledge of Allegiance. You simply did.” Another comment suggested, “Even if it might not be an indication of the end of the world, it tells volumes about Americans and their faith—or lack thereof.”
While some saw it as a sign of declining religious knowledge in the US, others were simply amazed that such a well-known phrase went unrecognized. One Twitter user noted, “I’m an atheist and even I knew the answer to that Lord’s Prayer question.”
Some viewers speculated that the contestants might have played it safe due to their low scores, or that they might not have grown up in a predominantly Christian household.
Despite this surprising moment, contestants often correctly answer questions about Christianity and the Bible on Jeopardy!, leading some to argue that the show asks too many questions on the topic.
Interestingly, the Final Jeopardy response in the same episode, about the top two bestselling soundtracks of 1978, was correctly answered with “John Travolta” (referring to Saturday Night Fever and Grease). Contestant Suresh Krishnan’s winning streak extended to six games with this answer.
