The Rivalry Between Sheldon Cooper and Pastor Jeff

Warning: The following text contains major spoilers for Young Sheldon.

Hello there! Today we'll discuss Young Sheldon. Young Sheldon is the prequel to The Big Bang Theory. This time we're talking about Sheldon Cooper and Pastor Jeff. Sheldon Cooper and Pastor Jeff had a big rivalry. It's because Sheldon prefers scientific facts, and Pastor Jeff prefers religion. I have gathered their rivalry scenes and episode names below.

Season 1

Episode 3: Poker, Faith, and Eggs

At the First Baptist Church of Medford, Pastor Jeff preached. Pastor Jeff said people would ask him how he knew God existed. Pastor Jeff would answer that it was simple math and that God was real, or he wasn't. Pastor Jeff said there was a 50-50 chance at the worst-case scenario. Sheldon raised his hand and pointed out that was wrong. Pastor Jeff asked Sheldon to come on stage and tell him how he was wrong. Sheldon then walked over and said Pastor Jeff had confused possibilities with probabilities. Pastor Jeff asked Sheldon what he thought the odds were that God exits. Sheldon said they were zero and believed in science. Sheldon also preferred facts to faith. Pastor Jeff told Sheldon that famous scientists, including Charles Darwin, believed in God. Sheldon then sarcastically asked if Darwin was right about God and wrong about evolution. Pastor Jeff then took advantage of what Sheldon said and proved his point. Adult Sheldon's voiceover said he swore to return the following Sunday and destroy Pastor Jeff.

The week after, Pastor Jeff gave another sermon, discussing the order of creation. Pastor Jeff said God created light on day one. Sheldon asked Pastor Jeff how the light was possible on day one because Pastor Jeff said God didn't make the sun until day four. Sheldon wanted to know how there was light the first three days. Pastor Jeff explained that God was light, but Sheldon retaliated and asked if God was a photon. George then faked a heart attack by clutching his chest and kneeling so the Coopers could escape the embarrassing situation.

Episode 11: Demons, Sunday School, and Prime Numbers

Sheldon, Tam, and Billy played Dungeons & Dragons. There were demons in the game, so Mary was worried. Mary tried to talk to Tam and Billy's parents, but it was ineffective, so Mary told Pastor Jeff. Pastor Jeff then came to the Cooper residence and suggested Sheldon attend Sunday school. Mary, George, and Meemaw told Sheldon, but he refused to go. Pastor Jeff convinced Sheldon. He asked if Sheldon hoped to become a famous scientist, and Sheldon confirmed it. Pastor Jeff asked Sheldon which kind of scientist concludes without research. Sheldon said an insufficient scientist does that. Pastor Jeff then explained that it was the same when it came to believing in God. Pastor Jeff then said he would see Sheldon on Sunday morning at 8 o'clock, but Sheldon said Pastor Jeff wouldn't. Sheldon then cast a second-level invisibility spell on himself.

After studying religions for a week, Sheldon invented a religion called Mathology. At Sunday school, Sheldon wanted to convert everyone to Mathology. Billy wanted to take Mathology, but Pastor Jeff forced Sheldon out of the classroom to talk with Mary.

Episode 15: Dolomite, Apple Slices, and a Mystery Woman

A female student was at the library taking a book on geostatistics. Sheldon then invited her to have lunch with him and Tam. Her name was Libby. Libby said there would be no theory of evolution without geology. Libby said Charles Lyell taught Charles Darwin the Earth was older than anyone thought, which gave Darwin the courage to figure out that all species evolved over billions of years. Sheldon said he could use that to humiliate Pastor Jeff at Sunday school.

Season 2

Episode 3: A Crisis of Faith and Octopus Aliens

Pastor Jeff was giving a sermon. He talked about God giving his son to the world. Sheldon raised his hand and asked Pastor Jeff whether the pastor meant the Earth or the universe when Pastor Jeff said God gave his son to the world. Pastor Jeff answered Earth, but Sheldon asked Pastor Jeff whether God wouldn't want to save the universe he created. Pastor Jeff said God would. Sheldon then retorted and asked Pastor Jeff the reason he said Earth. Pastor Jeff answered that Earth was a synonym for the universe. Sheldon asked Pastor Jeff if God planned to save the universe, then that meant a race of octopus aliens light-years away could only be saved by Jesus. Pastor Jeff said that was the case. Sheldon then asked if the octopus aliens had never heard of Jesus, redeeming the aliens would be possible. Pastor Jeff said yes. 

Sheldon then questioned whether it was possible to save the octopus aliens if Jesus's appearance was terrifying. Pastor Jeff asked Sheldon why Jesus's appearance was frightening. Sheldon said it was because Jesus had four limbs, and the octopus aliens had eight. After that, Mary tried to stop Sheldon, but Pastor Jeff said it was alright because he prayed people would be more interested in his sermons. Pastor Jeff then added that he should have been more specific. Pastor Jeff answered Sheldon and said that if the octopus aliens were born without sin, they didn't need to be saved by Jesus. Sheldon then asked whether a human Jesus or an octopus Jesus would save the aliens if an octopus Adam and Eve brought sin to the aliens' world. Pastor Jeff then bowed his head because he was in a very awkward position.

A few days later, Mary went to ask Pastor Jeff about faith. After talking, he told Mary to tell Sheldon that he had spoken to his seminary professor, and the official ruling was that Jesus would appear to the octopus aliens in octopus alien form and save their souls.

Episode 19: A Political Campaign and a Candy Land Cheater

Sheldon was unhappy with the school spending so much money on football instead of science, so Sheldon decided to run for class president. Sheldon asked Pastor Jeff to advise him about public speaking. Pastor Jeff said that he would ask the Lord to speak through him. Sheldon questioned whether it was similar to a ventriloquist because he was unsure what Pastor Jeff meant. Pastor Jeff said it wasn't and explained, but Sheldon interrupted him. Sheldon asked whether it was like one of the Muppets because Pastor Jeff looked like Kermit, in Sheldon's opinion. Pastor Jeff wished Sheldon luck and hung up because he was offended.

Episode 21: A Broken Heart and a Crock Monster

Mary took Sheldon to work, and Sheldon saw the donation record. Missy and Sheldon made phone calls to encourage people to donate after Sheldon noticed the congregation made very few donations. Pastor Jeff preached the week after. Pastor Jeff praised Jesus for the church's record donations during the sermon. However, Sheldon and Missy were unhappy because Jesus shouldn't have received the credit. The two then discussed starting their own church.

Season 3

Episode 9: A Party Invitation, Football Grapes and an Earth Chicken

Pastor Jeff was still looking for a topic for the sermon he was about to give. Sheldon would eat him alive if he did Noah's Ark, similar to how those two lions would have done to those two giraffes. Mary suggested he could talk about the importance of neighborliness.

Episode 19: A House for Sale and Serius Woman Stuff

The house next door to the Coopers was for sale. However, Sheldon didn't want anyone he didn't like to buy the house, so he asked his teachers if they wanted to buy it. He also checked with Robin, Pastor Jeff's wife and a police officer, if anyone was murdered in the house next door. Mary told Sheldon that he needed to stop being involved because even Pastor Jeff was talking about buying that house. Sheldon said it could work out because Pastor Jeff's wife being a police officer meant built-in security. Sheldon also stated that if he had a theological zinger, he could call it right over the fence.

Season 4

Episode 3: Training Wheels and an Unleashed Chicken

Sheldon broke his right hand after riding a bike without training wheels. A few days later, Sheldon attended Sunday school. Pastor Jeff asked how God touched everybody's lives last week. Sheldon raised his hand and responded that God didn't because He doesn't exist. Pastor Jeff asked then why Sheldon raised his hand. In response to this question, Sheldon pointed out that he raised his left hand to show he could overcome any obstacle. Pastor Jeff suggested that God might have helped Sheldon. Sheldon said it was Stephen Hawking. Sheldon added that Stephen Hawking was better because he existed. Pastor Jeff responded Stephen Hawking was better because God created him. He then asked if anyone else wanted to share. Billy raised his hand and asked if it would be on the test. Pastor Jeff sighed after he realized what was happening.

Episode 4: Bible Camp and a Chariot of Love

Stamp Camp got canceled, so Sheldon had to go to Bible Camp. Mary tried to persuade Sheldon to go to Bible Camp. Mary said it was space-themed, and Sheldon liked space. Pastor Jeff asked who was ready to find 'space' for Jesus in their hearts. Nobody answered, so Pastor Jeff said he couldn't hear them. Sheldon pointed out that since space is a vacuum, sound doesn't travel. Pastor Jeff sighed and said he thought Sheldon had Stam Camp under his breath.

Episode 7: A Philosophy Class and Worms That Can Chase You

Pastor Jeff wanted to end Sunday school with a back-to-school prayer because everybody was going back to school the day after. Sheldon asked Pastor Jeff whether the prayer only applied to middle school or if it was appropriate for college-bound students as well. Pastor Jeff said it was for everyone, and he sarcastically thanked Sheldon for reminding them that he was starting college the day after.

Season 5

Episode 2: Snoopin' Around and the Wonder Twins of Atheism

Pastor Jeff talked about Moses at Sunday school. He said Moses' mother put him in a basket and sent him down the river. Missy asked why. Pastor Jeff sarcastically suggested that it might have been because Moses cried all night and his parents needed a break. Pastor Jeff also said it might be because Moses' grandmother was in town to help. However, she went to bed early because of jet lag from her Dallas flight. Sheldon then raised his hand and told Missy the correct answer. Sheldon said Moses' mother did it because Pharaoh ordered all male babies killed. Missy asked whether that was really in the Bible. Sheldon said it was.

Missy then silently complained about Mary not letting her read Judy Blume. Billy told Missy that Sheila the Great had changed his life. Pastor Jeff then continued on the topic of Moses. Pastor Jeff explained that Pharaoh's daughter found Moses, and he led the Israelites out of Egypt. Pastor Jeff said God has a plan for everyone when they feel lost. Missy asked what God planned for the male babies who didn't get rescued. Pastor Jeff said it was tough to say. Sheldon told Missy that there was a decree to throw them into the river. Missy was upset that they threw innocent babies into the river, and Billy agreed. Pastor Jeff explained that it was Pharaoh, not God. However, Sheldon argued that Pastor Jeff said it was all God's plan. Pastor Jeff was thinking about Sheldon's question when Sheldon asked how Pastor Jeff slept at night.

Season 6

Episode 1: Four Hundred Cartons of Undeclared Cigarettes and a Niblingo

Pastor Jeff was taking out the trash, and Mary was doing the same thing. Pastor Jeff asked whether Mary was coming to church the day after. Mary said she would think about it. Mary went to church the next day, and Missy and Sheldon came with her. At church, Pastor Jeff talked about love. He told everyone to hold hands and pray. Everybody held hands with everybody except the Coopers. Mary had enough, so they left, but Sheldon returned to the seminary room. Sheldon said the incredible hypocrisy of that sermon struck him. He also asked whether the hypocrisy shocked anyone else. Sheldon stated that Pastor Jeff talked about love but did not include his mother or their family. Sheldon questioned why. He said it was because Georgie impregnated a woman 11 years younger than him. Sheldon asked which one could argue that was an act of love. Sheldon said to Georgie that it was an act of love, but not to Mandy because she didn't care for him. Mary then returned and tried to pull Sheldon away. However, Sheldon was stubborn. He didn't leave but instead corrected the pronunciation of what Pastor Jeff said earlier in the sermon. Mary then forced Sheldon out of the seminary room.

Episode 4: Blonde Ambition and the Concept of Zero

After tutoring Billy for his math test, Sheldon discovered that zero doesn't exist. Sheldon then confirmed to Billy that Zero didn't exist. Sheldon also told Billy that he couldn't help him with his test because, without Zero, Sheldon didn't know what math was anymore. Billy asked Sheldon if they could pretend Zero existed. Sheldon questioned whether Billy meant to accept zero as an act of faith. Billy said that was what he meant. Sheldon said Mary accepted God as an act of faith, and Zero was more useful than God. Billy told Sheldon not to say that to Pastor Jeff. The two then prayed to Zero.