WGN Morning News Blog

The Simpsons writers tread, where few have dared to go. The Love Boat always had guest stars like Charo and Dick Van Patten, but the producers never booked God, who has appeared in several Simpson episodes.

It is the creators’ hallmark to take shots at institutions and it would be easy to mock faith, religion and church. But despite the jokes at religion’s expense, there is an underlying spiritual message that we could all learn from.

One of my favorites is where Homer skips church, using the excuses that many viewers use. (Does God care I’m in a building on Sunday?) While the congregation is listening to a boring sermon, in a freezing church, Homer is home watching football and, he even wins a radio contest. He declares it the best day of his life. Then, his cigar sets the house on fire. He is saved by his evangelical neighbor, Ned Flanders; the Hindu clerk Apu and the Jewish clown, Krusty.

“[It] could be seen as divine retribution for his apostasy,” writes philosopher Julian Baggini in a BBC interview. “But what actually led to the fire was not God's wrath but Homer's hubris and arrogance. Sitting on his sofa thinking smugly, ‘Boy, everyone is stupid except me,’ he falls asleep, dropping his cigar. Homer's mistake was to think that he has nothing left to learn from others.”

As much as The Simpson’s were deemed apostles of the devil by early critics, including President George Bush I, the Simpson’s say grace, and go to church, which is more than we ever saw from the Cleavers.

Bart asks Homer what religion the family follows.

He answers, “You know, the one with all the well-meaning rules that don’t work in real life. Uh, Christianity.”

“One way the Simpsons handle religion is to reflect our cultural context,” said Pastor Mike Daly of St. John United Church of Christ in Naperville. “We are able to see how modernity corrupts religious beliefs and practices. Mr. Burns says, “I'll keep it short and sweet -- Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business,” suggesting complete allegiance to capitalism will give us a better chance at life.”

Sometimes, we identify more with the philosophical lessons of the modern Springfield Homer than the ancient Greek Homer. The former deals with everything from illegal cable TV hookup, to the temptation of committing adultery.

One of my favorite scenes is when Homer thanks God for his beautiful wife, two kids, and asks to keep everything as it is---perfect. He prays that if the Almighty agrees to keep everything exactly as it is, Homer won’t ask for anything more:

“Confirmation of the deal will come in the form of absolutely no sign. (pause)

There is no sign. In gratitude, I present an offering to God of cookies and milk. Should God want me to eat the cookies himself –show me no sign.”

After a pause, Homer utters the benediction, “Thy will be done.”

(As Homer might say---“sacrelicious.”)

Clearly Homer is confused by God’s nature.

“I feel this incredible surge of power---like God must feel when he’s holding a gun.”

But hey—who isn’t confused?

Even the experts are confounded to explain it. Reverend Lovejoy, in his preachy monotone: “People--I’m doing the best I can with the material I’m given.”

Mark Pinski has updated his popular book, The Gospel According to the Simpsons, in which he crystallizes more of these lessons about religious life.

LP: Have The Simpson's been able to accomplish something that organized religion or new age spirituality has not?

MP:Well, they haven't lost relevance, and they continue to appeal to a broad spectrum of Americans. That's no small accomplishment.

LP: Trinity, soul, the nature of God: theology can create confusion and controversy.

How has the show affected religion or how people believe?

MP: Whenever faith, spirituality or theology are discussed in a sanctuary or a lecture hall, a veil of skepticism often descends over [young people’s] brains. To some degree this is a good thing. But when they are sitting on their couches at home or in common rooms, watching an animated comedy, their minds may be open to such concepts. I think that this, too, is a good thing.

Homer probably isn’t that different from many of us. It’s somewhat refreshing in this day of political correctness, that what many people are thinking in the pews, Homer says out loud. The attitudes about religion may not always be pristine, but in this cartoon, they are very real.