Homer the Heretic

"Homer the Heretic" is the third episode of The Simpsons' fourth season. Homer discovers the joys of staying home on Sunday morning and decides to start his own religion.

Synopsis

On a very cold Sunday morning in a blizzard, Marge is gathering the family to go to church, but Homer refuses and goes back to his warm bed. After sleeping extra-late, he finally gets up and has fun with the house all to himself: He cranks up the heat, dances in his underwear, makes his Patented Space-Age Out of this World Moon Waffles (see below), wins a radio trivia contest, watches a boring debate on TV get pre-empted for what turns out to be an action-packed football game, and finds a penny under the couch. Meanwhile Marge, the kids, and the rest of the congregation shiver their way through the service and a rambling sermon, only to find themselves trapped at the end because the door is frozen shut. To make matters worse, Marge is unable to start the car due to the cold.

They finally get home, and Homer tells Marge he's had the best day of his life, all thanks to skipping church.

Marge is very angry with Homer for giving up on his faith. Homer gives her his reasons (e.g. "What if we picked the wrong religion? Every week we're just making God madder and madder.") and starts his own personal religion tailored just for himself. Marge prays in bed for her husband. Homer, meanwhile, falls asleep and has a dream where God appears to him. God is initially angry with Homer and shows it by bellowing thunderously, "THOU HAST FORSAKEN MY CHURCH!" Once He has calmed, Homer asks Him what's the big deal of going to church when he can worship in his own way ("I'm a good husband, I have loving kids...why would I want to spend 2 hours a week hearing that I'm just going to hell anyway?") God sees Homer's point and agrees ("I guess it's okay. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to appear in a tortilla in Mexico."), and the dream ends.

Marge, Rev. Lovejoy, and the Flanders family all try to win Homer back to Christianity and fail. The next Sunday morning, Homer is once again at home while everyone else is at church. He smokes a cigar while reading Playdude Magazines. Homer eventually falls asleep, and the lighted cigar he was smoking at the time falls on one of the magazines; the hot ash ignites the paper, and it isn't long before the house is engulfed in flames.

Homer wakes up to find the house in flames, panics and succumbs to the thick smoke. Apu, a Hindu, spots the blaze and takes up his duties as part of Springfield's volunteer fire department (of which the Jewish Krusty the Clown is also a member). Meanwhile, the Christian Ned tries to rescue Homer. After the fire department has extinguished the blaze, Homer fears that God was showing vengeance, but Rev. Lovejoy points out that God was actually working in the hearts of Homer's friends, despite their different faiths. Lovejoy convinces Homer to give church another try. Homer is at church next Sunday, but sleeps through the service. God appears in his dreams again and consoles Homer on the failure of his religion.

Trivia

Notice God has 5 fingers instead of four.
This episode marks the first appearance of God.
It is revealed Apu is Hindu, and Moe is a Snakehandler.
Apu, Skinner, and Moe, who were all volunteer firefighters in this episode would later be ones in Crook and Ladder.

Errors

At the end when God is telling Homer the meaning of life he has four fingers and toes instead of five.

Appearances

Characters

Locations

← Season 3 Season 4 Episodes Season 5 →
Kamp Krusty • A Streetcar Named Marge • Homer the Heretic • Lisa the Beauty Queen • Treehouse of Horror III • Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie • Marge Gets a Job • New Kid on the Block • Mr. Plow • Lisa's First Word • Homer's Triple Bypass • Marge vs. the Monorail • Selma's Choice • Brother from the Same Planet • I Love Lisa • Duffless • Last Exit to Springfield • So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show • The Front • Whacking Day • Marge in Chains • Krusty Gets Kancelled