Plot
On a very cold Sunday morning, Marge is gathering the family to go to church. However, after viewing the weather outside and struggling with his pants, Homer refuses to go. He then proceeds to have what he declares "the best day of life": he sleeps in late, dances in his underwear (à la Tom Cruise in the film Risky Business), makes his own brand of waffles, wins a radio trivia contest, watches an action-packed football game, and finds a penny. Homer attributes all his good fortune to skipping church. Meanwhile, Marge and the kids shiver their way through a rambling sermon, only to find themselves trapped at the end since the door has frozen shut. After finally being freed by Groundskeeper Willie and his blow torch, Marge is unable to start her car because of the freezing temperature. When they finally get home, Marge is horrified to hear that Homer intends to never go to church again. She becomes very upset with Homer and does her best to persuade him, but to no avail. After trying to seduce Marge, who is praying for him, Homer falls asleep suddenly and has a dream in which God personally appears to him. God is very angry at Homer for "forsaking his church." Homer points out that "I'm not a bad guy, I work hard, and I love my kids...so why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to hell?" God considers with Homer's point and agrees to let Homer worship in his own way. Homer then starts his own religion tailored to his own personal tastes, and makes up false holidays to get out of work (Such as the Feast of Maximum Occupancy).
Marge, Reverend Lovejoy, and Ned Flanders all attempt to convert Homer back to Christianity and fail. The next Sunday morning, Homer is once again at home while everyone else is at church. While smoking a cigar, he falls asleep on the couch and the cigar ignites some magazines. Soon, the whole house is ablaze. Homer wakes up after his hair is caught fire but quickly succumbs to the thick smoke and faints. Apu spots the fire, and summons the Springfield volunteer fire department (of which Krusty the Clown, Chief Wiggum, and Barney Gumble are also members). Meanwhile, Ned Flanders sees the fire and rushes to rescue Homer, pulling him free of the house just as the fire department arrives. After the blaze is extinguished, Homer fears that God was delivering vengeance. Reverend Lovejoy suggests 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 comes to church the next Sunday, but sleeps through the service. God appears in his dreams again and consoles Homer on the failure of his religion. God starts to tell Homer the meaning of life (and says that Homer will die in six months) but is cut off by the credits.
Read more about this topic: Homer The Heretic
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