Both parts this one and first one are lame. Nothing special, nothing interesting or funny.
8 Reviews
5
Edvis-199719 August 2020
The Best Simpsons Episode in Roughly the Last 20 Years
cyanide375 May 2020
This was a genuinely well done episode and story arc. I really like the overall message of Bode, I find his openness heartwarming and important. As all the best Simpsons episodes are, and great art in general, this story is very much of the moment and encapsulates the culture well. Exclusivity and tribalism are problems in America and the church right now, and Pete Holmes, who not only plays Bode but also wrote the script, tackles these issues very well with frequently hilarious results. I love how effectively he injects his own Christian upbringing and philosophy into this story; the characterizations ring all the truer because of it. He uses various characters to brilliant effect, particularly Lisa, whose own struggles with doubt and religion I've always found relatable, and also Ned, whose dogmatism I've disliked as the show has progressed in years, but who started out as a sincere and loving neighbor. This is one of the first episodes in a while that was not only funny, but poignant. Bode's is a Christian ethos I can ardently support despite my own lack of faith.
This has no conclusion
davidjmmills17 December 2020
This is just another example of how downhill the show has gone. The writing is unbelievably poor. Its as if there's about 12 different writers shoving a script together without looking. Pure laziness. Matt Groening needs to be ashamed, at this point this is purely money grabbing and its destroying the Simpsons legacy. Just for the record, its been awful for at least 11 seasons now.
Worst episode(s) ever (2/2)
Black_Sun11 June 2020
Seriously?
jessicaecooke5 May 2020
If you are that easily offended by anything, ESPECIALLY religion, why in the world do you watch The Simpsons? Lighten up! Even Jesus wouldn't have the same issues with this episode. He was a cool dude, right? Try to be more like him rather than being judgmental.
Missing the Point
KlingonSteve15 July 2020
What a tone deaf, stupid set of episodes. Here's the writer's ever-so-brilliant commentary on religion: Christianity can be read to mean that since God is love and loves every one of us, therefore God doesn't care about the bad things you do. Oh, and also all religions are basically the same.
And the idea that church membership is declining because Christianity is so judgey, is actually the opposite of what poll after poll after poll of young people who have recently left OR entered Christian churches are saying: when they leave it's because the faith has already *been* watered down by ridiculous Bode-type pastors, and when they come back it's because tradition has been restored and authentic Christian teachings are being preached.
People who come to God want love, yes, but they also want guidance, not to be told what they want to hear. God is a God of mercy, yes, but also of justice. Right and wrong are still a thing. The fantasy on display in this episode is that there exists some kind of Christianity that isn't actually Christianity, but is instead some kind of amalgam of Buddhism and hippy philosophy, filtered through a layer of conveniently selected scripture passages and stamped with a "JESUS" seal of approval.
Sorry, friends. That's...not how any of this works.
Do better, Simpsons. Or better yet, stick to comedy and leave the juvenile Comparative Religions 101 nonsense to the tumblr crowd.
And the idea that church membership is declining because Christianity is so judgey, is actually the opposite of what poll after poll after poll of young people who have recently left OR entered Christian churches are saying: when they leave it's because the faith has already *been* watered down by ridiculous Bode-type pastors, and when they come back it's because tradition has been restored and authentic Christian teachings are being preached.
People who come to God want love, yes, but they also want guidance, not to be told what they want to hear. God is a God of mercy, yes, but also of justice. Right and wrong are still a thing. The fantasy on display in this episode is that there exists some kind of Christianity that isn't actually Christianity, but is instead some kind of amalgam of Buddhism and hippy philosophy, filtered through a layer of conveniently selected scripture passages and stamped with a "JESUS" seal of approval.
Sorry, friends. That's...not how any of this works.
Do better, Simpsons. Or better yet, stick to comedy and leave the juvenile Comparative Religions 101 nonsense to the tumblr crowd.
My boy Pete pt 2
liottad26 May 2020
The Simpsons preach their religious views
Chriper79 December 2021
I can imagine people watching this double episode of the Simpsons thinking 'Wow, wouldn't it be cool if churches were really like that, being so open minded about everything. No sin, all religions are right, whatever feels right for you is good. If you don't believe God is real, that's cool also'
Only trouble is, it makes no sense. If everyone could do what they felt like, there would be anarchy. If morality was subjective then murder, rape, genocide are just a person's moral preferences as much as to love one another and look after those in need are another's moral preference. Sure, there are laws in place that generally stop people doing bad things, but what makes those laws right? On top of that, if you look closely at all religions, they all contradict one another.
The Simpsons is quite dogmatic in their preaching of Universalism. They are preaching that all religions, including atheism are valid. It can be inferred they are saying that if you believe what the Bible says is truth then you are narrow minded.
But they are equally as narrow minded in their wanting you to accept Universalism as truth. Are the Simpsons creators really preaching truth through these episodes?
Where does our conscience come from? Why, deep down, do we know what the right thing is to do? Why do we constantly fight against what we know is right? Is there forgiveness when we know we've gone wrong? Who is it that forgives? How and why can we get forgiveness? Is there life after death?
Science textbooks won't give you these types of answers. Other religious texts attempt to answer some of these questions. You can find answers to all those questions in the one book the Simpsons goes to a lot of trouble to mock and take out of context - The Bible.
Only trouble is, it makes no sense. If everyone could do what they felt like, there would be anarchy. If morality was subjective then murder, rape, genocide are just a person's moral preferences as much as to love one another and look after those in need are another's moral preference. Sure, there are laws in place that generally stop people doing bad things, but what makes those laws right? On top of that, if you look closely at all religions, they all contradict one another.
The Simpsons is quite dogmatic in their preaching of Universalism. They are preaching that all religions, including atheism are valid. It can be inferred they are saying that if you believe what the Bible says is truth then you are narrow minded.
But they are equally as narrow minded in their wanting you to accept Universalism as truth. Are the Simpsons creators really preaching truth through these episodes?
Where does our conscience come from? Why, deep down, do we know what the right thing is to do? Why do we constantly fight against what we know is right? Is there forgiveness when we know we've gone wrong? Who is it that forgives? How and why can we get forgiveness? Is there life after death?
Science textbooks won't give you these types of answers. Other religious texts attempt to answer some of these questions. You can find answers to all those questions in the one book the Simpsons goes to a lot of trouble to mock and take out of context - The Bible.
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