Inspired by watching a movie quite like Plan Nine From Outer Space, Bart and Homer launch a series of rockets, one of which ends up destroying The First Church of Springfield. The church, in desperate need of funds, turns to Mr. Burns, who sells adspace and sets up moneychangers in the church. (Speaking of which, if you're buying anything on Amazon today, click through on my link first, and I might make a few pennies. Thanks!) Fed up with the materialism, Lisa storms out of the church and goes seeking a new path to God.
She finds herself in a Buddhist temple, where Richard Gere schools her on the faith, and its nonmaterialist stance. Lisa soon pronounces herself a Buddhist, which naturally upsets her parents. Well, okay, Homer's upset because Bart isn't buttering his bacon, but Marge is distraught. Soon, Christmas comes, and Marge hopes that a few well-placed bribes will accomplish what maternal guilt cannot.
Lisa can't take the bribe, though, and storms off again to the temple. Luckily, Richard Gere points out that Buddhism doesn't forbid celebrating Christmas, and Lisa's free to spend the day with her family.
Religious observances are full of danger for those of us who have changed faiths. Many of the joys of Christmas come from ritual and tradition, but family rituals can be upset if a member stops participating in some or all of the fun. Families can build up new traditions, and retain the nonreligious ones (my mother and I are picking out her tree this week, for about the tenth year in a row), without forcing anyone to compromise their own beliefs. Of course, this takes time, and the balancing act is hard from both sides. The good news is, Christmas is also about love and understanding, and time spent with family can be done lots of different ways. I'm lucky that, despite my retail work-schedule, I get to spend lots of time with my family, close and extended, friends and in-laws, over the next month. And for me, that makes a Merry Christmas. I can only wish the same for you, dear reader: may your holiday, whatever it is, be filled with love and friendship.
As an episode of The Simpsons, I rate this 9/10. It's a lasting character enrichment, with a complex, funny story to tell.
As a Christmas show, I rate this 7/10. It's this low only because the first half of the episode doesn't seem to take place at Christmastime, with no snow or songs or mentions of the holiday.
and time spent with family can done lots of different ways. You left out the 'be.' Feel free to not allow this comment, of course.
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