The Joy of Sect

"The Joy of Sect" is the thirteenth episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on February 8, 1998. In the episode, the Movementarian cult takes over Springfield, and the Simpson family (with the exception of Marge) become members.

David Mirkin conceived the initial idea for the episode, Steve O'Donnell was the lead writer and Steven Dean Moore directed. The writers drew on many groups to develop the Movementarians, but were principally influenced by Scientology, Heaven's Gate, the Unification Church ("Moonies"), the Rajneesh movement and Peoples Temple. Other references to popular culture include the title reference to The Joy of Sex and a gag involving Rover from The Prisoner.

"The Joy of Sect" was later analyzed from religious, philosophical and psychological perspectives; books on The Simpsons compared the Movementarians to many of the same groups from which the writers had drawn influence.

Both USA Today and The A.V. Club featured "The Joy of Sect" in lists of important episodes of The Simpsons.

While at the airport, Bart and Homer meet recruiters for the Movementarians, a new religious movement, who invite Homer and many other Springfield residents to a free weekend at their compound. There, an orientation film says that a mysterious man known as "The Leader" will guide Movementarians aboard a spaceship to the planet Blisstonia, with audience members being pressured to sit back down and continue watching by having a spotlight shone on them when they attempt to sneak out. The lengthy film brainwashes the attendees into worshipping The Leader, except for Homer, who was not paying attention. After failing to brainwash Homer through humiliation and nutrient deficiency (via low protein gruel), the recruiters succeed with a chant to the tune of the Batman theme song.

Almost all the townspeople join the cult, including Homer, who moves his family to the Movementarian compound. At the same time, Mr. Burns makes an unsuccessful attempt to start a religion of his own in order to achieve tax-exemption, and Kent Brockman's exposé pieces on the Movementarians are suppressed after the Leader becomes the owner of Channel 6's parent company. Though defiant at first, all the Simpson children are converted to Movementarianism. Marge is the only family member to resist, and escapes from the heavily guarded compound. Outside, she finds Reverend Lovejoy, Ned Flanders and Groundskeeper Willie, who have all resisted the Movementarians, and with their help, she tricks her family into leaving the compound with her.

At the Flanders' home, Marge deprograms her kids by baiting them with fake hoverbikes while Ned and Lovejoy work on Homer with a glass of beer. However, as a drop of beer lands on his tongue, he is recaptured by the Movementarians' lawyers. Back at the compound, Homer reveals to the other Movementarians that he is no longer brainwashed and attempts to expose the cult as a fraud, but upon opening the doors of the compound's "Forbidden Barn" he and the crowd are surprised to find an actual spaceship. However, the crude spaceship disintegrates as it takes flight, revealing The Leader on a pedal-powered aircraft fleeing with everyone's money. He subsequently crashes on the property of Cletus Spuckler, who forces him to give over the money at gunpoint.

The Simpsons return home, where Lisa remarks how wonderful it is to once again be able to think for themselves. The episode ends with the family watching TV and monotonously repeating the words of a Fox announcer: "we are watching Fox".