Jul 29, 2024
But seriously, which hymn is worst?
I took a long time writing this comic.
I wanted to do more about hymns, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to say. As I imagined the conversation Xavier and Lissa might have, I went with her choice of "worst hymn" without knowing why it would be bad. I just thought she was a bit contrarian, so I chose it and then tried to back it up.
Her argument is very convincing to me! All the sudden, when you think of the hymns, you can see the pattern of submission to authority all over the place. (See also: your unworthiness.)
I never noticed that before writing this strip.
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Comments (4)
“I Love to see the Temple”—It’s undeniably Mormon; a popular tune in primary, all these children singing about how you HAVE to go to the temple, it’s a good and holy place.
Then you do and the real thing isn’t sacred, it’s secretive and isolating. Bad really, promising everything to the church including giving up your bodily autonomy—can’t wear comfortable clothes in the temple and you can no longer wear comfortable underwear outside.
Eventually you leave the LDS church but (if you’re unlucky) you’re still in Utah, there is a temple Every. Where. You. Turn. Always looming over you. “I Love to See the Temple” indeed.
Yeah. They sting a little every time I see one.
"Praise To The Man" gets worse the more I learn about the real history.
Yeah, most of the hymns in the church have the common theme of either celebrating God and his miracles, or else telling you that the solution to all your problems lie with God. They never tell you to solve your problem yourself, or give you confidence to address your own issues. They always need to build up reliance and blind trust in the heavenly cloud man.