How to use the c-word in a god-honouring way

Apologies to my mother and my boss but one of this week’s sections uses the c-word fairly prominently. I take a Guardian stance on swear words for this newsletter where it’s fine to spell out in context so long as you’re not egregious about it. Still, I thought I’d just give you a heads up if you’d rather not read that.

But first a quick roundup of a few things relevant to Modern Relics that I don’t want to dwell on for too long. Elon Musk unverified the Pope’s Twitter account because the Vatican wouldn’t pay for Twitter Blue (but he now has a grey “government or multilateral organisation” tick).

Also, Tucker Carlson lost his job at Fox, and according to Vanity Fair it’s because Rupert Murdoch got freaked out by religious remarks Carlson made during a speech. Also Murdoch called off his two-week engagement with ex-fiancee Ann Lesley Smith because she thought Carlson was a prophet from God. Wild!!

Also hey, can I please ask a favour — if you’re using Substack Notes and enjoy Modern Relics, could you please restack or link to my newsletter? Every bit helps!

“How do you serve cunt in a god honoring way”

We love a good prompt tweet (only good ones though). The question: “How do you serve cunt in a god honoring way”

So, the tweet is a blend of the drag slang “serving cunt” which has been popularised by RuPaul’s Drag Race, and the “How to X in a god honoring way” meme. This meme is apparently niche enough that it doesn't have a Know Your Meme page? Okay.

So as far as I’m aware, it all starts with Girl Defined, a YouTube channel run by “two sisters passionate about helping Christian women discover what it means to become girls defined by God.”

Their now-deleted 2018 video "How to Wear Makeup in a God Honoring Way" went crazy in the YouTube algorithm, getting served to users way outside their usual white, American, evangelical Christian audience.

I got the video. My friends got the video. Even Trixie Mattel, of Drag Race fame, got the video (and then did a reaction video in response). The backlash must have been pretty intense, because they deleted the video from YouTube, but an enterprising YouTuber has reuploded a mirror, and there’s a version still on the Girl Defined Facebook page.

It’s a pretty exploitable video title, and Girl Defined has used variations of it for other topics in the past. It’s also popular with people who criticise the channel — like with this “How to throw shade at your sister in a god honoring way” compilation.

I reckon Trixie’s reaction video was what really made this phrase pop off online (“throw shade” and other variants, like “be non-binary”, “scare the hoes”, “get knotted by a werewolf” and “suck dick” are all posted by queer users) but “serving cunt” is now by far the most popular version. Everyone’s adding their favourite god-honouring characters and fancams. There are a lot of nuns, a lot of Gaga, a lot of K-Pop stars(?), some Buffy, etc etc.

This might be my fav though:

Share this post in a god-honouring way.

Worm off the string

Gia Gunn wants to know, do you even believe in God?

What with the rapid enshittification of Twitter, I’ve started poking around Tumblr again, which means I’m being exposed to posts like this AI-generated weed smoking mpreg Jesus.

This video of Gia Gunn and Kimora Blac talking about God is a classic on the site, and I’m so glad it's back in my life. Oh god I’m so gay.

Well, which one?

Click through to see the results of the poll.

Mrs Davis says find the Holy Grail

Speaking of people doing things in god-honouring ways, I’ve just started watching Mrs Davis, a sci-fi comedy about a nun sent on a quest to find the Holy Grail by an artificial intelligence called Mrs Davis.

But Sister Simone wants to kill the AI who gave her the quest in the first place. Also Character Actress Margo Marindale appears in episode 1! I’m a few episodes in and having a fabulous time. No spoilers!

Australians can watch on Binge.

Jesus returns

@shanedanbyrne_Reuploading cos it used to be in two parts. Happy Easter! He is risen!

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Compare and contrast

Here are some wifes for you

Greta Gerwig, you betta praise the Lord

That’s it for this week. If you see something you think I should include in the next edition, DM me on Twitter!