jrbj, apropos to a little debate you had yesterday:
The problem is that humanity has always tried to spread a little peace and joy around, and it has never worked.
One of the four human temperaments is talented at diplomacy (as the others are talented at strategy, tactics and logistics), and I suspect you and I share the same diplomatic temperament (as does Calvin, in fact). The hard truth we keep running into was well stated by Mr. Spock in orbit around Gideon (on ST:TOS): “…the purpose of diplomacy is to prolong a crisis.”
In other words, just “being nice” won’t change human nature. You say if we all thought like the redskins fan, we’d have annihilated each other by now. The last time I looked, it’s still five minutes to midnight on the clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
Nobody summarized the problem better than Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the U.S.S. Missouri. It was a frank admission that as they are, human beings can’t rule themselves.
Knowing (we) that Hobbes is really a stuffed tiger, but real in Calvin’s mind, why does Calvin do this to himself? Uh oh, I’m beginning to think that Calvin is real……
Johanan Rakkav said (crediting Gen. MacArthur),
“…as they are, human beings can’t rule themselves.”
“The problem basically is theological…It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.”
“It is the spirit that quickens (gives life); the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” - John 6:63
Destiny23
What would be the fun in that? It would be similar to Broomie being able to use her zapper all the time to get out of the predicaments she gets into. It wouldn’t be funny.
Johanan Rakkav: What you say may well be true and I may be banging my head on the wall for nothing. Still, I’d rather go down trying than simply stop and let the world win. Without getting “religious” about it, I think that what Jesus told us was truly the only way for humans to survive. But in response to what Jesus told humankind, they tortured him and then murdered him in the most cruel fashion. On the other hand, whether you take if from a religious point of view or simply a biological point of view, we all originated from the same specie singularity and that makes us all brothers/sisters and one with each other. Is it really impossibly hard for us to comprehend that and treat each other with peace, love and compassion? If so, we do not merit existence on the earth and the earth would be better off without us. I just think we are better than that and hope I’m not all so terribly wrong.
I have to ponder… What if what we don’t know is that Calvin is about to lay into his mother about one thing or another and what we do see is that little voice we all have and Calvin’s voice being Hobbes… Which then begs to questions: If we all had a hobbes maybe we would listen to that little voice more often!
jrbj said,
“But in response to what Jesus told humankind, they tortured him and then murdered him in the most cruel fashion.”
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23,24
“Therefore does my father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…”
John 10:17,18a
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.” Romans 8:11
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21
I absolutely love the expressions for Hobbes here. In the second one he is so doe-eyed wiggling his cute little spirit fingers, and then they brow drops and the claws pop out in a “try-it and die” expression.
“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.”
– H. L. Mencken
Apparently you resemble that remark, and so does the ‘bird of a feather’ a couple posts before you.
I just responded to a comment that had facts, but misconstrued what they meant, in my opinion. My remarks seem to strike a sensitive negative chord in a few people because they don’t want to believe what they are afraid might really be true.
Puddleglum2’s point, I think, is that nobody took His life- He gave it. It was God’s plan all along. “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” -Rev. 13:8
I think Puddleglum2’s point is that everyone who doesn’t believe the way he does is simply afraid of the possibility that it might be true. If this were the case people would believe simply because of that fear. The evil underbelly of Puddleglum2’s religion (and the solid base that that specific religion is founded upon) is the fear of the possibility of eternal damnation, which doesn’t really sound like “agape” love to me. Puddleglum2 wants people to live the way his religion says they should live which is completely counterintuitive to the concept of free will.
Also you can throw as many bible verses at a rational conversation as you want, they still hold no bearing on the conversation and add absolutely nothing to the discussion. Preaching a sermon on Jesus’ love for mankind has nothing to do with the ‘plight of man’ as it were, so keep it in church man.
@dpgb_lee,
Your rationalizations are faulty from my perspective.
Some people do believe out of fear, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 23
But others do not believe out of fear. “And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments…” Luke 16:23a
This rich man who had died asked for a drop of water to cool his tongue, but he would not repent of his sins to receive mercy for eternal life.
If there were not free will, God would force everyone to be saved. They are allowed to choose their own destiny.
I think Bible verses hold every bearing on the conversation since they are God’s word.
Jesus’ love for mankind has everything to do with ‘the plight of man’ since his love prompted him to pay the penalty for those sins on the cross of calvary.
‘Agape’ love is most effective for the believer (Christian). The nonbeliever refuses to accept God’s love.
If there were no eternal consequences for unrepented sin, all mankind would go to heaven (universal salvation) and heaven would be like earth. The ‘plight of man’ would remain forever.
“I think Puddleglum2’s point is that everyone who doesn’t believe the way he does is simply afraid of the possibility that it might be true. If this were the case people would believe simply because of that fear. The evil underbelly of Puddleglum2’s religion (and the solid base that that specific religion is founded upon) is the fear of the possibility of eternal damnation, which doesn’t really sound like “agape” love to me. Puddleglum2 wants people to live the way his religion says they should live which is completely counterintuitive to the concept of free will.”
Not so–we make ourselves worthy of damnation by choosing wrong things. Agape love is the possibility, as a free gift, of receiving something better. I don’t believe out of fear, but in hope, a hope that I have found reliable in living well here on earth as well as–I hope–in the future.
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. -Prov. 29:9
…God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. -2Thess. 2:11
Some people do not want Truth. However, I will continue to cast pearls even if there are a few swine about. I’ll just TRY to not engage them in debate.
One of these days that tiger is going to leave Calvin hanging in a tree by the seat of his pants. He’s a meaner kid than I ever was when I was a kid.. But I didn’t have a pet tiger either. I had all kinds of wild animals as pets from being raised on a farm. My favorite one was a pet fawn. Or one of the two ground hogs that I raised.
Aardvark359 is of the same ilk as the ‘verbose’ one.
He’s as phony as a three-dollar bill in claiming that he defends my right to be a complete anything. If it always results in insults, he must be a glutton for punishment.
His quote from H. L. Mencken was just another foolish attempt to ridicule a well-reasoned and carefully thought out apologetic.
The term blow-hard applies directly to himself as ‘an ill wind that blows no good’.
At best, Mark Twain’s comment refers to blind faith. Believing what one knows not to be true is utterly nonsensical and serves no useful purpose, whatsoever.
“Faith is the substance (confidence) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
“The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”
Psalms 14:1 and 53:1
Note that God says two times the same thing. If God speaks once, people should listen; if He speaks twice, people had better listen.
Hooray! More insults from one of the “chosen”! God’s love clearly has made you a kinder, gentler person!
What Puddleglum2 doesn’t get is that while I disagree with everything she says, the manner in which she says it and the shear volume of the saying, I still defend her right to say it. It’s doesn’t even matter that she doesn’t appreciate it. This is America. I am an American. She can cut’n’paste her religion and spew insults at anyone who doesn’t buy into every word she says. I’ll continue to defend her right to do so long after everyone else has skipped, deleted and prayed that she would just shut up.
It’s a beautiful day in America!
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
– Stephen Roberts
margueritem almost 15 years ago
Sharp claws, little man…
rentier almost 15 years ago
The claws look dangerously, run Calvin, run!
sjoujke almost 15 years ago
Nothing like a mitt full of sharp claws to put ones mood in the right perspective.
Pacejv almost 15 years ago
The ending could be a nail biter.
pouncingtiger almost 15 years ago
Never tick off a tiger, Calvin.
johnnydoc5 almost 15 years ago
Maybe. Some dogs aren’t overly bright.
bluskies almost 15 years ago
Sometimes potential consequences put choices in better perspective.
Rakkav almost 15 years ago
Grumpy and Grumpier.
(Wonderful comments all!)
Rakkav almost 15 years ago
jrbj, apropos to a little debate you had yesterday:
The problem is that humanity has always tried to spread a little peace and joy around, and it has never worked.
One of the four human temperaments is talented at diplomacy (as the others are talented at strategy, tactics and logistics), and I suspect you and I share the same diplomatic temperament (as does Calvin, in fact). The hard truth we keep running into was well stated by Mr. Spock in orbit around Gideon (on ST:TOS): “…the purpose of diplomacy is to prolong a crisis.”
In other words, just “being nice” won’t change human nature. You say if we all thought like the redskins fan, we’d have annihilated each other by now. The last time I looked, it’s still five minutes to midnight on the clock of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
Nobody summarized the problem better than Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the U.S.S. Missouri. It was a frank admission that as they are, human beings can’t rule themselves.
Rakkav almost 15 years ago
“The problem basically is theological…It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.”
We now return you to our regularly scheduled comics.
kreole almost 15 years ago
Knowing (we) that Hobbes is really a stuffed tiger, but real in Calvin’s mind, why does Calvin do this to himself? Uh oh, I’m beginning to think that Calvin is real……
Arrrgggghhhh…….!
Praxsis almost 15 years ago
You may be the little, big man, but my brother like they ain’t no other, you just got trumped by the TOP CAT. GROWL!!
Downeasta almost 15 years ago
RAWRR!!!!
vibjyor almost 15 years ago
Calvin is not the only one in bad mood.
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
Johanan Rakkav said (crediting Gen. MacArthur), “…as they are, human beings can’t rule themselves.”
“The problem basically is theological…It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.” “It is the spirit that quickens (gives life); the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” - John 6:63
Troglodyte almost 15 years ago
From the looks of it, Hobbes’ was an instinctive reaction, but then, so was Calvin’s, I guess!
pearlandpeach almost 15 years ago
it’s the pointy on 5 ends syndrome.
senseilance almost 15 years ago
you get what you give … now, if he’d asked nicely …
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
Let sleeping tigers lie, Calvin! “Let sleeping dogs lie”, too, even if it is a pet!
DolphinGirl78 almost 15 years ago
He had it coming…
jbmetalmonster almost 15 years ago
calvin is too proud you’d think he’d have known hobbes for long enough now to know that hobbes is a sarcastic tiger who doesn’t tolarate b.s.
krisch almost 15 years ago
quote CLAWS!!! unquote
Smartone2000 almost 15 years ago
I would really enjoy being Hobbes. He always has the advantage against Calvin.
Destiny23 almost 15 years ago
I’m surprised Calvin hasn’t had Hobbes declawed before now!
(There are doll hospitals, there should be stuffed animal veterinary clinics…)
GROG Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Destiny23 What would be the fun in that? It would be similar to Broomie being able to use her zapper all the time to get out of the predicaments she gets into. It wouldn’t be funny.
alondra almost 15 years ago
He’s just telling you he’s had a worse day than you Calvin so stay out of his way!
wicky almost 15 years ago
Just a little attitude adjustment.
runninanreadin almost 15 years ago
THAT’S not the scary part…the REAL scary part is you have to multiply those claws by FOUR! True, indeed…RUN, CALVIN, RUUNNN!
COWBOY7 almost 15 years ago
In this “poker game” a claw hand beats a bad mood any day!
linsonl almost 15 years ago
runninanreadin: House cats don’t have big toes, do tigers? Multliply by 3.6?
stewdeo3bs almost 15 years ago
no matter how bad you think you are, There’s allways someone bigger and badder. Calvin adjust your attitude or have it adjusted for you.
jrbj almost 15 years ago
Johanan Rakkav: What you say may well be true and I may be banging my head on the wall for nothing. Still, I’d rather go down trying than simply stop and let the world win. Without getting “religious” about it, I think that what Jesus told us was truly the only way for humans to survive. But in response to what Jesus told humankind, they tortured him and then murdered him in the most cruel fashion. On the other hand, whether you take if from a religious point of view or simply a biological point of view, we all originated from the same specie singularity and that makes us all brothers/sisters and one with each other. Is it really impossibly hard for us to comprehend that and treat each other with peace, love and compassion? If so, we do not merit existence on the earth and the earth would be better off without us. I just think we are better than that and hope I’m not all so terribly wrong.
Trainwreck_1 almost 15 years ago
I have to ponder… What if what we don’t know is that Calvin is about to lay into his mother about one thing or another and what we do see is that little voice we all have and Calvin’s voice being Hobbes… Which then begs to questions: If we all had a hobbes maybe we would listen to that little voice more often!
Stede_Bonnet almost 15 years ago
The simplest of all right-of-way rules: “The law of gross tonnage applies.”
An “800 lb gorrilla” is the lubber equivalent. (Clawed tigers being acceptable substitutes.)
bleepingdeadalien almost 15 years ago
Hobbes can be so subtle.
Miss.Fit almost 15 years ago
bluskies said: Sometimes potential consequences put choices in better perspective.
well said… !!!!
bmonk almost 15 years ago
If those four reasons weren’t enough, he had a dozen more points he could bring out…
Dino-1 almost 15 years ago
As Clint Eastwood would say, “Make my day!”
COWBOY7 almost 15 years ago
“Do you feel lucky? Well do you, punk” would also fit nicely, Dino-1.
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
jrbj said, “But in response to what Jesus told humankind, they tortured him and then murdered him in the most cruel fashion.” “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23,24 “Therefore does my father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…” John 10:17,18a “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21
rikw2 almost 15 years ago
I absolutely love the expressions for Hobbes here. In the second one he is so doe-eyed wiggling his cute little spirit fingers, and then they brow drops and the claws pop out in a “try-it and die” expression.
ratlum almost 15 years ago
Puddleglum2 You must think the cartoon is real ,and all that other bleeep too
bald almost 15 years ago
so why did calvin turn away so easily? his day must not have been all that bad after all
Aardvark359 almost 15 years ago
“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.” – H. L. Mencken
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
Apparently you resemble that remark, and so does the ‘bird of a feather’ a couple posts before you. I just responded to a comment that had facts, but misconstrued what they meant, in my opinion. My remarks seem to strike a sensitive negative chord in a few people because they don’t want to believe what they are afraid might really be true.
alviebird almost 15 years ago
This must be the original “talk to the hand”.
alviebird almost 15 years ago
Puddleglum2’s point, I think, is that nobody took His life- He gave it. It was God’s plan all along. “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” -Rev. 13:8
dpgb_lee almost 15 years ago
I think Puddleglum2’s point is that everyone who doesn’t believe the way he does is simply afraid of the possibility that it might be true. If this were the case people would believe simply because of that fear. The evil underbelly of Puddleglum2’s religion (and the solid base that that specific religion is founded upon) is the fear of the possibility of eternal damnation, which doesn’t really sound like “agape” love to me. Puddleglum2 wants people to live the way his religion says they should live which is completely counterintuitive to the concept of free will.
Also you can throw as many bible verses at a rational conversation as you want, they still hold no bearing on the conversation and add absolutely nothing to the discussion. Preaching a sermon on Jesus’ love for mankind has nothing to do with the ‘plight of man’ as it were, so keep it in church man.
treBsdrawkcaB almost 15 years ago
Puddleglum and thebird55 - Thank you! I was about to respond in kind when I saw that you had already done so.
Excellent posts, both.
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
Hobbes is indicating (not so subtly) that he will ‘talon’ Calvin if he doesn’t back off. Okay, it’s a ‘bad’ pun.
cats32 almost 15 years ago
help santa claws is attacking get it santa CLAWS!!
Aardvark359 almost 15 years ago
I love how whenever I defend Puddleglum2’s right to be a complete blow-hard, he/she/it always responds with an insult. No good deed goes unpunished.
“Faith is believing something you know ain’t true.” - Mark Twain
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
@dpgb_lee, Your rationalizations are faulty from my perspective. Some people do believe out of fear, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 23 But others do not believe out of fear. “And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments…” Luke 16:23a This rich man who had died asked for a drop of water to cool his tongue, but he would not repent of his sins to receive mercy for eternal life. If there were not free will, God would force everyone to be saved. They are allowed to choose their own destiny. I think Bible verses hold every bearing on the conversation since they are God’s word. Jesus’ love for mankind has everything to do with ‘the plight of man’ since his love prompted him to pay the penalty for those sins on the cross of calvary. ‘Agape’ love is most effective for the believer (Christian). The nonbeliever refuses to accept God’s love. If there were no eternal consequences for unrepented sin, all mankind would go to heaven (universal salvation) and heaven would be like earth. The ‘plight of man’ would remain forever.
Vonnegut almost 15 years ago
Blessed are the verbose…
DallasMom1959 almost 15 years ago
Funny And To The Point…
bmonk almost 15 years ago
dpgb_lee said, about 4 hours ago
“I think Puddleglum2’s point is that everyone who doesn’t believe the way he does is simply afraid of the possibility that it might be true. If this were the case people would believe simply because of that fear. The evil underbelly of Puddleglum2’s religion (and the solid base that that specific religion is founded upon) is the fear of the possibility of eternal damnation, which doesn’t really sound like “agape” love to me. Puddleglum2 wants people to live the way his religion says they should live which is completely counterintuitive to the concept of free will.”
Not so–we make ourselves worthy of damnation by choosing wrong things. Agape love is the possibility, as a free gift, of receiving something better. I don’t believe out of fear, but in hope, a hope that I have found reliable in living well here on earth as well as–I hope–in the future.
Dino-1 almost 15 years ago
Lonewolf: Even better Clint sayings. I wish he made those kinds of movies again. Oh, the good old days.
medamo almost 15 years ago
Hobbes had to work on that one. It looks like he almost forgot he had the “claws of doom” in there.
chubbygirlcomics almost 15 years ago
Not even close, Calvin. I know from personal experience that they swarm.
alviebird almost 15 years ago
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. -Prov. 29:9
…God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. -2Thess. 2:11
Some people do not want Truth. However, I will continue to cast pearls even if there are a few swine about. I’ll just TRY to not engage them in debate.
Got to admire Vonnegut’s post, though.
mdmontford almost 15 years ago
hilerus
billyjack71 almost 15 years ago
One of these days that tiger is going to leave Calvin hanging in a tree by the seat of his pants. He’s a meaner kid than I ever was when I was a kid.. But I didn’t have a pet tiger either. I had all kinds of wild animals as pets from being raised on a farm. My favorite one was a pet fawn. Or one of the two ground hogs that I raised.
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
Even four words are verbose, if they are totally meaningless except in empty sarcasm.
Puddleglum2 almost 15 years ago
Aardvark359 is of the same ilk as the ‘verbose’ one. He’s as phony as a three-dollar bill in claiming that he defends my right to be a complete anything. If it always results in insults, he must be a glutton for punishment. His quote from H. L. Mencken was just another foolish attempt to ridicule a well-reasoned and carefully thought out apologetic. The term blow-hard applies directly to himself as ‘an ill wind that blows no good’. At best, Mark Twain’s comment refers to blind faith. Believing what one knows not to be true is utterly nonsensical and serves no useful purpose, whatsoever. “Faith is the substance (confidence) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.” Psalms 14:1 and 53:1 Note that God says two times the same thing. If God speaks once, people should listen; if He speaks twice, people had better listen.
HonourWest almost 15 years ago
Hey Puddleglum2. I agree entirely with your beliefs but I wonder if your sense of humour might need a little work?
Get the Truth out there sure, but don’t forget to have a good laugh at yourself along the way. =)
Aardvark359 almost 15 years ago
Hooray! More insults from one of the “chosen”! God’s love clearly has made you a kinder, gentler person!
What Puddleglum2 doesn’t get is that while I disagree with everything she says, the manner in which she says it and the shear volume of the saying, I still defend her right to say it. It’s doesn’t even matter that she doesn’t appreciate it. This is America. I am an American. She can cut’n’paste her religion and spew insults at anyone who doesn’t buy into every word she says. I’ll continue to defend her right to do so long after everyone else has skipped, deleted and prayed that she would just shut up.
It’s a beautiful day in America!
“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” – Stephen Roberts
coldplague over 13 years ago
now that is disturbing
wowzo almost 13 years ago
Never wake a sleeping tiger