My church changed pastors. The previous one, whom I liked immeasurably, let you know just where you stand and what has to be done to ‘get on the good side of God’. The new one they engaged is very ‘milk toast’. He just tells people how good they are and that there is no need for improvement—in other words —you are as good as you need to be, you are not going to get any better.
I ran the sound system at the back of my small church for many years. After the usual “greet your neighbor” thing at the beginning of the service where everyone shook hands, including mine, I’d pull out the sanitizer wipes I kept under the table. Felt sorry for everyone else who couldn’t do that.
Hi Susan:Bingo! The early christians changed “God’s Word” and went to their religious observance on Sunday instead of Saturday. I guess, per hollie2009ad’s brilliantly insightful theological commentary just above, they are all burning in hell now.
I wish the comments grew more sensical as the day progressed, but that’s not to be. As atheistic as I am, I don’t go around knocking on doors telling people about it, and just as nonsensical it may be, I know and play (and sing third part) a lot of gospel numbers. Is it gonna kill me to sing ‘Praise the Lord, I saw the light" once in a while, or do I have to go off into a corner and sulk when offered a playing job that will entertain people and keep me in guitar strings? It’s tolerance, children… merely tolerance…and there seems to be a severe lack of it here.And another th…Oh, hell….what’s the use????
This is an outstanding strip. And the intensity of the comments above reveal it accomplished that rare achievement—being truly provocative.
As a pastor (and retired USAF chaplain) I applaud the cartoonists for their wit, and I plan to share this with some other clergy I know. It (sadly) represents the experience of growing numbers of people.
As for some of the less gracious comments, allow me to suggest that the frequently insensitive impositions of “evangelistic” Christians are usually well-intensioned, in that most genuinely care do about others and want them to know the peace and joy many believers experience. Expressing glee at someone’s presumed damnation is something altogether different than genuine Christianity.
On the other hand, ridiculing people for their sincere beliefs is not an admirable trait either. I recognize that reaction often arises from similar treatment (real and perceived) that people have received due to their honest questions and convictions, but in our decreasingly civil society, it’s something that all people of goodwill (whatever their religious beliefs) should strive to resist.
Ha ha; timecube farmer is calling other people bigots!I asked for evidence for a ludicrous religious claim. Please explain exactly how that is bigotry.
(I posted this back when the thread was current; somehow, someone has deleted it)Hollie, I think you forgot to take your meds.Are you going to provide any evidence for your hysterical religious shrieking? Especially that part about church in hell every second? Are are we supposed to believe it because you said so? I can make up stuff too; do you therefore have to believe it?As for “God’s Word”, would that be the Koran? If I’m not mistaken, the “God’s Word” you subscribe to is full of god-ordained genocide and slavery, abhorrent morality, and silly “facts” like thinking that bats are birds. Seems like an incompetent, cruel, half-wit kind of god.And, please, learn to spell the word “lose”.
IndyMan about 11 years ago
My church changed pastors. The previous one, whom I liked immeasurably, let you know just where you stand and what has to be done to ‘get on the good side of God’. The new one they engaged is very ‘milk toast’. He just tells people how good they are and that there is no need for improvement—in other words —you are as good as you need to be, you are not going to get any better.
bbadenov about 11 years ago
Amen, brother Shoe … Amen.
sbchamp about 11 years ago
Called Sports Bar…
Kroykali about 11 years ago
I ran the sound system at the back of my small church for many years. After the usual “greet your neighbor” thing at the beginning of the service where everyone shook hands, including mine, I’d pull out the sanitizer wipes I kept under the table. Felt sorry for everyone else who couldn’t do that.
hsawlrae about 11 years ago
A M E N !!!
KEA about 11 years ago
but he didn’t say anything about churches
markjoseph125 about 11 years ago
Brilliant!
markjoseph125 about 11 years ago
the comments suggesting the pointlessness of “church” an’ dismissively laughing off another’s faith are not so amusing…Beg to differ…
markjoseph125 about 11 years ago
Hi Susan:Bingo! The early christians changed “God’s Word” and went to their religious observance on Sunday instead of Saturday. I guess, per hollie2009ad’s brilliantly insightful theological commentary just above, they are all burning in hell now.
I Quit about 11 years ago
“However…the comments suggesting the pointlessness of “church” an’ dismissively laughing off another’s faith are not so amusing…”
Stop assaulting me for being an Atheist, and I’ll stop laughing at you for going to church. Deal?
unca jim about 11 years ago
I wish the comments grew more sensical as the day progressed, but that’s not to be. As atheistic as I am, I don’t go around knocking on doors telling people about it, and just as nonsensical it may be, I know and play (and sing third part) a lot of gospel numbers. Is it gonna kill me to sing ‘Praise the Lord, I saw the light" once in a while, or do I have to go off into a corner and sulk when offered a playing job that will entertain people and keep me in guitar strings? It’s tolerance, children… merely tolerance…and there seems to be a severe lack of it here.And another th…Oh, hell….what’s the use????
Robert Stroud about 11 years ago
This is an outstanding strip. And the intensity of the comments above reveal it accomplished that rare achievement—being truly provocative.
As a pastor (and retired USAF chaplain) I applaud the cartoonists for their wit, and I plan to share this with some other clergy I know. It (sadly) represents the experience of growing numbers of people.
As for some of the less gracious comments, allow me to suggest that the frequently insensitive impositions of “evangelistic” Christians are usually well-intensioned, in that most genuinely care do about others and want them to know the peace and joy many believers experience. Expressing glee at someone’s presumed damnation is something altogether different than genuine Christianity.
On the other hand, ridiculing people for their sincere beliefs is not an admirable trait either. I recognize that reaction often arises from similar treatment (real and perceived) that people have received due to their honest questions and convictions, but in our decreasingly civil society, it’s something that all people of goodwill (whatever their religious beliefs) should strive to resist.
Sorry for the “sermon.”
markjoseph125 about 11 years ago
Ha ha; timecube farmer is calling other people bigots!I asked for evidence for a ludicrous religious claim. Please explain exactly how that is bigotry.
danlarios almost 11 years ago
the question here is ‘’do you belive’’?
Bex Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I found something better. Sunday morning chamber music and poetry. http://chatterabq.org/..Every city should have something like this.
markjoseph125 almost 11 years ago
(I posted this back when the thread was current; somehow, someone has deleted it)Hollie, I think you forgot to take your meds.Are you going to provide any evidence for your hysterical religious shrieking? Especially that part about church in hell every second? Are are we supposed to believe it because you said so? I can make up stuff too; do you therefore have to believe it?As for “God’s Word”, would that be the Koran? If I’m not mistaken, the “God’s Word” you subscribe to is full of god-ordained genocide and slavery, abhorrent morality, and silly “facts” like thinking that bats are birds. Seems like an incompetent, cruel, half-wit kind of god.And, please, learn to spell the word “lose”.