I actually love the King James version of the bible. As I’ve said before, it’s poetry. However, as I’ve told my daughter, any book contains the spin introduced by the hand that penned it. It’s the job of the reader to ferret out the true meaning. With the Bible to claim that only one version is “true” is… well… a bit of a tough nut to swallow.
It’s funny. The last panel took me some time to do, as I felt bad about inserting my own words into the Bible. Weird. In any case, two comics in a row on the same topic smacks of continuity, so I suspect it’s time to move on to something else. Perhaps, some holiday ruminations…
I cringed at first at the stereotypical “Yokel” guy, but then I realized anyone is fair game, and, well, you’re absolutely right (in the strip above and the wording below). As someone who also realizes the Bible was written by man (but is a fan of Proverbs, James, and some other books), I’m glad you could put some humor into what can be a polarizing subject for people of any belief system, depending on who is involved and how rational/respectful they can be.
You may have felt bad about inserting those words, but they cracked me up! Oh, and thanks for linking my blog the other day.
Well, the yokel guy was straight from the newscast I linked to the other day. I don’t know if the overalls were planned, but that’s what he wore, so that’s what I drew.
With all the God-bashing that goes on these days, I try to stay away from that particular area, but sometimes, you do have to go there. I think people put too much focus on their particular brand of religion and forget about the importance of their faith. By-laws over brotherhood and all that.
As per me, I’m officially Methodist, but love a good Catholic mass. The KJV is my favorite version of the Bible, but realize that it’s not the perfect word of God. You have to read it, and then you have to make an effort to understand it.
Hmmm… seems to be getting a bit “heavy” around here. Will have to lighten the mood with tomorrow’s strip.
Ah… that reminds me of this time I was watching “Robot Chicken”, and they had a 12 Angry Men spoof w/ Weebles, and there was a black one that had, like, 3 teeth and spoke in what I would consider “old slave” speak. I was taken aback, but stopped short of being upset/angry, just wasn’t expecting it. But what turned it from “I’m not sure how I feel, but I’m not offended as they lampoon everyone” to “okay, that’s hilarious”, was the weeble turns to the screen and says “What, every black person on tv gotta be a positive stereotype”… and I laughed so hard! So I love that I was, yet again, taken aback, and voila, that was an actual person interviewed.
There is a lot of bashing that goes on. Some say it’s okay b/c of years of it coming from the opposite direction, but I feel the same way about this as I do about racism – don’t turn into/start using the same tactics as those you didn’t respect for that very same reason. I try to be respectful of all (minus the occasional joke that includes my beliefs), and am not okay with anyone persecuting someone for what they believe.
I’m trying to keep it as light as possible, and I tend to ramble, so I’ll leave it at that.
No, no. Discussion is good. You’re always welcome. As I say, I do these things because I want to invite conversation on things that strike me as odd.
In this case to claim every other version of the bible is not just wrong but Satanic… well, that’s a view that invites a bit of criticism.
I must disagree with you on one vital point, however. While that episode of Robot Chicken is, indeed, hilarious. It is not as you describe. I submit the following into evidence:
http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=0b10620594ec609f73480161a2905da1
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq0OQBdIhsc
I have known Weebles. I have wobbled Weebles. Those, Winnie, are no Weebles!
😉
Oh, that consonance is killing me inside!
Thanks for the correction – you are right – he was only missing the one tooth, those weren’t weebles, and there’s probably something else I messed up there, too! Plus, thanks for linking that clip – I wanted to show that to my sister, and didn’t find it on YouTube (and got lazy after that).
Wow – while I remember a couple of people not wanting to use the New International Version (NIV) Bible, I never actually heard anyone that upset about it to the point of calling it “demonic”. Was that the gist of the interview you referenced, or have you encountered that elsewhere? Do you have a link to the interview?
I’m definitely not one of those who thinks that one way/denomination/worldview is “right” over the other. I’m more apt to believing/noticing that certain individuals are on a great path (which doesn’t always include religion) and certain individuals aren’t. I love to visit other peoples places of worship to see for myself (and also, my Mom encouraged me to research for myself, something I believe in teaching my children).
That seems to be the gist. This link will give you an overview (http://www.examiner.com/x-10853-Portland-Humanist-Examiner~y2009m10d23-NC-Baptist-church-plans-Halloween-book-burning-Video) (Video below the article). Lots of more detailed versions of the story available as well.
I’ll have to be more clear next time that I am commenting directly on a news story when I do strips like these in the future. It would come off a bit “mean-spirited” (and not particularly funny) if the reader didn’t realize that I was commenting directly on an actual story.
Perhaps having started on Sunday, I should have been sure to re-link today in the blog area.
I’m sure you were clear enough (and you did mention something about another part in an earlier comment), I’ve just been out-of-it/offline a bit more lately. Thanks for linking that. I’ll be sure to go back and check out Sunday’s, too.
I just read and watched the video, and in the words of Sam Beckett, “Oh, Boy”. Makes me want to watch “Troll 2” b/c there’s no coffee in Nilbog – that’s the Devil’s drink! 😉
What annoys me the most is that $25,000 could have been spent towards building something great in the community/otherwise helping people, and it’s just being thrown away (or going “up in smoke”, rather) for a publicity stunt (a rather ignorant one, in my opinion).