Comic Genesis Forums

It's odd ... for how preachy and sanctimonious I get on these forums, I don't really use God or the devil in my comics. In fact, I think I've drawn two whole church-based comics in my life, and one was complaining about loud babies (while the other was ribbing some people I know for always wanting to sing the same hymns every week).

I admit I don't much like using a comic, an RP, or any other form of expression as just another soapbox for my views on religion, politics, or ethics. It feels cheap to me, and I'm not sure why. But to do a comic that does little more than air one's political or ethical feelings is, to me, the same as sinking to the level of a Jack Chick tract.

In all fairness, I think I did once express a strong opinion in a comic plotline here, but for the most part I try to keep it limited to the newsbox or a side-comic that never touches the plot.

--Sij

RA wrote:i'd like to see a god or goddess from a smaller religion. god and the devil are overdone.


*cheers for eris*

http://pantheon.keenspace.com/

Luprand wrote:snip

Jeeze, no need to shove our face in it! We GET IT! You think you're so high and mighty because you don't have to joke about the high and mighty, huh? Well guess again!!

I kid, I kid... I kid cause I grope...

Oh, this is gonna be good.

Luprand wrote:I don't much like using a comic, an RP, or any other form of expression as just another soapbox for my views on religion, politics, or ethics. It feels cheap to me.

I don't use God / the Devil for political or religious reasons. I'm actually agnostic, and only use them for silly, spontaneous reasons as characters in themselves, both of whom act very differently than they're expected to.
Basically, they're just characters in the comic, not religious comments. I've never tried to be overly preachy.
Also, my view on politics is about here.

Luprand wrote:But to do a comic that does little more than air one's political or ethical feelings is, to me, the same as sinking to the level of a Jack Chick tract.

Did someone say CHICK TRACT?

MERBman wrote:Did someone say CHICK TRACT?

That's probably better than a real Jack Chick Tract. Lower quality by 40% and try again.

MERBman wrote:

Luprand wrote:I don't much like using a comic, an RP, or any other form of expression as just another soapbox for my views on religion, politics, or ethics. It feels cheap to me.

I don't use God / the Devil for political or religious reasons. I'm actually agnostic, and only use them for silly, spontaneous reasons as characters in themselves, both of whom act very differently than they're expected to.
Basically, they're just characters in the comic, not religious comments. I've never tried to be overly preachy.

Ack ... didn't mean to accuse you of it, but I've seen other people do so when they introduced deific characters into their comics. At least I think I did ... Daylight Savings Time really screwed up my long-term memory for some reason. But I know I don't have the tact to weave a message into the stories I tell, and neither do most people who try to do didactic literature.

--Sij

JPSloan wrote:

RA wrote:i'd like to see a god or goddess from a smaller religion. god and the devil are overdone.


*cheers for eris*

http://pantheon.keenspace.com/

Hey, that's the guy who does "Dangerous and fluffy"!

Though I do follow Christian religion, drawing shoulder angels and devils is probably the closest I'll get to incorporating that kind of spirituality into a comic.

MERBman wrote: Did someone say CHICK TRACT?

Hahah! 'Be excelent to each other.'


Bill and Ted Rawk.

It seems like only those who aren't very religious like to tamper with possible implications of having god and devil for character. It's logical, come to think of that.

mcDuffies wrote:It seems like only those who aren't very religious like to tamper with possible implications of having god and devil for character. It's logical, come to think of that.

Cos if they're not religious God can't get them back?

I dunno...I'm not a religious man, but I'm not that much of a gambler either...

mcDuffies wrote:It seems like only those who aren't very religious like to tamper with possible implications of having god and devil for character. It's logical, come to think of that.

Well of course. Those who aren't religious see God and the Devil as characters in a fictional mythology, no more than Zeus and Hades. Perfect for a story.

Those who are see them as real beings, and wouldn't use them as-is any more than they'd use their own parents as-is (though that doesn't stop everyone )

God is a major player in my comic, but he'll be retiring soon.
http://theloops.keenspace.com/d/20050413.html

Sam_Charette wrote:

mcDuffies wrote:It seems like only those who aren't very religious like to tamper with possible implications of having god and devil for character. It's logical, come to think of that.

Well of course. Those who aren't religious see God and the Devil as characters in a fictional mythology, no more than Zeus and Hades. Perfect for a story.

Those who are see them as real beings, and wouldn't use them as-is any more than they'd use their own parents as-is (though that doesn't stop everyone )

And then, there are those of us who see Zeus and Hades as just as real as God and the Devil (though by your syntax, I detect an unfair comparison of Hades to the Devil).

JPSloan wrote:And then, there are those of us who see Zeus and Hades as just as real as God and the Devil

Eeeeek! A pagan!! Are you going to eat my soul?!

JPSloan wrote:

Sam_Charette wrote:

mcDuffies wrote:It seems like only those who aren't very religious like to tamper with possible implications of having god and devil for character. It's logical, come to think of that.

Well of course. Those who aren't religious see God and the Devil as characters in a fictional mythology, no more than Zeus and Hades. Perfect for a story.

Those who are see them as real beings, and wouldn't use them as-is any more than they'd use their own parents as-is (though that doesn't stop everyone )

And then, there are those of us who see Zeus and Hades as just as real as God and the Devil (though by your syntax, I detect an unfair comparison of Hades to the Devil).

Wouldn't those people be grouped in with the "those who are religious"? I suppose a better way to put it would be "those who believe them to be real". 'Course the way you state it, it could just as easily be the kind of person who fits into the "non-believer" category. "those of us who see Zeus and Hades just as real as God and the Devil" could easily be read as "those who don't believe in any of them".

So, ultimately, there's really only the two categories, and the people you describe fit into one of them

Though yes, technically the comparison between Hades and the Devil was unfair, but it wasn't meant to be accurate. It was just supposed to be a "ruler on high vs ruler below" kinda thing. To be fair, it would be equally unfair a comparison between God and Zeus, since God is "The Almighty", and Zeus is just one of many gods, and not even the first godly being to have been created in that mythology. I'd say that Kronos would be a closer match to God, except that he was a baby eater

"Tom Waites once said that there's no devil. It's just God when he drinks." - Robin Williams [A Night at the Met]

Sam_Charette wrote:

JPSloan wrote:

Sam_Charette wrote: Well of course. Those who aren't religious see God and the Devil as characters in a fictional mythology, no more than Zeus and Hades. Perfect for a story.

Those who are see them as real beings, and wouldn't use them as-is any more than they'd use their own parents as-is (though that doesn't stop everyone )

And then, there are those of us who see Zeus and Hades as just as real as God and the Devil (though by your syntax, I detect an unfair comparison of Hades to the Devil).

Wouldn't those people be grouped in with the "those who are religious"? I suppose a better way to put it would be "those who believe them to be real". 'Course the way you state it, it could just as easily be the kind of person who fits into the "non-believer" category. "those of us who see Zeus and Hades just as real as God and the Devil" could easily be read as "those who don't believe in any of them".

So, ultimately, there's really only the two categories, and the people you describe fit into one of them

You're on to me!

Mmm... babies...

TheGoobla wrote:

JPSloan wrote:And then, there are those of us who see Zeus and Hades as just as real as God and the Devil

Eeeeek! A pagan!! Are you going to eat my soul?!

Got milk?