This piece brings up a point I go over time and time again with liberal Christians. Take Noah’s Ark or the slaying of the first born in Egypt. Liberal Christians will say things like, “Oh, it’s just a story and teaches a valuable lesson.” And that, of course, is a softball lobbed into the strike zone. “Really? The valuable lesson is that God endorses mass slaughter? That is the maral you’re aiming for?” is my response.
I agree, Andrew. I’m especially “fond” of the bit in Numbers where after a battle Moses passes out all the nubile female prisoners to his soldiers as sex slaves and orders that the rest of the prisoners be massacred. I rather enjoyed springing that one on a Jewish friend of mine who was raised liberal and is trying to become Orthodox. He was claiming that any dumb stuff I see in modern Judaism is a deviation from the original moral instruction of the Torah, so I was like, “O RLY? Numbers 31:17-18, bee-yotch!” It left him rather mumbly and uncertain, although I’m sure I didn’t really divert him from his religious self-immolation in the long run.
Congratters, old chap!
You manage to distil the sane* atheist zeitgiest in a few panels, with verve and wit.
More power to your pen!
__________
* Non-theistically infected
LOLZ, etc.
Xtians criticism of atheism is too crude. It’s easy to attack people who don’t believe in a literal, infinite, omniscient, beneficent, immortal deity. Sophisticated non-believers are different. People who are mature in their faithlessness know that atheism is a metaphor…
@Kiyaroru — I’m still waiting… I’ve been blaspheming a long time and, other than being a bit overweight, all is well with me. No sign of a lightening bolt.
@Nassar — I own a couple of Land Rovers (a ’59 and a ’99) and am firmly convinced that they are the best general-purpose off-highway safari vehicles. Naturally, there are many who disagree and say so. I don’t get offended or “tell them to get screwed”, I just back up my opinion with reasoning. Sometimes, I have to concede a point (an Unicat is more capable and luxurious) but then I can counter them with logic (a Land Rover is cheaper and easier to park).
The problem with theists is that the ONLY response they have is, basically, “get screwed.”
@Nassar – the ability to create rhyming doggerel does not cover up your ignorance and pretension. Say something of substance instead of just slinging pejoratives and it’s possible that someday you will earn some respect. I gave you a short reading list some time ago. Did you ever consider reading a book?
There’s nothing “meek” about claiming to have answers you don’t really have.
@author Nice to revisit the classics. Thanks.
I’ve always had trouble logging on to Pharyngula. I haven’t forgotten my username or password but always get ‘Invalid login’
Then I click on the ‘forgot password’ and do the email reset password thing. Then next time they forget my password again and I do it all over again.
@Haggis
You’re not alone. For the last week I’ve been unable to connect to the scienceblogs site at all – Pharyngula and everything else. I’ve emailed my IP to the webmasters but still no solution for days.
Seems like another good reason for the remaining good bloggers to leave and go independent again – as though Pepsigate wasn’t enough. Can’t happen soon enough in my opinion.
Thanks, guys, for the feedback. It’s at least re-assuring to know it’s not just me. I wondered if it was the Westboro heidbangers* wreaking some sort of revenge.
Haggis, et al…PZ put up a post a couple days ago saying that it looks like all of ScienceBlogs has been receiving a DDoS attack, although they don’t know who form, or which blog caused the response. So, yeah, some folks have been having problems logging in and posting, some haven’t. Apparently, not so effective a DDoS attack…:D
Jesus & Mo (the characters) are absurd, blinkered, and oddly very sweet. J&M (the cartoon) is brilliant: sharp, delicious, irresistible. Salman Rushdie
Jesus and Mo cartoons are wonderfully funny and true. Richard Dawkins
Jesus and Mo make the world a better place, bless their little hearts. Ophelia Benson
In a world defined by outrage and offence and liberal spinelessness, Jesus and Mo is a treasure, whose value we should never fail to recognize. Read them. Laugh. And think. Kenan Malik
The brilliant, celebrated, freaking hilarious atheist comic strip ... Greta Christina
...rays of sanity in a befuddled world. Keri Hulme
The liveliest depictions of Muhammad currently available... Malise Ruthven
J & Mo is the funniest and most consistently thought-provoking cartoon strip on the Net. In a saner world, it would run in a major newspaper. Nelson Jones, Heresy Corner
Consistently amusing, frequently thought-provoking and often heart-warming. New Humanist
Jesus & Mo is one of the most wonderful things on the internet.. JT Eberhard
Wittily captures much of the absurdity of religious apologetics. Mano Singham
I love jesusandmo.net cartoons - witty and sharp! Katha Pollitt
Often hilarious, frequently wry, these cartoons do what all the best cartoons do: they tell the truth through humour. Terry Sanderson, NSS President
...a wonderfully acid British cartoonist... Nick Cohen
I love the scrappy mockery of Jesus and Mo. Freedom of speech
includes the freedom to mock any person, any thing, any activity, and
any belief -- and J&M stands up for this unflinchingly Richard Stallman
...empowering, important and deeply progressive, not to mention hilarious... Council of Ex-Muslims
March 11, 2020
What’s the deal with all the “re-done” strips? Is the author out of ideas after 5 years of publishing?
@zimnic Busy.
This piece brings up a point I go over time and time again with liberal Christians. Take Noah’s Ark or the slaying of the first born in Egypt. Liberal Christians will say things like, “Oh, it’s just a story and teaches a valuable lesson.” And that, of course, is a softball lobbed into the strike zone. “Really? The valuable lesson is that God endorses mass slaughter? That is the maral you’re aiming for?” is my response.
I agree, Andrew. I’m especially “fond” of the bit in Numbers where after a battle Moses passes out all the nubile female prisoners to his soldiers as sex slaves and orders that the rest of the prisoners be massacred. I rather enjoyed springing that one on a Jewish friend of mine who was raised liberal and is trying to become Orthodox. He was claiming that any dumb stuff I see in modern Judaism is a deviation from the original moral instruction of the Torah, so I was like, “O RLY? Numbers 31:17-18, bee-yotch!” It left him rather mumbly and uncertain, although I’m sure I didn’t really divert him from his religious self-immolation in the long run.
It’s always the some story: as far as you point to crimes or madness they will say that “true religion” is another stuff
“what is it metaphor? Absolutely nuttin’! Say it again”
Congratters, old chap!
You manage to distil the sane* atheist zeitgiest in a few panels, with verve and wit.
More power to your pen!
__________
* Non-theistically infected
LOLZ, etc.
Xtians criticism of atheism is too crude. It’s easy to attack people who don’t believe in a literal, infinite, omniscient, beneficent, immortal deity. Sophisticated non-believers are different. People who are mature in their faithlessness know that atheism is a metaphor…
Atheists tend to be crude.
As well as often rude.
They arrogantly speak.
To the very meek.
Who should really tell them to get screwed.
Just wait ’til that metaphorical lightening bolt metaphorically strikes them in their non-metaphorical spleens.
@Kiyaroru — I’m still waiting… I’ve been blaspheming a long time and, other than being a bit overweight, all is well with me. No sign of a lightening bolt.
@Nassar — I own a couple of Land Rovers (a ’59 and a ’99) and am firmly convinced that they are the best general-purpose off-highway safari vehicles. Naturally, there are many who disagree and say so. I don’t get offended or “tell them to get screwed”, I just back up my opinion with reasoning. Sometimes, I have to concede a point (an Unicat is more capable and luxurious) but then I can counter them with logic (a Land Rover is cheaper and easier to park).
The problem with theists is that the ONLY response they have is, basically, “get screwed.”
@Nassar – I certainly wouldn’t tell Jesus to get screwed. Nailed, maybe…
@Nassar – the ability to create rhyming doggerel does not cover up your ignorance and pretension. Say something of substance instead of just slinging pejoratives and it’s possible that someday you will earn some respect. I gave you a short reading list some time ago. Did you ever consider reading a book?
There’s nothing “meek” about claiming to have answers you don’t really have.
@author Nice to revisit the classics. Thanks.
Definitely a classic.
BTW, is anyone else having problems logging on to PZ (Pharyngula)? I can only get it through Google cache at the moment.
@Haggis
Yes, I’ve been having problems with it for a few days now.
I’ve always had trouble logging on to Pharyngula. I haven’t forgotten my username or password but always get ‘Invalid login’
Then I click on the ‘forgot password’ and do the email reset password thing. Then next time they forget my password again and I do it all over again.
@Haggis
You’re not alone. For the last week I’ve been unable to connect to the scienceblogs site at all – Pharyngula and everything else. I’ve emailed my IP to the webmasters but still no solution for days.
Seems like another good reason for the remaining good bloggers to leave and go independent again – as though Pepsigate wasn’t enough. Can’t happen soon enough in my opinion.
Thanks, guys, for the feedback. It’s at least re-assuring to know it’s not just me. I wondered if it was the Westboro heidbangers* wreaking some sort of revenge.
*Scots for psychopaths.
Sorry, for clarity I should have said that I cannot connect (like James) to any Scienceblogs site. I haven’t even tried to log on.
Haggis, et al…PZ put up a post a couple days ago saying that it looks like all of ScienceBlogs has been receiving a DDoS attack, although they don’t know who form, or which blog caused the response. So, yeah, some folks have been having problems logging in and posting, some haven’t. Apparently, not so effective a DDoS attack…:D