“There must be a catch”. I guess the next panel would read ‘atheist must be given that respect too’. As well as other beliefs from that which the believer is from.
But it wouldn’t be funny that way. I mean they can’t figure’ the catch’ out.
GK: do you realise you’re stating the premise of the cartoon? Funnier if left as a cartoon (though Robert+Andrews might have benefited from reading your comment)
Great cartoon. And there are some mind-bogglingly insightful comments on here:
““Religions should be given the respect they deserve” – that is not necessarily a good thing for them.” – Really? Wow, maybe that’s the whole point of the strip, then, who knows?!?
I think folks are expressing appreciation by stating the premise. Let’s cut them some slack here. No harm done.
I shall use that line the next time I’m in a discussion with a religious person. “I’m happy to give religion the respect it deserves.” Nothing beats an ambiguous endorsement. Rather reminds me of the reference given by a boss for a former employee: You’ll be lucky if you can get this person to work for you.
Respect for religious beliefs? Respect for believing in complete and utter nonsense? No, I cannot respect people’s religious beliefs at all. I’ll treat them decently as fellow human beings, of course. But respect for willful insanity? Get outta here.
Great strip Author. I fear a little too subtle for some readers, but some have explained the fun out of it already. It’s the unsaid further explanation which makes the point. For anyone still not getting it, it’s the equivalent of the discussion where someone replies “with all due respect, …” And then proceeds to rubbish the previous argument. Just Author spent need to point out the flaws in the argument.
The real catch is that the barmaid is cleverer than J or M, so they will ultimately never understand her viewpoint. I think there is a certain level of intellect which if surpassed makes it impossible to remain a committed member of any religion.
So let me see if I can pick up on and state the obvious here – the subject is respect, but only for people who don’t agree with you, so no need to show respect for the people who actually do agree with you? Right. Got it. Not even digressing that much. Does that mean I might be allowed to join the Infallible Commenters? I am sure that would be a divine experience. “There can be only one interpretation and we are its messengers.”
Don’t like the comment – well, don’t read it. Argument sound familiar?
“People want to be loved, failing that admired, failing that feared, failing that detested and despised. You want to evoke some sort of sentiment. The soul shudders before the void and seeks connection at any price.”
Hjalmar Söderberg, Doctor Glas, 1905
Is disrespect really the smartest response whether due or not? Perhaps ambiguity, gradually increasing cognitive dissonance and doubt with all due respect might be more worth trying.
My Dear wnanig:
Welcome to the Cock and Bull. I won’t claim to be an infallible commenter, having failed a few times in the past, but I do feel comfortable here among the regulars. Generally we’re a welcoming and accepting group, with occasional snark when somebody says something that gets up our collective noses.
Have a virtual pint on me.
Mo is right. If one ignores the ambiguity, and takes J’s and the barmaid’s statements at face value, then the catch would be that respect is a two-way street. For followers of Mo’s crazy nonsense, respect for other religions, or of no religion, is mostly haram (Xtians and Jews partly exempted). So there can be no reciprocal respect from followers of the 100s of other belief systems (or none).
DH, sorry, elitism sometimes gets up my nose. Just trying to make a (granted sarcastic) point really. If someone is criticising a (rather large actually) group of people for being intolerant, it may be a good idea to try to avoid being intolerant yourself. At least simultaneously to avoid some of the irony of it. And no, consistency is never easy, but I would still file some of the personal attacks above under “unnecessary”. Not least because it quenches discussion, and that is not the way to fight dogma. Great pint, thanks! Cheers.
It’s hardly elitism to expect people to be able to read a clear comic correctly. The reason most people are here is they are intolerant of idiocy, that’s what made them atheists.
Here is another interpretation. J is talking about religion as a concept whereas barmaid is taking the humanistic position and says that beliefs of individuals should be given due respect. Due then also being dependent on individuals and their actions.
JohnMWhite, whatever you want to call claiming intellectual superiority as a reason to be arrogant and rude. But the most problematic word in that sentence is “correctly”. Once we start annotating literature and art with the “correct” interpretation and start enforcing it, we are starting a journey down a potentially dangerous path. Shaughn, do you hear howling, or is it just me? 🙂 (see previous discussion on political correctness)
Actually, I don’t see why I shouldn’t respect a religion as a work of culture or art or the like. The message is not the messenger. So with all respect for the belief, I can still make fun of the believer. Same way I do respect phlogiston theory as a stage in our scientific development, yet I make fun of those who still believe in it. Same way, I have to respect the human rights of the greatest mass murderer, but not necessarily the mass murderer himself that carries them and therefore is protected by them. So, I think I can perfectly respect bible, thorah, koran and kamasutra or army regualtions, and still mock jesus, moses, mo and prostitution or army generals.
Asked why he thought a particular joke was funny, Garrison Keillor thought a moment and replied, “Well… probably because people laugh.”
I notice the hippy is on the Right and the Penis-head dude is on the Left. If it is my sincere belief that the cartoon was funny because of that, are you going to offended because I stated the premise? Or offended because I stated the wrong premise?
See, Jesus and Mo think that religions deserve respect and the Barmaid thinks that religions deserve NO respect.
And Jesus and Mo don’t understand what the Barmaid thinks but the Barmaid understands what Jesus and Mo think.
The Barmaid also understands that Jesus and Mo don’t understand what she thinks.
Understand?
Ahh. So the premise is that bar server persons can think more clearly than the bar customers who have had a few drinks. Funny stuff. Drunks are always good for a laugh.
I have to say, I had to re-read this cartoon two or three times (and read the comments) before I “got” it ! But English not being my native language is my excuse (what’s yours ? 🙂 )
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
April 17, 2008
Cartoon missing?
Nice one!
“Religions should be given the respect they deserve” – that is not necessarily a good thing for them.
Just can’t argue with that
“There must be a catch”. I guess the next panel would read ‘atheist must be given that respect too’. As well as other beliefs from that which the believer is from.
But it wouldn’t be funny that way. I mean they can’t figure’ the catch’ out.
“Atheism is a non-prophet religion”. http://www.atheistempire.com
Robert+Andrews: erm, no.
GK: do you realise you’re stating the premise of the cartoon? Funnier if left as a cartoon (though Robert+Andrews might have benefited from reading your comment)
Great cartoon. And there are some mind-bogglingly insightful comments on here:
““Religions should be given the respect they deserve” – that is not necessarily a good thing for them.” – Really? Wow, maybe that’s the whole point of the strip, then, who knows?!?
I have always given religion the respect it deserves, that’s why I’m an atheist.
I think folks are expressing appreciation by stating the premise. Let’s cut them some slack here. No harm done.
I shall use that line the next time I’m in a discussion with a religious person. “I’m happy to give religion the respect it deserves.” Nothing beats an ambiguous endorsement. Rather reminds me of the reference given by a boss for a former employee: You’ll be lucky if you can get this person to work for you.
Respect for religious beliefs? Respect for believing in complete and utter nonsense? No, I cannot respect people’s religious beliefs at all. I’ll treat them decently as fellow human beings, of course. But respect for willful insanity? Get outta here.
Great strip Author. I fear a little too subtle for some readers, but some have explained the fun out of it already. It’s the unsaid further explanation which makes the point. For anyone still not getting it, it’s the equivalent of the discussion where someone replies “with all due respect, …” And then proceeds to rubbish the previous argument. Just Author spent need to point out the flaws in the argument.
The real catch is that the barmaid is cleverer than J or M, so they will ultimately never understand her viewpoint. I think there is a certain level of intellect which if surpassed makes it impossible to remain a committed member of any religion.
3Handles
I’m retired from the US Navy. In the Navy the expression “with all due respect” means the speaker is about to say something disrespectful.
Respect for those who disagree
With islam, this I got to see
By the profit’s mangey beard
The whole concept is too weird
The very idea must be feared.
Catty remarks. What a CAT-tastrophe! But I digress.
Typo alert: Author doesn’t need to point out…. Not spent. In my previous post. Apologies.
Michael
As characters on “W1A” might say: Yes. No. Yes. Exactly. Yes.
The pub’s sign is the ‘Cock and Bull’ a rather older version of ‘bulls–t
Whoosh! You gotta give them their due.
So let me see if I can pick up on and state the obvious here – the subject is respect, but only for people who don’t agree with you, so no need to show respect for the people who actually do agree with you? Right. Got it. Not even digressing that much. Does that mean I might be allowed to join the Infallible Commenters? I am sure that would be a divine experience. “There can be only one interpretation and we are its messengers.”
Don’t like the comment – well, don’t read it. Argument sound familiar?
“People want to be loved, failing that admired, failing that feared, failing that detested and despised. You want to evoke some sort of sentiment. The soul shudders before the void and seeks connection at any price.”
Hjalmar Söderberg, Doctor Glas, 1905
Is disrespect really the smartest response whether due or not? Perhaps ambiguity, gradually increasing cognitive dissonance and doubt with all due respect might be more worth trying.
My Dear wnanig:
Welcome to the Cock and Bull. I won’t claim to be an infallible commenter, having failed a few times in the past, but I do feel comfortable here among the regulars. Generally we’re a welcoming and accepting group, with occasional snark when somebody says something that gets up our collective noses.
Have a virtual pint on me.
Mo is right. If one ignores the ambiguity, and takes J’s and the barmaid’s statements at face value, then the catch would be that respect is a two-way street. For followers of Mo’s crazy nonsense, respect for other religions, or of no religion, is mostly haram (Xtians and Jews partly exempted). So there can be no reciprocal respect from followers of the 100s of other belief systems (or none).
DH, sorry, elitism sometimes gets up my nose. Just trying to make a (granted sarcastic) point really. If someone is criticising a (rather large actually) group of people for being intolerant, it may be a good idea to try to avoid being intolerant yourself. At least simultaneously to avoid some of the irony of it. And no, consistency is never easy, but I would still file some of the personal attacks above under “unnecessary”. Not least because it quenches discussion, and that is not the way to fight dogma. Great pint, thanks! Cheers.
It’s hardly elitism to expect people to be able to read a clear comic correctly. The reason most people are here is they are intolerant of idiocy, that’s what made them atheists.
Here is another interpretation. J is talking about religion as a concept whereas barmaid is taking the humanistic position and says that beliefs of individuals should be given due respect. Due then also being dependent on individuals and their actions.
JohnMWhite, whatever you want to call claiming intellectual superiority as a reason to be arrogant and rude. But the most problematic word in that sentence is “correctly”. Once we start annotating literature and art with the “correct” interpretation and start enforcing it, we are starting a journey down a potentially dangerous path. Shaughn, do you hear howling, or is it just me? 🙂 (see previous discussion on political correctness)
I remember a story about a Prussian King Friedrich, who kept a very high position reserved for alchemists and sorcerers. Europe’s highest gallows.
It’s all a matter of interpretation, isn’t it?
Actually, I don’t see why I shouldn’t respect a religion as a work of culture or art or the like. The message is not the messenger. So with all respect for the belief, I can still make fun of the believer. Same way I do respect phlogiston theory as a stage in our scientific development, yet I make fun of those who still believe in it. Same way, I have to respect the human rights of the greatest mass murderer, but not necessarily the mass murderer himself that carries them and therefore is protected by them. So, I think I can perfectly respect bible, thorah, koran and kamasutra or army regualtions, and still mock jesus, moses, mo and prostitution or army generals.
Asked why he thought a particular joke was funny, Garrison Keillor thought a moment and replied, “Well… probably because people laugh.”
I notice the hippy is on the Right and the Penis-head dude is on the Left. If it is my sincere belief that the cartoon was funny because of that, are you going to offended because I stated the premise? Or offended because I stated the wrong premise?
I am duly offended and will treat your comment with the contempt it deserves.
Pick that out.
I completely respect your right as a human to have an opinion and to state it. Irrespective of it’s laughable wrongness.
See, Jesus and Mo think that religions deserve respect and the Barmaid thinks that religions deserve NO respect.
And Jesus and Mo don’t understand what the Barmaid thinks but the Barmaid understands what Jesus and Mo think.
The Barmaid also understands that Jesus and Mo don’t understand what she thinks.
Understand?
Ahh. So the premise is that bar server persons can think more clearly than the bar customers who have had a few drinks. Funny stuff. Drunks are always good for a laugh.
Drug dealers learned it from bar keepers: Never use the stuff you’re dealing … 😀
That way bar keepers keep thinking more clearly than their customers.
I unreservedly apologise for any catty remarks…
Though it pains me to say, I too, am flawed.
I can’t see the cartoon… I can see the previous one, but not the new one. And the layout of the site is completely different. What’s happening?
Alfie Noakes
At least they weren’t Cat-tholic 🙂
Miguel Declercq
Try pressing the F5 function key, if that doesn’t work wait until later in the day on Wednesdays.
I have to say, I had to re-read this cartoon two or three times (and read the comments) before I “got” it ! But English not being my native language is my excuse (what’s yours ? 🙂 )