TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Coffee with Jesus

Go To

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#1: Feb 4th 2014 at 3:12:29 AM

An Actually Pretty Funny comic I found on the Filum Romanum. I'm an Atheist and I find this hilarious. Jesus is this Knight in Sour Armor Cynical Mentor who engages some very morally mediocre believers on a number of topics, from televangelism to blaming the gays for hurricanes to South Park, delivering one-liners with a dry, incisive humour.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#2: Feb 4th 2014 at 6:20:55 AM

Does this have a page here? 'Cause it should.[tup]

I dig this. And as a Catholic, I dig some of the references and Take Thats that Jesus does.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#3: Feb 4th 2014 at 6:31:29 AM

General themes appear to be so far:

  • Churches are not a commercial enterprise, and people should not be manipulated into attending by insubstantial window-dressing and pandering.
  • People should learn to stop complaining and gain a little more perspective on their own situation.
  • People should be more humble and less entitled, more responsible and less impulsive, more forgiving and cautious and less lapidary and cocky.
  • Do spare some time to think about Jesus, and, when you do, try not to make it about giving you favours.
  • Know that Jesus loves you, and count on him, but don't take him for granted.

All in all, it does a great job of reproducing that enigmatic, questioning, snarky, unflappable version we saw on the Bible, rather than the tortured, timid wimp we get so often. He feels essentially like a very Stern Teacher. One you can respect. And one that always places the responsibility on you, and asks you to empower yourself and face and accept reality, rather than take on a victim role and blame others for your problems.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
demarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#4: Feb 4th 2014 at 6:50:26 AM

"Nobody strives to be a plumber, Jesus, unless their Dad own a plumbing business."

"It doesnt always work that way, Ann. I mean, your dad didn't own a whorehouse."

evil grin

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#5: Feb 4th 2014 at 6:52:14 AM

[up]That was a bit too mean, I think. Sure she's a desperate serial monogamist, but that hardly makes her a whore.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
demarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#6: Feb 4th 2014 at 7:05:17 AM

I just wanted to make it clear that this strip isn't for people with thin skins or easily offended sensibilities.

And I'll bet Ann has a little somethin' going on the side...

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#7: Feb 4th 2014 at 7:06:38 AM

Haven't come across much that I'd readily classify as offensive. Nothing that sticks to the mind.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#8: Feb 4th 2014 at 9:31:37 AM

[up]Well, there's the strip called "coexist", but I might just be missing some context on that one.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#9: Feb 4th 2014 at 9:39:09 AM

What, he's right, you can't just unquestioningly accept everything other faiths do, there's some pretty horrible stuff out there. Nor can you do the same to your own faith.

But, now that I think of it, I'm a bit annoyed that ultraorthodox Islamism is the go-to bad faith, while, say, baby-penis-sucking ultraorthodox Judaism doesn't even get a mention. Or tyrannical ego-crushing buddhism. Or State Shinto. Or the Hindu Cast System. Or Kony. Or...

edited 4th Feb '14 9:40:27 AM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Quag15 Since: Mar, 2012
#10: Feb 4th 2014 at 10:01:51 AM

baby-penis-sucking ultraorthodox Judaism doesn't even get a mention. Or tyrannical ego-crushing buddhism

Huh?!

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#11: Feb 4th 2014 at 10:28:25 AM

See! Everyone knows about the Taliban and their burqas, but people think the Dalai Lama is an irreproachable saint rather than a tyrant-endorsing jackass, and they aren't even aware of the details of circumcision in certain Mosaic sects.

In the ritual, known as metzitzah b'peh, after removing the foreskin of the penis the person performing the procedure places his mouth briefly over the wound, sucking a small amount of blood out, which is discarded. Antibacterial ointment is applied and the wound is bandaged. The health department says the procedure is dangerous because the contact with the mouth could transmit diseases such as herpes.

Most adults are infected with the herpes simplex virus type 1, and while they may have no symptoms, the virus may be present in their saliva, according to the health department. (It is different from herpes simplex virus type 2, which is usually transmitted sexually.) "While HSV-1 in adults can cause the common cold sore, HSV-1 infection in newborns is very serious," a department statement says.

Since 2000, there have been 13 reports in New York City of infants contracting HSV-1, two of whom died from the virus. The health department reported that an estimated 20,493 infants in New York City were exposed to the practice in that period.

edited 4th Feb '14 10:34:48 AM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#12: Feb 4th 2014 at 10:36:37 AM

What does this have to do with the comic? Please don't turn this thread into "religion bad" or "all the bad things about religion". That will get it locked...

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#13: Feb 4th 2014 at 10:39:03 AM

I intended neither. All I'm saying is, if this comic wants to point out bad practices in religions, as it has before, they should be free to do so without anyone taking offense. Also, I'm expressing some regret that extremist Islam seems to be the go-to bad religion, but, you know, that's Spotlight Bias for you. And Acceptable Targets.

edited 4th Feb '14 10:40:23 AM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#14: Feb 4th 2014 at 10:43:42 AM

The comic isn't about "pointing out bad practices of other religions." The point of the "Coexist" strip is that Christianity really doesn't allow for "any/all religions are equally valid"/ "It's all good".

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#15: Feb 4th 2014 at 10:55:13 AM

A point which it made by pointing out a practice in another religion that they disapproved of, rather than, say, an incompatible piece of (in)trascendent dogma.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#16: Feb 4th 2014 at 11:04:59 AM

There's very little "transcendent dogma" in the comic. It's primarily about practices and attitudes, not rarefied theology. In "BMW", Jesus doesn't go off about the philosophy of lust and greed, he points out that Lisa's (Lisa, right? I think it's Lisa) attitude about the neighbor's BMW is not that different from Carl's attitude toward women that she's complaining about.

edited 4th Feb '14 11:07:30 AM by Madrugada

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#17: Feb 4th 2014 at 11:05:13 AM

Dude, saying "anyone shouldn't take offense" is dumb because you can't control people's emotional responses to things. It's also kind of dismissive of you, especially considering your own rather inflammatory comments. I'm pretty sure the author intended a strong response from readers in this case, given the nature of the content of this in general. (Mostly to shake them into thinking I'm assuming.)

Also, wow that's a weird way to archive a comic. Getting kind of a Dinosaur comics vibe from it due to the reuse of clip art.

edited 4th Feb '14 11:06:17 AM by AceofSpades

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#18: Feb 4th 2014 at 11:15:55 AM

There are many bad things that you can't control, but that doesn't mean you can't say they shouldn't happen. Emotions, however, aren't unstoppable forces of nature, and there is a measure of influence that grown-up individuals can exercise on their own, and on others'. I don't see how it's dismissive of me to say people shouldn't get angry while bluntly saying things that might anger them. Demanding might be the word you're looking for.

[up][up]That's something I like about the comic. Perhaps they aren't well-informed enough on Islam to apply that kind of perspicacious moral wit to it, and, anyways, Small Reference Pools and the brief format prohibit anything that's too in-depth, so I suppose the blatantly obvious and easy target was the one needed to shatter that "it's all good" mentality.

edited 4th Feb '14 11:20:12 AM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#19: Feb 4th 2014 at 11:24:30 AM

So basically you say things deliberately to anger people and then tell them they shouldn't be mad? That is really stupid and falls close into the whole "it's just a joke" thing. And you think that a comic that is intentionally making a very strong statement that deliberately runs counter to what a lot of people think (and maybe even misses the point of the Coexist bummper sticker, which isn't that you shouldn't call out bad practices but that you shouldn't be a persecutory dick about someone believing differently from you) and that they shouldn't be offended? When the point of the comic is probably intended to provoke responses, even if it is offense? (Not offended by that one btw, it just seems like the entire comic is geared that way. The author seems very much about saying exactly what he/she means and letting the metaphorical chips fall where they may.)

This seems disingenuous of you. Although maybe that's not quite the word I'm looking for.

edited 4th Feb '14 11:25:19 AM by AceofSpades

demarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#20: Feb 4th 2014 at 11:37:19 AM

"Strong Emotional Reaction" x= "Become Offended". I think the comic is deliberately designed to provoke strong reactions, but not necessarily to offend anyone. That said, especially sensitive people may in fact be offended by some of what is coming out of Jesus mouth (as my quote was intended to illustrate). Dont read it if you are thin skinned.

I agree with Handle that Islam is the go to "bad" religion within US American culture, and that isn't fair. On the other hand, his counter-examples weren't well chosen (what's objectionable about treating a baby's injury, albeit in an unconventional way?). There are better examples he could have picked (Scientology, anyone?).

The spirit of the comic is well-intentioned, and I think even Christians can enjoy and appreciate the points they are making. The execution is a bit raw, which isnt a bad thing, but something people should be aware of.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#21: Feb 4th 2014 at 11:50:09 AM

what's objectionable about treating a baby's injury, albeit in an unconventional way?

The injury is questionable in the first place; it's a mutilation, a permanent removal of a body part, inflicted without the iformed, meaningful consent of the recipient. The method is unsanitary and has killed infants. And it looks like sexual abuse, in ways, say, a piece of gauze, with some Betadine on it, doesn't. Is this objectionable enough to you?

You see, I believe this is what the writers referred to when they talked about the "Coexist" thing. Which is precisely why I chose this example; because it is tolerated or ignored. It's not a little quaint practice. It's a harmful thing that hurts babies. I did not bother mentioning Scientology because they are commonly known to be Acceptable Targets for their dubious practices, and treated as such. Instead, I chose objectionable things that hide in plain sight.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#22: Feb 4th 2014 at 11:54:00 AM

Not about the comic, again...

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#23: Feb 4th 2014 at 12:03:18 PM

Second most recent strip: "Get Past It". Seems a bit oversimplifying to me. Reminds me of a song in The Book Of Mormon:

What temptations and struggles and burdens can one properly leave behind? Should one do so?

edited 4th Feb '14 12:06:17 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#24: Feb 5th 2014 at 10:02:24 AM

[up]Still, it's pretty sound, universal advice when it comes to things you know will tempt you. There's this thing called Ego Delpletion, where there's a limited amount of effort you can expend in a day saying "no" to things, and, once your supply is exhaused, you'll say yes to pretty much anything. So the best way to deal with temptations is to avoid them entirely, rather than confront and resist them.

The Parable of the Blower: don't blow against the wind, instead, wait until blows in the direction that helps you the most.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
FuzzyBoots from Outlying borough of Pittsburgh (there's a lot of Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
#25: Feb 5th 2014 at 10:15:02 AM

I'm enjoying the strip. I don't know where the cartoonist stands on religious matters, but he's got a pretty good handle on the fundamentals of Christianity. Yes, some of the punchlines sting, but sometimes a joke is good, because it makes you step back and question yourself.


Total posts: 27
Top