Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Tags: spirit of christmas, Pascals Wager, santa claus, Tags, mi, hijo, appeal, to, the, people-, common, belief, philosophy. Add Tags

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Margueritem said, 9 months ago

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ray_c!!!!!
Margueritem said, 9 months ago

Tabbylynn: Check the comments section on yesterday’s stone soup.
Margueritem said, 9 months ago

That pretty much is the spirit of Christmas these days, as it was when Watterson did this strip.
si_rat said, 9 months ago

For some this is ‘just’ comic…
Yukoner said, 9 months ago

I think Hobbes final remark has summed up the essence of North American philosophy.
kiMoi said, 9 months ago

Hear hear, yuk.
Elwoodman said, 9 months ago

can’t … hardly … restrain … myself.. weight …of …irony…too…much …to bear…

AAARRGGHHHH

“Why risk not getting something over a matter of belief”?????

Bill??? are you reading this forum or what????

and also …

OOOOHH, we got flags now :-0
Gweedo Murray said, 9 months ago

Since we know what this is going to turn into, let’s get started on a happy note.

http://tinyurl.com/bsy39g
maxilano said, 9 months ago

Before any religious people start again today, can i just suggest you actually practice the main tenets of whatever religion you believe in and refrain from name calling, abuse and arguing and instead portray the main ideal of unwavering faith in your belief and temperence of others misgivings. Trying to convince anyone their belief is wrong will only further entrench them. try opening a calm discussion (somewhere else) and attempt to see anothers point of view as I, an athiest, do.
pschearer said, 9 months ago

This is a comical and cynical version of what is called Pascal’s Wager, the argument that one should believe in God because you lose nothing if wrong and gain everything if right.

And people wonder how I can find philosophical implications in mere comics. It’s not hard when it’s this blatant in a strip this brilliant.

BTW, the fallacy in Pascal’s argument is the assumption that by submitting oneself to a religious doctrine, one loses nothing… except one’s reason, self-esteem, freedom, etc. At least Pascal had one good excuse: back then questioning God could get you killed. Today, not so much.

As for Maxilano’s notion of trying to understand the other’s point of view, on such fundamental questions as this it grants falsehood more respect than it deserves. You read it here.
Valis616 said, 9 months ago

Thank you pschearer for your insightful comment. I was going to say more or less the same thing but you did it for me.
LX013 said, 9 months ago

It’s not ok to say I believe in god, only to get presents, when you realy believ, you will have to believe also when your own live is threatened. But I hope he will not send such a situation to me, I pray hard!I am not very brave!
humormehere said, 9 months ago

”… BTW, the fallacy in Pascal’s argument is the assumption that by submitting oneself to a religious doctrine, one loses nothing… except one’s reason, self-esteem, freedom, etc. At least Pascal had one good excuse: back then questioning God could get you killed. Today, not so much.

As for Maxilano’s notion of trying to understand the other’s point of view, on such fundamental questions as this it grants falsehood more respect than it deserves. You read it here.”

EXCEPT…

Your logic sounds fine, but there is an underlying fallacy. You assume that religious faith is the absence of reason. I am an engineer and I deal in real life every day. I cannot change the laws of physics no matter what I try.

Religious faith, however, comforts me, makes me a better engineer, because it helps me focus my vocation around things that matter. My faith allows me to make sure I’m in the right forest, so to speak.
Valis616 said, 9 months ago

“You assume that religious faith is the absence of reason.”

Um, that is what faith means, the absence of reason. No assumption required.
Hugh B. Hayve said, 9 months ago

^-^ OMFG! ;-)
frenchi said, 9 months ago

i like cheese
frenchi said, 9 months ago

my cats breath smells of cat food
krisch said, 9 months ago

humormehere says:

“Your logic sounds fine, but there is an underlying fallacy. You assume that religious faith is the absence of reason. I am an engineer and I deal in real life every day. I cannot change the laws of physics no matter what I try.”

You are right there. It might be erroneous to conclude that religious faith is lack of reason. But the beauty of reason and rationality is that its Volition-Dependent. One could just try to save oneself the ‘Agony of Reason’ by not asking several rational questions. Just a case of ‘Cat licking Cream with Eyes Shut.’ I think you provided half the answer yourself. You say you are an engineer and you chose to believe in god and the Laws of Physics didn’t change. Point is Laws of Physics don’t change for Non-Believers either. which is why atheists tend to ask the question “God or no god you finally can’t escape the Laws of Physics so why believe in god?” Point is one ends up finding solace in religion only by ‘Choosing Not to Ask a Few Questions.’ While this might not be the lack of rationality it certainly is ‘Escaping the Responsibility of Rationality’
prasrinivara said, 9 months ago

Yukoner and marg–that’s been the “spirit of Christmas” in North America at least since 1958 (from one of my dad’s old Tom Lehrer records–yes, I do mean vinyl).
DesultoryPhillipic said, 9 months ago

I’m sure the engineer understands that the building he works in didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Some intelligent input in both design and construction had to be present. Is that rational enough for you?
dzrt said, 9 months ago

Strip was funny untill all the philosphers started venting. LMAO
JonD17 said, 9 months ago

Seems that these religibators have mistaken Santa Claus for God…… Lord help them
JonD17 said, 9 months ago

on a brighter note, we should be admiring the irony of a 6 yr old doing risk analysis and admiring the term that some have already pointed out, “cynically enterprising”! That is genius!
jojoba2 said, 9 months ago

This is more or less “Pascal’s Wager”.
BirishB said, 9 months ago

Pascal’s wager …
ngilderhus said, 9 months ago

This is so fun. I love Cavlin and Hobbs and used many of them when I taught high school English. It was a former student who got me to read this comic and I have been a fan since I started in the late 1980s. I still miss its presence in the newspaper.
Sentimental_Song said, 9 months ago

Calvin and Hobbes has always been a favorite, indeed. Bill Watterson is a genius.
cruncher3 said, 9 months ago

ummm it’s no where near christmas!
Samka said, 9 months ago

Faith is neither the absence of reason, nor choosing not to ask tough questions. Faith leads to one kind of knowledge, empiricism (science) another, and logic (reason) a third. All three are intimately connected, and an atheist must begin with as much faith in the foundation of his beliefs as the average ‘religious’ person. The issue is not whether or not you act in faith, but rather it is in which direction you will choose to take it. In addition, faith makes true to your experience (and experience = empiricism) the realities upon which you have chosen to rest it. In the true atheists experience, there is no God because he has rejected him in faith, and the further he carries his beliefs in that direction (driven by experience and even logic, but still riding on faith), the further he will be from any possibility of recognizing God when he encounters him. The same is true for the Christian, but in the opposite direction. The workings of spiritual truths and laws are more readily discerned as active in our experience, and so too is the Person of God, which is the final truth on which everything, whether we can see it or not, rests. The distinction between the two is a question of life (spirit - life-breath in many ancient languages) and death (no spirit/life breath). True faith both takes a lot of courage, and is invigorated by tough questions. If you can answer all of those questions in and through yourself, then you are indeed a true atheist.
Ruth said, 9 months ago

It’s Feb. already..enough about Christmas and Santa Claus…move on.
Doctor Toon said, 9 months ago

Another day - another debate - yeesh

Having an opinion is like passing gas. You can’t help it, it’s part of being human. Just don’t get all offended when someone else says it stinks.
jcipc2004 said, 9 months ago

Seriously enough about it not being christmas. They try to line up the dates as best they can but if your not an idiot you would realize that they line up the comics by day of the week, which is completely different every year. And these are obviously reruns from probably 15 years ago. I swear if see one more comment about the date being wrong…
Sentimental_Song said, 9 months ago

Doesn’t matter to me about the date, I love the comics!
DigitalFrog said, 9 months ago

A Møøse once bit my sister…
cleokaya said, 9 months ago

You have made your points on religion. Drop the debate it’s becoming irritating. Take your soap box down the street. And I am talking about both sides.
PlainBill said, 9 months ago

I have to say I agree with cleokaya. I am an agnostic, I see no evidence suggesting there must be a God. On the other hand if someone who does believe in God is willing to respect my beliefs, to do any less for him degrades my dignity.

Until atheists can PROVE that God doesn’t exist they have no right to denigrate the faith of those who do believe in God. Note that faith is not proof.

In the context of cartoons, pointing out that someone’s actions are contrary to their professed faith is fair. However, let’s not forget that while C & H is a rather amusing cartoon, it is NOT a deep examination of life, religion, and ethics.
redsheri said, 9 months ago

Take the religious debates to a chat room and just enjoy the comic strip about a little boy who wants lots of presents for Christmas. The the situation of whether or not Santa Claus exists is something that ALL kids go through at some point in their childhood. Calvin is no different. People are getting way to literal on here.
#1 redskins fan said, 9 months ago

I said yesterday that I was not going to get caught up again in religious debate. So, everyone have a blessed day, and enjoy the comics!
Trucker Ron said, 9 months ago

“Um, that is what faith means, the absence of reason. No assumption required.”

From the Book of Mormon: “…faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”
Fenyugreek Tubbsbott... said, 9 months ago

…
After much debate, (and a rather lovely lunch) Mrs. Tubbsbottl and I have agreed that one of the greater spiritual paths is indeed Atheism

By the way, how many of you knew that Pascal was a rather good cook?
…
Dudely said, 9 months ago

cleokaya says:

“You have made your points on religion. Drop the debate it’s becoming irritating. Take your soap box down the street. And I am talking about both sides.”

I have as much issue with reading post after post demanding people stop commenting about religion as you do with the religious debate. We can say whatever we want. If you don’t like it you have the right to go “down the street”. You do not have the right to make us stop, so don’t even try. Besides, religion is an appropriate topic considering the nature of the last few strips.

Banana banana banana. - see? Whataver I like.
nyer73 said, 9 months ago

tsk-tsk! where r ur principles calvin??
grazer said, 9 months ago

Calvin and Hobbes’ discussions are absolutely hilarious.

Our discussions about Calvin and Hobbes’ discussions are even more hilarious.

I pray that the entertainment never
stops and that we all live forever and ever!

Amen.
Dudely said, 9 months ago

“However, let’s not forget that while C & H is a rather amusing cartoon, it is NOT a deep examination of life, religion, and ethics.”

Have you read ANY of the “sled/wagon” comics where Calvin and Hobbes talk about life, religion, ethics, etc. while flying downhill? I read C&H precisely BECAUSE it is a deep examination of life, religion, and ethics
DigitalFrog said, 9 months ago

• No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse
with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given
her by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and
star of many Norwegian møvies: “The Høt Hands of an Oslo
Dentist”, “Fillings of Passion”, “The Huge Mølars of Horst
Nordfink”…
Stuart Gathman said, 9 months ago

“You assume that religious faith is the absence of reason.”

Um, that is what faith means, the absence of reason. No assumption required.

As is usual in these arguments, there are several meanings of “faith”. Valis616 is referring to the “Miracle on 34th Street” definition: “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.”

Biblically, there are 2 uses, fide formata and fide informis. However, they are both forms of “object persistence”. Faith is knowing that the ball still exists, even when hidden by the blanket. True faith is based on evidence - historical or personal.

Faith is distinguished from science by the lack of repeatability - you have your own experience, or the record of others experience, but God is not a vending machine. Of course, many philosophical beliefs that claim the mantle of “science” also lack repeatability.
Northwoodser said, 9 months ago

Such a funny cartoon-such un-funny blogs
Landri Sheppard said, 9 months ago

“The spirit of Christmas” died a long time ago Calvin…
Nairebis said, 9 months ago

The great thing about these discussions is that it shows that religion is being questioned more and more. It sends the message that if the whole concept of God (and especially the Bible) seem completely absurd, you are not alone. It’s okay to not be a believer. Atheists have lives just as wonderful and just as tragic as any believer.

Personally, while I would happier if religion was completely gone from the world, I would be happy if Christians would just keep their religion in their home where it belongs, and keep it out of my schools and my government.
CRYSTALODD said, 9 months ago

you all are rediculous. go to church and talk about some BS
this is a comic strip.