If religious organizations want to get involved with politics, that’s free speech. I don’t have a problem with that, although I almost always disagree with their opinions and motives (such as Prop 8). This is America, they can say what they want.
However, they should not be tax-exempt. Why should any organization, religious or otherwise, that wants to influence politics be tax-exempt? Why should I subsidize an organization that wants to impose its views on me by force of law, when I disagree with those views? In the case of Proposition 8, that means everyone who pays taxes in the US contributed money for it to pass…even those who opposed it, like me.
It would be interesting to see if their members’ contributions would rise to make up the difference, or fall because said contributions would no longer be tax-deductible.
The religious right seems to “miss the forest for the trees” when it comes to understanding the Bible, don’t they? The Jesus I learned about preached love instead of sticking to a literal interpretation of the Torah and being a stickler for “the rules”. Falwell and his spawn are modern-day Pharisees. JESUS WAS A LIBERAL!
This comic strip has taken a sad turn for the worse. I used to like it, but now it’s just about politics, and with a liberal bias at that. As a conservative, I just hope Pab will go back to doing non-politic storylines again soon.
Jesus only socialized with sinners after they had stopped sinning and changed their lifestyle. He was clearly against sexual sins. Only prostitution and adultery are mentioned in the gospels, but homosexuality would have been an issue too, except that the jews two thousands years ago hardly practiced that sin, so Jesus didn’t have a reason to discuss it. Jesus would forgive a homosexual, but only if he changed his lifestyle.
Furienna2: I’m sorry you feel that way. This has been a very personal week for me, unfortunately.
Yesterday my husband, Bryan, and I marked our 16th anniversary (despite what the Knights of Columbus and the Mormons might say). The very next day we find ourselves having to march in protest in Philadelphia to defend the few rights we still have here in America.
I had every intention of staying away from politics, and will be next week. But I HAD to do these four days simply because this is as personal an issue to me as any can get.
I needed to speak out this week, not only as a homosexual but also as a Christian. THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL. THIS IS NOT CONSERVATIVE VS. LIBERAL. THIS IS NOT POLITICS. IT IS MY LIFE.
I really thought Americans were above all this. Of course, the words of H.L. Mencken and P.T. Barnum should have disabused me of that notion long before Prop 8 came along.
I don’t get to vote on all of your marriages, so I feel you don’t get to vote on mine.
If I disturbed you, I can’t say I’m sorry, because that’s what art should do: make people uncomfortable when they are in the wrong.
Once more, next week is politics-free because we all need to escape from it all. I can’t promise I won’t come back to the subject of politics again, though. If that bothers anyone please unsubscribe now. If, however, you don’t mind thinking as well as laughing from time to time, feel free to stick around.
Congratulations on your anniversary, Pab, and thank you for your work and for making us think. I personally am praying for a more sensible and tolerant pervading attitude in this country - I think we would all be better for it.
Pab - happy anniversary, indeed! Good to see Oscar on the hunt as well. It is not as widely known as it should be, but he made himself enormously popular on a trip out to the Old West despite his affectations, because he was smart and funny. But he could also seriously drink. He was taken to the bottom of a mine in Denver on a “tour” that turned out to be a setup for a drinking contest, because they had heard he was a good drinker, and he drank them all under the table! Afterwards, he said of his evening, with great relish, “I was served a fine three-course dinner. The first course was whiskey, the second course was whiskey, and the third course was whiskey!”
Furienna2 - You said: “Jesus only socialized with sinners after they had stopped sinning and changed their lifestyle.” The word “lifestyle” doesn’t appear in any of _my_ versions the Bible. Besides, all I recall it saying is that Jesus broke bread with “sinners.” No word on past or present. Let those of you who have no sin cast the first stone. Except the Virgin Mary, of course.
As for your comment on ancient Hebrew homosexuality, how would you know? In fact, it was widely practiced and accepted throughout Greek and Roman domains, and appears as normal practice in Plato’s Symposium. At the time, Roman governors ruled Judea, and had been for some time.
God bless you all-liberal and conservative. Jesus loved and died for us all. Pab, congratulations-sixteen years of commitment is a wonderful milestone to celebrate.
Trail_Blazer over 15 years ago
If religious organizations want to get involved with politics, that’s free speech. I don’t have a problem with that, although I almost always disagree with their opinions and motives (such as Prop 8). This is America, they can say what they want.
However, they should not be tax-exempt. Why should any organization, religious or otherwise, that wants to influence politics be tax-exempt? Why should I subsidize an organization that wants to impose its views on me by force of law, when I disagree with those views? In the case of Proposition 8, that means everyone who pays taxes in the US contributed money for it to pass…even those who opposed it, like me.
It would be interesting to see if their members’ contributions would rise to make up the difference, or fall because said contributions would no longer be tax-deductible.
joylederman over 15 years ago
The religious right seems to “miss the forest for the trees” when it comes to understanding the Bible, don’t they? The Jesus I learned about preached love instead of sticking to a literal interpretation of the Torah and being a stickler for “the rules”. Falwell and his spawn are modern-day Pharisees. JESUS WAS A LIBERAL!
thatperlakyguy over 15 years ago
@Trail_Blazer:
Thank you! I’ve been saying that for years and wondering if anyone agreed with me.
ralphman over 15 years ago
Don’t give a bleeep what you folks do, just do it in private!!
mivins over 15 years ago
What’s that on Bosie’s shoulder? It looks like a miniature skateboard. Great work this week, Pab!
Furienna2 over 15 years ago
This comic strip has taken a sad turn for the worse. I used to like it, but now it’s just about politics, and with a liberal bias at that. As a conservative, I just hope Pab will go back to doing non-politic storylines again soon.
Jesus only socialized with sinners after they had stopped sinning and changed their lifestyle. He was clearly against sexual sins. Only prostitution and adultery are mentioned in the gospels, but homosexuality would have been an issue too, except that the jews two thousands years ago hardly practiced that sin, so Jesus didn’t have a reason to discuss it. Jesus would forgive a homosexual, but only if he changed his lifestyle.
Pab Sungenis creator over 15 years ago
Furienna2: I’m sorry you feel that way. This has been a very personal week for me, unfortunately.
Yesterday my husband, Bryan, and I marked our 16th anniversary (despite what the Knights of Columbus and the Mormons might say). The very next day we find ourselves having to march in protest in Philadelphia to defend the few rights we still have here in America.
I had every intention of staying away from politics, and will be next week. But I HAD to do these four days simply because this is as personal an issue to me as any can get.
I needed to speak out this week, not only as a homosexual but also as a Christian. THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL. THIS IS NOT CONSERVATIVE VS. LIBERAL. THIS IS NOT POLITICS. IT IS MY LIFE.
I really thought Americans were above all this. Of course, the words of H.L. Mencken and P.T. Barnum should have disabused me of that notion long before Prop 8 came along.
I don’t get to vote on all of your marriages, so I feel you don’t get to vote on mine.
If I disturbed you, I can’t say I’m sorry, because that’s what art should do: make people uncomfortable when they are in the wrong.
Once more, next week is politics-free because we all need to escape from it all. I can’t promise I won’t come back to the subject of politics again, though. If that bothers anyone please unsubscribe now. If, however, you don’t mind thinking as well as laughing from time to time, feel free to stick around.
margueritem over 15 years ago
Pab says: If, however, you don’t mind thinking as well as laughing from time to time, feel free to stick around.
I’ll be here.
Furienna2 over 15 years ago
Thank you, Pab, for your reply. I will hang out a bit longer, because I’ve liked this strip in the past, and I’m sure I’ll like it again.
kfaatz925 over 15 years ago
Congratulations on your anniversary, Pab, and thank you for your work and for making us think. I personally am praying for a more sensible and tolerant pervading attitude in this country - I think we would all be better for it.
UltraLameFest2 over 15 years ago
Happy Anniversary, Pab. Since politics are off the table, maybe the virgin Mary will make an appearance… ;)
Motivemagus over 15 years ago
Pab - happy anniversary, indeed! Good to see Oscar on the hunt as well. It is not as widely known as it should be, but he made himself enormously popular on a trip out to the Old West despite his affectations, because he was smart and funny. But he could also seriously drink. He was taken to the bottom of a mine in Denver on a “tour” that turned out to be a setup for a drinking contest, because they had heard he was a good drinker, and he drank them all under the table! Afterwards, he said of his evening, with great relish, “I was served a fine three-course dinner. The first course was whiskey, the second course was whiskey, and the third course was whiskey!”
Motivemagus over 15 years ago
Furienna2 - You said: “Jesus only socialized with sinners after they had stopped sinning and changed their lifestyle.” The word “lifestyle” doesn’t appear in any of _my_ versions the Bible. Besides, all I recall it saying is that Jesus broke bread with “sinners.” No word on past or present. Let those of you who have no sin cast the first stone. Except the Virgin Mary, of course. As for your comment on ancient Hebrew homosexuality, how would you know? In fact, it was widely practiced and accepted throughout Greek and Roman domains, and appears as normal practice in Plato’s Symposium. At the time, Roman governors ruled Judea, and had been for some time.
r.dauphinee over 15 years ago
God bless you all-liberal and conservative. Jesus loved and died for us all. Pab, congratulations-sixteen years of commitment is a wonderful milestone to celebrate.
ChiehHsia over 15 years ago
Ralphman - or as my gramma used to say, keep it indoors so it don’t scare the horses.
ChiehHsia over 15 years ago
Belated congrats, Pab and Bryan, and many more. Hope they can eventually become “official”.
Dutchboy1 over 15 years ago
Apparently, they’ve never read Romans 1:28,29 among other things
jackfertig over 15 years ago
The question was “What did Jesus say…?” Not “What did Paul say?”