Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for April 22, 2012

love how hobbes usually is the wise one

It’s funny that you’re either shrinking to Liliputian size, or scary that the grass is growing fast and will swallow you, Calvin.

Today’s topic is a complex one, leading to profound reflection…….. ……….. or not……Part 1: Evolutionary InterpretationMaybe somewhere, way back in time, life expectancy was so short that it was difficult for humans to live long enough to reproduce (much less, live long and prosper). But, just by random chance, a few early humans happened to have a “sense-of-humor” genetic mutation. This allowed them to lead less-stressful lives than the totally humorless, sad, and depressed early humans (who only had “blue” genes). As a result, the humans with a sense of humor were able to live longer and reproduce, increasing their numbers. Pharmaceuticals were quite rare in those days, so laughter was the best medicine.Meanwhile, the humorless early humans tended to die of stress-induced strokes, heart attacks, and foot injuries from kicking things, before they could reproduce. This was the origin of the expression, “deadly serious.” Before long, most of the humorless ones had disappeared, and nearly all of the surviving early humans were laughing every time a piano fell on someone’s head.(To be continued…….)

Thanks, @Dogsniff. You’re just in time for my first dissertation of the Spring.

Part 2: Christian and Jewish InterpretationChristians and Jews share the Old Testament of the Bible, which teaches that we were created in the image of God. From this it would seem to follow that God, like us, has a sense of humor (provided that we are talking about genuinely funny humor, as opposed to “humor” at the expense of others.)This, of course, leads to speculation as to whether there is humor in the afterlife. For example, one might pause to reflect upon whether or not the entire Heavenly Host bursts out laughing every time an angel burps.(To be continued………)

Laughing that feels good, laughing encourages us, laughing makes us fit, laughing is a hit, it’s a hit !!!

Part 3: Evangelical Christian InterpretationMany Evangelical Christians believe that we were created in the image of God several thousand years ago, during a literal six-day creation, with no evolution before or after. From this it would seem to follow that our earliest ancestors were created with a full-blown sense of humor.As the primordial couple began to explore the new Garden on their first day of life, one might imagine Eve giggling uncontrollably every time Adam tripped over a root or accidentally walked into a tree. Dazzling sights greeted the first couple, as well as a whole lot of funny odors, which came to be known as “scents of humor.” And Adam was probably greatly amused by the appearance of his first footprints, otherwise known as “laugh tracks.”At least God was able to relax on the seventh day, even though the Sunday funnies had not yet been invented.(To be continued……..)

Click here: Non Sequitur (2011)

I’d go with the fear, Cal.

Part 4: Mainline Christian InterpretationMany Mainline Christians believe that we are created in the image of God, but that God’s creation process includes evolution over millions of years, with creation and evolution working hand-in-hand. The six “days” of creation in the Bible are figurative, not literal, referring to long periods of time. Perhaps this implies that humor also has evolved gradually over a long period of time.In this case, one might imagine archaeologists someday discovering extremely crude representations of Calvin and Sabertooth Hobbes strips on the walls of the oldest caves, with no fourth panel because the punch line did not yet exist.Perhaps the frequency of humor also evolved gradually. Maybe the first humans only laughed once every few decades, but a million years later, things were a laugh a minute.ConclusionSo, where am I going with all of this?Funny you should ask.Humor me.This is all that I have created so far.My thoughts are still evolving.Etc.

I don’t get it…

Welcome back, Hobbes. I’ve missed you!

Ah, but both of our resident omniscient ones have now spoken,so it must be true.

The duck billed platypus MUST be proof that, if there is a god, he (or she) has a heck of a sense of humour!

Everyone, with all due respect . . . I sincerely do not believe that Calvin and Hobbes, were not to be analyzed . . . especially at 0530 hrs on a Sunday morning or at any time . . . or at anytime of the day! Like a fresh cup of hot coffee, an icy mug of a robust beer; or a glass of fine wine; these two guys were just meant to be pondered,savored, and enjoyed! Now, lets have some fun on this adventure and wonder what they will discover next!! Hobbes is just soooo cute!! ; ) + =^.,.^=

The weight of evidence indicates that a piano falling on someone’s head is the ‘key’ to the whole thing, although an easier and less injurious way to enjoy humor is to ‘tickle the ivories’, but then an ‘elephant’ might fall on someone’s head.

If both sides are right, the atheist will die and be separated from the presence (fellowship) of God forever. The Christian will die and go into oblivion!

“He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalm 2:4

“A merry heart does good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

Nabu, Sue the schools that gave you the “Degrees.”

A sense of humor is a necessity. The absurdities of life are always with us and laughter is the best possible antidode.

I’d find it more scary than funyy, Calvin. But then some people can find humor in everything while others can’t find humor in anything.

I enjoy your dissertations Hobbes! Glad you’re back.

I just woke up and haven’t had coffee yet, but that sounds amazingly profound.

SGU fan?

Well one thing is for sure……at the end of each of our lives, we are going to find out the ultimate truth.

Thanks nabuquduriuzhur

I believe that “evolution” is the best explanation for how we arrived to be humans. It also doesn’t impact on my spiritual beliefs. I think the more important thing religion tells you is how you to behave tomorrow, not what happened yesterday.

Lord!!

Very, very true.

I weep for the state of education in North America when, in some cases, science is trumped by myth. If this keeps up for another 20 years, the USA and Canada will be second world nations and China will dominate.

@Richard: According to Bill Cosby, your hair resides inside your head, and as you age it becomes senile, forgetting which direction to go to find the outside world. So it just searches around until it finds an opening.I guess this raises a question about the accuracy of our depictions of God, since he is far older than any of us but we still tend to show him with a full head of hair. I guess it’s because God ages a lot more slowly than we do. But as he watches our civilization’s recent antics, perhaps he is aging more quickly these days.

I don’t believe in evolution. Some people believe they descended from monkeys or apes. The way some of them act it makes me wonder. grin!

Dear Hobbes, I think I’m in love. If I knew you I would accuse you of plagiarizing. If, indeed, there is a God, I should think the Galapagos would be more than enough proof of a great sense of humor.

live long and proper, sir..or ma’am.

Well said. I love the poem. Thanks

Personally, I enjoy reading and hearing both sides of a debate that will never be settled in this life. Doing so reinforces my own beliefs. It is nice when someone on either side is able to articulate their position in a non-hateful way whether in agreement with mine or not. I think those that rail against the other side usually are uncomfortable with their own.

What is this kid, six or sixty?

why is there air

Life is to PonderLook at that lovely PuppyI laugh at myself.

Hobbes is back!!! YAY

Great to see you again, Hobbes. I’ve really missed you.

If you are so “fed up with..religious rants”, your first comment should have been to your buddy the impostor.

I really like to days strip.Real Hobbes hit the nail on the head.We can all laugh at that.

Dogsniff; .There is an enormous amount of good sense in the Bible. And it does not hurt to be reminded about from time. Although, I tend to be on the side of the evolutionists. And agnostics..It is said that a person who is knowledgeable about only one side of an argument, does not know half of it..Keep an open mind, and feel free to continue commenting, both sides will tend to be the better for it..Cheers

<< dahawk said: @Hobbes: Seventh day was a Saturday. >>Hi dahawk. Yeah, when I wrote about the Sunday funnies, I actually thought somebody might make that point. The “Day of Rest” is Saturday for Jews and Sunday for Christians. But since some newspapers publish the Sunday funnies on Saturday evening, I figured I could get away with it. This provides a neat solution to what could otherwise become a highly intractable theological problem.

For those who think that Hobbes (the poster) is Bill Watterson, an alternate theory would be Leonard Nimoy (“Live long and prosper”). In any case, I will not purport to know, because I fear that if the identity is ever fully revealed, he or she will go away and never return, and we will have lost a great deal.

You people talk to much. Love the strip. Peace

The fact that so many people take seriously the musings of an imaginary stuffed tiger who’s the best friend of an equally imaginary young boy—and enjoy it so much—is ample proof of the salutary effects of the absurdity gene.

You got part of it right.

I think it’s both Calvin.

Decide Calvin.DECIDE!

It’s ’cause guys with a good sense of humor get the girls. Evolution works.

Evolution is not a religion — it is a fact. You don’t have to believe it, nobody cares what you believe. It’s still a fact and there is a phenomenal amount of proof — just go get an intro anthropology book and enter the enlightened period.

That said, humans are social animals and having a sense of humor allows them to get along. Those that manage to get along with others (despite religious/belief differences) tend to live long enough to reproduce and pass along their “humor genes” — which is all it takes for evolution to take place.

Good one Susan!! — and if I lived someplace else, it might be fun to see him try to be president.