deanrankine: Damned if ya do. Damned if ya don't

deanrankine (

deanrankine) wrote,
@ 2006-07-15 10:11:00

Damned if ya do. Damned if ya don't
Wow. I'm having a CRAP week! I've had over 1000 hits to my 'HOLY COW!' website in the last few days - http://www.webcomicsnation.com/deanrankine/ (I don't normally do that in a month!). Earlier in the week someone posted a link from their LJ (which is pretty damn popular) under the title 'Holy Crap!' commenting about how bad Christian comics are. And I seem to be one of the main offenders! Then today there's a link from a Christian site saying that I'm making them 'physically nauseated', blaspheming' and I'm basically going to rot in hell- http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/archives/2006/07/christian_comic.php (Please don't judge Christians purely by these comments. They seem like a bit of an extreme bunch). So anyway if anyone needs me I'll be curled up in the foetal position.

(Post a new comment)

	azzamckazza 2006-07-15 01:07 am UTC (link)
	Get out of that feotal position! These people are insane! pfft..start listening to nutjobs like these and you'll never get anything done. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-15 04:55 am UTC (link)
	It's okay I'm back in the upright position now :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	kaeze 2006-07-15 01:22 am UTC (link)
	Hey Dean, sorry to hear about the crap week. Hope you don't take these people's misguided opinions to heart and become a stronger person from it. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-15 04:58 am UTC (link)
	Thanks Gary. I feel a little burnt but I'm doin' okay. (Reply to this) (Parent)

matt_glover
2006-07-15 03:48 am UTC (link)

The SoL folk have a reputation around the place as being super conservatives that can't see past the end of their own nose. It's like they see themselves as keepers of the true faith, yet at the same time isolate themselves so far from the rest of the world that the message of Jesus is lost.

Dean, as a pastor & theologian, I have seen nothing in your work that I would consider heresy, offensive or even mildly disrespectful to Jesus or the church, and I cannot say how much I admire you for what you do. As a cartoonist, I hate your guts because your work is better than mine...;)

Just remember that Jesus was also accused of doing the wrong things, saying the wrong things and hanging out with the wrong people - and all these accusations came from religious leaders at the time. I reckon you're in fine company if you can get this sort of reaction from our modern day Pharisees!

Anyway, it churns you up a bit when it happens, but get used to it. It will happen again. Just don't let it distract you from your work or walk. And if you can find the grace within you, pray for the folk that have responded over at SoL - I can only imagine how lifeless their faith must be.

Hang in there.

Matt

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-15 05:02 am UTC (link)
	Dean, as a pastor & theologian, I have seen nothing in your work that I would consider heresy, offensive or even mildly disrespectful to Jesus or the church ... That's okay then 'cause one of the scripture verses on a comment mentioned something about me getting the 'pox'. I don't know what the 'pox' is but I'm pretty sure I don't want it :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

Mercy-less responses to Dean's comics
(Anonymous)
2006-07-17 02:54 pm UTC (link)

Hey Matt, I couldn't have said it better myself! As another pastor and sort-of theologian I reckon Dean's comics are fantastic. I have used them in school and the kids love them. Our CRE (sorry, that's Christian Religious Education) coordinator also loves them and we want to explore printing a stack and giving them out at the end of the year.

I once heard someone say "don't give me your opinion, give me God's opinion" and while it is a bit corny there is a lot right about it. So, Dean, while I love your comics, I'm also convinced God loves them too! Keep on....

Regards,

Andy

(Reply to this) (Parent)

fallingforward
2006-07-15 05:31 am UTC (link)

For some people, religion is about finding a way to not have to think for ones self (or to not have to think about things like mortality) and this sort of 'faith' requires conformity and clear rules and labels. So they don't like anything that's different from their narrow definition, anything that challenges them intellectually or spiritually. You do good work, man, and you believe that what you do can affect and uplift others. That's what's important. That's what witnessing is about. So... I respectfully submit "screw those people".

The others are just knee=jerk people who would criticize anything that's to do with Christianity regardless of whether it was good or not. They aren't being truly objective. So screw them too.

And this concludes today's "religious counsel from an agnostic". heheh

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	fallingforward 2006-07-15 05:48 am UTC (link)
	And... I couldn't help it. I had to post on the blog you linked to... (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-15 06:05 am UTC (link)
	screw those people Thanks Mags. Wise words. I'm surprised that a comic about Jesus showing compassion would cause so much hoopla. As R. Crumb said, 'It's just lines on paper, folks! And... I couldn't help it. I had to post on the blog you linked to... Oh dear ... :) (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

fallingforward
2006-07-15 09:11 pm UTC (link)

Yeah. But after I did It I felt like I'd wasted my time.
I don't understand those people. Their logic makes no sense to me.
And pasting in 1000 words from the Bible doesn't make for good discourse, it makes for lots of letters on the screen _that I've already got access too_.
I'm disturbed by their lack of scope. All that talk about
"The problem, Dean, is that the events in Jesus' life did not take place today. People have to get their heads around sacred history some time."
Is so much puffery. Yes, we don't have lepers today, we also don't sell our daughters into slavery either. Who's going to be there to explain that to kids? Religion needs more perspective, not less.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-17 12:54 am UTC (link)
	Yeah. But after I did It I felt like I'd wasted my time. But I'm really glad you did. It seems like it's always the extremists who get the microphones (selling their religion of hate). We need more voices talking about 'mercy' and 'understanding' (I guess there's a message for me it that as well). Thanks again. (Reply to this) (Parent)

practice_cactus
2006-07-15 06:10 am UTC (link)

Any Publicity is good publicity.
Of those Thousand hits, I'm sure more than a few would have question where the "blasphamy" and stuff is.

Sure, most of your stuff is gross [I've crinkled my nose and gone "eeeww" a few times], but it's all good fun and I've never seen it as anything like what these nut jobs are saying.

I think they're just jelous cause they can tell you're having fun with this stuff and they think Fun and religion don't go together.

You can't please all of the people all of the time, so please yourself first...and have fun.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-15 06:18 am UTC (link)
	Thanks Cactus. (Reply to this) (Parent)

douglasbot
2006-07-15 09:14 am UTC (link)

Scotty and I were talking about this the other day...cause he'd had a spiritual awakening and was witness to a miracle (which i'll let him fill you in on if he FEELS like it.)
But from this conversation we were talking about how this is what we LOVE about the way you present your faith and Jesus himself in your work.
Basically that he's just a really cool guy, who's all about peace not hate and bringing his brothers and sisters together. Cause hatings for chumps.

You're not out there brow beating people into believing with fire and brimstone, you're just presenting his message of awesomeness in the best way you know how because it's important to you and thats what he's all about. And at the end of the day it's probably a LOT closer to how HE would WANT his message presented to people. It's not secular it's about us ALL!

Plus your work is awesome! And those other guys are just JERKS!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

fallingforward
2006-07-15 09:20 pm UTC (link)

Yeah, what Doug said. :) We were talking in a similar vein the other day and I was saying how much I respected the faith of former US President Jimmy Carter. Here was a man of deep deep and somewhat fundamental faith, but he never forced it on anyone. He went out he lived (and, more importantly, demonstrated) a good decent life and held compassion and kindness above all else. He made you SEE what his religion did for him, how it could be expressed in a good way upon the world. And people DUG that. Not all this finger shaking and judgement we get from the fire and brimstone crowd. That turns people off faster than anything. Who'd WANT to belong to that??? I have no respect for them at all. But Carter? He's still someone I greatly admire and respect.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

deanrankine
2006-07-17 01:03 am UTC (link)

It's really interesting that you mentioned Jimmy Carter. I don't know a lot about him (besides some of the awesome work he's doing with Habitat for Humanity) but just last night I caught some of a documentary about him. One of the civil rights leaders, when speaking of Carter, said, 'His religion was deep down in the marrow of his soul'. I find that line really powerful.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	fallingforward 2006-07-17 01:49 am UTC (link)
	He's a really good man. Someone whose honesty is right there on his face. (Reply to this) (Parent)

deanrankine
2006-07-17 12:59 am UTC (link)

It's not secular it's about us ALL!

Thanks so much Doug. I'm still feeling a little beaten up by some of the comments. But I feel really blessed by the people who've come to my side and have been really positive about what I'm doing.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	toniaw 2006-07-15 11:26 am UTC (link)
	Sorry to hear about this - it's ironic that the people who think they are Christians would diss you in this way (obviously missing the important points in most of your stories) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-17 01:06 am UTC (link)
	Thanks Tonia. Yeah, they seem to be focusing on the cursing me with pox area of the bible :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	the_frase 2006-07-15 12:12 pm UTC (link)
	What Doug said above. And FUCK those HOOPLEHEADS!! Also, for what it's worth Dean, you're cartooning skills are the BUISNESS!! I can't possibilly imagine for sure what Jesus would think, but I reckon he'd dig your strips! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-17 01:09 am UTC (link)
	Thanks Man! I've had some really nice comments from people about these crits. And I appreciate your support. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ian__t 2006-07-17 12:33 am UTC (link)
	Dean, you're an artist and this is your vision, expressed in the best way that you can, consistent with your own style, beliefs and integrity. I guess we can't expect reactionary types (whether religious or not) to understand that, particularly given that the comic form itself is an affront to a lot of these people. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-17 01:12 am UTC (link)
	Cheers Ian. I was a little surprised by the ferocity of some of comments. But you're right. Most Christians really aren't like these people though :) (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

sethwolfshorndl
2006-07-18 07:55 am UTC (link)

Just had to add my voice to the support, Dean. I really could not believe I was reading all this crap... aimed at you! It's frustrating that these people are out there and that they chose to attack you. But I think you've handled it well.

Just remember the Friends O' Dean outnumber the Pharisees at least 100 to 1!

I, uh, also couldn't resist posting on their site.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	deanrankine 2006-07-18 08:07 am UTC (link)
	Thanks for your support Seth. I'm hoping it will blow over soon so I can get on with the job at hand. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Holy Crap! (Anonymous) 2006-07-20 03:06 pm UTC (link)
	I just found about about his just now....... Well, proves what I've always thought "Christianity would be so cool if it weren't for all those christians"! Some of their comments are hilariously hypocritical though.... chin up Dean. God loves them too..... (Reply to this) (Parent)

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