Saturday, June 7, 1997

Robert Short finds theology in 'Calvin and Hobbes'

By TOM SCHAEFER / Knight-Ridder Newspapers

Jots and tittles from the world of religion:

Robert Short is at it again.

In the 1960s, he took the popular comic strip "Peanuts" and wrote "The Gospel According to Peanuts," offering a fascinating analysis of the theological content of the world of Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and all the gang.

This time, he's not writing but talking about the theological messages he finds in the gone-but-not-forgotten comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes." In 1995, cartoonist Bill Watterson discontinued the strip after drawing it off-and-on for nine years.

Recently, at a church in Virginia, Short showed slides of the "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip and discussed the connection between the characters and everyday people.

"Calvin believes in something no one else sees - namely Hobbes," Short said according to an Associated Press story.

Calvin, as you probably recall, was the irrepressible, if a bit cynical, youngster who looked at the world through the eyes of his stuffed tiger, Hobbes.

Short sees Calvin as Everyman - in the fallen state of grace. Hobbes, on the other hand, often is a metaphor for Christ, offering undeserved love to his trouble-making friend.

"Calvin does a good job of being a microcosm of humanity because he's lovable - and God loves humanity - but he can be extremely selfish and immature and mean," Short told the congregation. "Hobbes, his attitude toward Calvin is one of complete love toward him."

Short believes that his treatment of Calvin and Hobbes fits perfectly with today's sound-bite generation. "Theology tends to be a dull and heavy subject," he said. Short tries to keep it light while making profound issues accessible.

In the future, Short said, he may do a similar series of talks on "Preaching With Dr. Seuss." (Perhaps titled: "Green Eggs With Homilies"?)

Here's something you might want to try. Take a look at the comics pages, especially your favorite comic strips. See if you can find a theological insight couched in the strip's serious or humorous message. Maybe it has to do with the human condition or presents an example of undeserved love. If so, let me know what you discover.

Simply cut out the strip, add your comments and mail to: Tom Schaefer, c/o The Wichita Eagle, P.O. Box 820, Wichita, Kan. 67201. Together, we'll see what theological insights we can find, even if they're simply lighthearted looks at life.

Ready? OK. Put on your theological thinking caps and dive (KER-PLUNK!) into the comic pages!

A Hasidic tale: "The rabbi of Berdichev saw a man hurrying along the street, looking neither right nor left. 'Why are you rushing so much?' he asked the man. 'I'm rushing after my livelihood,' the man answered. 'And how do you know,' said the rabbi, 'that your livelihood is running on before you so that you have to rush after it? Perhaps it's behind you, and all you need to do is stand still.' "

-from "The Oxford Book of Aging: Reflections on the Journey of Life."

An observation while strolling the aisles of a Wal-Mart.

The strains of Bette Midler singing "From a Distance" were wafting overhead, thanks to the store's sound system. One line was repeated again and again: "God is watching you, God is watching you."

Is this a new security system, I wondered? Are store officials delivering a not-so-subtle message that if security cameras and guards behind one-way mirrors don't catch you shoplifting, You Know Who will? Has Wal-Mart come up with a new security plan that works on God-fearing consciences?

But then came the all-too familiar announcement interrupting the music: "Lawn and Garden, line one!"

Suddenly, a scriptural passage came to mind: "There is a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted" (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Even "God-fearing consciences" can find ways to justify thievish behavior.

There was a Hasidic leader, Rabbi Zushe of Annapol, who said, "When I die God will not ask me why I wasn't like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the great Jewish patriarchs. He will ask why wasn't I the Zushe I was supposed to be."

-from New York Times News Service.

(Tom Schaefer writes about religion and ethics for the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle. Write to him at the Wichita Eagle, P.O. Box 820, Wichita, KS 67201.)