Both the original Reformer, Jean Calvín, and the philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, had very negative views of human nature. Calvin believed in the total depravity of humans. This does not mean that they were devils, but that every part of a human being was depraved to the point that there was no such thing as good […]
Archives for November 2009
Watterson on the teleological argument for God
Above is one of the comics that had some Christians wondering excitedly whether Watterson was a Christian. Notice that it is not Hobbes, but Calvin who is making the teleological argument for God, which is a bit funny. Now, when I say the teleological argument, I do not mean the bastardized version that some creationists […]
Watterson on Calvinism
On my last post I received a question about Bill Watterson, so here is some more of his background: . . . when Watterson was coming up with names for the characters of his comic strip, he decided upon Calvin (after the Protestant reformer John Calvin) and Hobbes (after the social philosopher Thomas Hobbes) as […]
Opiate of the masses — TV?
I miss Calvin and Hobbes. It was one of those rare comics published by a Christian that was neither preachy nor boring. In fact, it was so cutting edge that many secular comic artists complimented Bill Watterson for his comic. He only wrote for about 10 years, then he gave it up and has disappeared […]
Spoiling grandchildren update
All right, what a weekend! I am sure I gained weight and am worn out, but happy. We took the grandkids to Chucky Cheese where my eardrums got quite a workout. But, the grandkids were happy and worn out. Then our granddaughter wanted to go to Chili’s next day (we had two birthdays in a […]
On life sentences for juveniles
From Fox News yesterday: Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack. Terrance Graham, implicated in armed robberies when he was 16 and 17, was given a life sentence by a judge who told the teenager he […]
An odd saying or two
From William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 5: Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage. From Will Rogers: Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. From Jack Benny: My wife Mary and I have been married for forty-seven years and […]
In a tragedy, heroes
The thing about human-caused tragedies is that in every tragedy there are heroes, the people who step forward and go beyond what is expected of them. They are like the leaven that reminds us that even when humans are at their worst, yet there are always at least a few humans who show us by […]
Grandchild spoiling
My posting will be sparse from today through this weekend. I am out of town and engaging in the ago-old art of grandchild spoiling. It is a solemn duty that involves too much chocolate, sugar, and unneeded presents.
Who is crazier, the inmate or the judge?
Nov 4, 6:30 AM EST Judge: Mich. man can sue store he robbed MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan judge says a man who claims he was chased, shot and beaten by workers at a store he’d just robbed can sue the men. But only if he comes up with $10,000 within two weeks. […]
