# B. C. Sunday Strip, and Johnny Hart's patience **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702 "2002-04-15T07:17:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/21 "2002-04-16T16:12:01Z")
av8rmike—Thanks for the link. Hart really IS nuttier than a fruitcake. Yikes!! ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/22 "2002-04-16T17:04:45Z")
Just the fact that he carves the messages **on a rock** which then **floats** across the sea is too stupid for words… ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/23 "2002-04-16T19:25:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JThunder \* > Well, TV shows do it all the time. Yeah – every time someone gets married on TV, it’s always a bizarre pagan ritual out in the woods, not in a proper church or anything. And you _never_ have any Christmas specials on TV, or scenes with characters decorating trees or putting up menorahs. And what about that famous episode of _WKRP In Cincinnati,_ where the characters all taunted the new Christian employee until he got scared away? In short, :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/24 "2002-04-16T21:29:04Z")
Hey, **Doug Bowe** Once upon a time there was a comic strip called “Pogo” by Walt Kelly… Once upon a time there was a comic strip called “Bloom County” by Berke Breathed… Once upon a time there was a comic strip called “Calvin & Hobbes” by Bill Watterson… Looks like Al Capp wasn’t the only comic strip artist to get “old and egotistical” and start using his strip as a soapbox. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/25 "2002-04-16T22:31:06Z")
_Originally posted by rjung_ > [@](#): > > And what about that famous episode of WKRP In Cincinnati, where the characters all taunted the new Christian employee until he got scared away? Isn’t _that_ interesting! I refused to watch _WKRP in Cincinnati_ because I was annoyed with the premise–a “sedate” music station turning to rock to attract listeners. (Well, maybe the people who would rather listen to “sedate” music can take a flying leap for the moon and get bent? :mad: ) But maybe I _should_ have seen this episode, as it would give me more ammunition for my claim that religion is the studied target of various media, and movies, whose aim is to represent anything religious as dated, duped, fanatical, reactionary, or blindly opposed to science. I remember Father Mulcahy on _M_A_S_H\* whether Hornberg’s original novel mentions the priest of the 4077th or not, the TV series usually portrayed Mulcahy as weak–glasses, falsetto voice, etc. In any case, I am glad to see Johnny Hart stand up _against_ the prevailing sentiment, which as far as I am concerned is _itself_ a “soapbox.” Whose ox is being gored? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/26 "2002-04-16T22:51:49Z")
I have no problem with Hart promoting whatever mythology he wants, he should be able to have his characters worship the Great Pumpkin if he wants. I just doubt a strip could be critical of religion without being hounded off the page with thousands of “but what about the children!” letters. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/27 "2002-04-16T23:16:01Z")
Revtim, with a snide, spitting reply such as that, I would have no problem mustering a barbed response questioning your parents’ marriage, your prejudices, or your background in civilized discourse. And while you’re at it, tell me about Piltdown Man. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/28 "2002-04-16T23:52:23Z")
Chill out Dougie, surely you realize that a religion is simply a mythology that people still believe? And mythology is simply religion people don’t believe in anymore. Are you careful to not call ancient Roman beliefs in Zeus and such as mythology because someone somewhere out there might still believe in it? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/29 "2002-04-17T01:53:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\* > In any case, I am glad to see Johnny Hart stand up _against_ the prevailing sentiment, which as far as I am concerned is _itself_ a “soapbox.” > Whose ox is being gored? \*\* I haven’t done anything with BC except wrap up gefillte fish since the mutating menora of last Passover. Er, Easter. ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/30 "2002-04-17T02:31:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xicanorex \* > \*\* > > 😕 > > I don’t get it. How is this a retort to his usage of his religious beliefs in his comics. To me, is more like trying to saying, “Dang it, why people can’t take creationst ‘science’ seriously? I know, I will make a cartoon out of it.” > > XicanoreX \*\* I don’t care for BC’s religious bent, and I didn’t get it either. It made me think that Hart was an ignorant cartoonist. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/31 "2002-04-17T02:45:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*Chill out Dougie, surely you realize that a religion is simply a mythology that people still believe? And mythology is simply religion people don’t believe in anymore. Are you careful to not call ancient Roman beliefs in Zeus and such as mythology because someone somewhere out there might still believe in it? \*\* The Romans didn’t believe in Zeus, they believed in Jupiter. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/32 "2002-04-17T06:16:48Z")
_Originally posted by Retvim_ > [@](#): > > Chill out Dougie, surely you realize that a religion is simply a mythology that people still believe? And mythology is simply religion people don’t believe in anymore. Are you careful to not call ancient Roman beliefs in Zeus and such as mythology because someone somewhere out there might still believe in it? What’s next: Religion is the opiate oif the masses? Be sure to ask Josef Cardinal Mindszenty about _that_. Or Mencken, or Stalin, or Lenin… You really ticked me off slipping the word “mythology” into the earlier post. That is as subtle as a seat breeze. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/33 "2002-04-17T11:02:00Z")
**Hastur** wrote: > [@](#): > > The Romans didn’t believe in Zeus, they believed in Jupiter. Yeah, I know this guy who claims to be a Catholic, but he doesn’t believe in Jesus, he believes the messiah was some guy called, “Hey Sue.” Allah save me from Heathens. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/34 "2002-04-17T12:38:14Z")
This is getting out of hand. I don’t give a rat’s ass what you guys believe in, just don’t get in my face with it. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/35 "2002-04-17T13:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\*_Originally posted by Retvim_ > > What’s next: Religion is the opiate oif the masses? > Be sure to ask Josef Cardinal Mindszenty about _that_. Or Mencken, or Stalin, or Lenin… > You really ticked me off slipping the word “mythology” into the earlier post. That is as subtle as a seat breeze. \*\* I’m sorry you are offended, but that is simply my belief; I consider all religions mythology. I didn’t mean it as a shot at you, don’t take it personally. And I’m not going to never mention my belief simply because you find it offensive. I suggest you work on being tolerant of those who have belief systems different from your own. And what the hell is a “seat breeze”? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/36 "2002-04-17T13:44:26Z")
OK, I just got that “seat breeze” = fart, never mind. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/37 "2002-04-17T13:55:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by dougie\_monty_ > \*Originally posted by Retvim \* > > > [@](#): > > > > Chill out Dougie, surely you realize that a religion is simply a mythology that people still believe? And mythology is simply religion people don’t believe in anymore. Are you careful to not call ancient Roman beliefs in Zeus and such as mythology because someone somewhere out there might still believe in it? > > What’s next: Religion is the opiate oif the masses? > Be sure to ask Josef Cardinal Mindszenty about that. Or Mencken, or Stalin, or Lenin… > You really ticked me off slipping the word “mythology” into the earlier post. That is as subtle as a seat breeze. 500 points for the first person to bring up hitler. hell, we’ve already had them damn pinko marxists. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/38 "2002-04-17T14:12:03Z")
“Hitler!” Do I get my 500 points? How many points before I c’n get that toaster? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/39 "2002-04-17T14:23:10Z")
_Originally posted by Postcards_ > [@](#): > > Just the fact that he carves the messages on a rock which then floats across the sea is too stupid for words… Have you ever heard of pumice (volcanic rock)? 🙂 Revtim, what you do or don’t believe doesn’t concern me, except so far as you believe that it is proper to impugn other people’s intelligence by suggesting they accept “mythology” as fact. The inference I draw from your postings is, _You may believe as you see fit, but I will stick with the facts; therefore you are ignorant and I am enlightened._ This is scarcely any better than the crude insults I was treated to when I was in junior high school. I don’t assume that the SDMB is peopled with 12- and 13-year-olds. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702/40 "2002-04-17T14:36:29Z")
“I remember Father Mulcahy on M_A_S\*H whether Hornberg’s original novel mentions the priest of the 4077th or not, the TV series usually portrayed Mulcahy as weak–glasses, falsetto voice, etc.” That’s a crying shame. You seem to be a man of no little faith, but you saw this ongoing portrayal of a priest in such a negative light…I’ve always been pretty much agnostic and I have no love whatsoever for organized religion, but I was always more impressed by Father Mulcahy’s ability to hold on to his faith in the face of war, adversity, and death on all sides. Rather than concentrating on his weaknesses, I thought the show did a beautiful job with his many strengths. Perhaps you are concentrating on the wrong things. Back to the OP…I used to be a gigantic fan of “B.C.,” because my dad had several paperback compilations. I’m sort of glad now that I didn’t keep up with it after my childhood. There are enough people giving Christians a bad name without bringing zealotry to the funny-pages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-c-sunday-strip-and-johnny-harts-patience/103702.md?page=3)