I’m pleased to announce that this cartoon is going to appear in the print issue of August, 2009 Christianity Today. I find it interesting that one of my most innocuous cartoons was selected, and certainly not one of my best, in my opinion. But it is going to be published there, and I am happy about that.
I remember when I first started drawing cartoons just a couple of years ago. One of my personal thoughts was, “Wouldn’t it be cool if one of my cartoons got published in something like Christianity Today?” So, yesterday I received the check in the mail. It all came true.
Which I find interesting. Lately I’ve been wondering about the usefulness of nakedpastor. I don’t spend an inordinate amount of time with it. But I do wonder how productive the time is that I do spend on it. I realize my cartoons are, for the most part… as my friends as well as enemies say… outside the box and often offensive. And the stuff I write about isn’t mainstream material that lots of people would find useful for the modern church agenda. I’ve come to conclude that, for the most part, I’m basically writing and drawing for the choir. I do appreciate those who write to tell me how much it has helped them. But I really don’t think, generally speaking, that nakedpastor is making a difference in the world.
I didn’t predict the problems my z-theory would cause for me personally. I’ve had all kinds of interesting things said to me, again by friends as well as enemies, concerning my attempts to understand the faith and my faith. Few realize that one of the greatest motivating factors is not just for my own understanding, but to find a common ground of understanding that all people everywhere could stand on. It is profoundly interesting to me how something that has brought me considerable peace of mind has also brought me considerable turmoil. I still plan on pursuing a clearer articulation of it… for my own sake and for the sake of those who might be interested. I believe we are all one and are all being reconciled. I need to understand that. I’m looking for the deeper, more fundamental singular actuality, and trying to articulate it for everyone.
So… back to what I started out to say… one of the things that I thought would be the pinnacle of achievement for this blog… having a cartoon published internationally… has caused me to wonder what might be next. Do I continue on? Or do I climb back down this mountain and find another one? Just thoughts.
Check out my t-shirts HERE. I’m growing my inventory all the time. And check out my contemplative art here.
If you like what nakedpastor has to say, your support is appreciated.
artist. cartoonist. teacher.
Continue on! dont give up you inspire us. Christianity Today hey! Its well read in the UK.
Hi np. Well, I for one would miss this if it wasn’t here, but I may well be part of that choir you speak of. If you were not saying these things, who would be? What other space would be available for genuine thought and debate on complex issues? I think the space you offer is as important as the cartoon or comment which provokes thought and discussion. And where would some folks go for their anger therapy
I don’t say this to in any way persuade you to carry on, as I think that is your decision led by the holy spirit. Sometimes there is a season for an activity, and then the season passes and we move on to other things.
Whichever way it goes, thanks for the company on the journey.
oh and btw, I agree that seems a very inoccuous choice of your cartoons, given the range of choice?!
I certainly empathize with your “preaching to the choir” sense. I think a lot of us experience that. Hard to know what to do… I guess the reason I keep on is the need for the community.
Doesn’t the chior need preaching to?
I find that I more often than not need reminding rather than new insights.
Besides, blogging is way better than preaching. You at least get to interact here.
that is a random cartoon and a lot of your cartoons are ok. They probably don’t like to criticize the church :p
i’ve noticed that you’re linked on a lot of blogs that i’ve seen around so i suspect that maybe your site has more value to people than perhaps you think it does. i know that I LOVE it.
have you considered approaching some magazines or e-zines that are faith based but don’t market to the mainstream? i think of Jeez magazine or The Onion perhaps. just thoughts.
You made it into the hallowed halls of CT – wow. I’m impressed. They have no sense of humor so I’m pscyhed this is in there. My hope is that some of their readers will go over to the site and hopefully engage with the cartoons (though knowing this crowd many of them are liable to go running for the hills.
Now that you’re in CT and all famous, hope you’ll still talk to the rest of us?
Is it better to do a scattershot with the odd cartoon in a widely read publication, or have people join you in your journey via your blog?
There is much to envy about your blog, and I say this from the perspective of being part of an organisation that makes radio programmes that are played independently of each other in many places. We only have these one, single opportunities to say anything and to get people thinking. We have no obvious platform for reciprocation and discussion beyond our walls, except for the conversations we have in our daily lives. No conversation develops. It’s far from ideal, but it’s what we have to work with.
Your blog is more than a sum of its parts, while our entire output is just that. I should think that the main reason that you should be happy to have your cartoon in Christianity Today is that it may attract more people to your blog. It’s here that you develop your thinking along with your readers – this blog has the space and time to build a proper picture and it is able to evolve through conversations in it and its role is more flexible than a mere cartoon being printed in a magazine.
From my perspective, this landmark doesn’t mark a fruitful progression into something new to the exclusion of the old… This seems to be one of those outcomes of the core being good that can be good in themselves.
Do I make sense?
David,
Congratulations on a VISION coming to be: “I remember when I first started drawing cartoons just a couple of years ago. One of my personal thoughts was, “Wouldn’t it be cool if one of my cartoons got published in something like Christianity Today?” So, yesterday I received the check in the mail. It all came true.”
In the scope of things going on in the world, none of our ‘usefullness’ is of great importance. But like the story of a few starfish tossed back into the sea, you are usefull to some of us starfish. Of course, your usefullness is made up of different reasons for your audience–but that is the way it is for all of us.
Ah, what might be next? I love that part of life.
Again, congrats.
fishon
Success. Next step, Z Denomination. I keed, I keed.
you might not be making a difference directly but making one indirectly is equally as important. as i walk/run/crawl/skip/roll/limp through my seminary experience this blog has been very helpful in keeping me grounded and not letting me get too carried away with myself. it keeps my heart open and my head curious. i’m pretty clear that even now i am making a difference in other’s lives and so you are in that chain of connection.
which reminds me…i’ve been meaning to ask if i can use your cartoons as visual-aid in my talks sometime. naturally, i will give appropriate credit and send beer.
ogun
ogun: sure. just not the ephod/ipod one
david
Well some of us atheists like you. You’ve been linked to several times from the Friendly Atheist.
Well it’s made a difference to me. People need a place to think things through and get together with others who are doing that. When I was younger there was nothing like this and it was a very longely journey.
Thanks David, whatever you decide to do.
i need you to continue on…o.k. need is strong…but it feeds me. we, the alternative to church growth..the spiritual growth movement need the commentary. we are never to be heralded. Our success is not in numbers but in awareness, in being, in peace. that is never as fun and big as asses in the seats…but it is good when those asses are actually well balanced, fed, and contributing to the community…not exploiting it. If your voice goes quiet, then one of us will just have to yell a little louder…
don’t go…please.
And z theory?…if Luther’s nailed up documents could cause such a ruckus… then stay with it. It’s good stuff…if not totally fleshed out yet? who cares. our story of redemption isn’t through being written either. God is still creating, Jesus is still saving, and then Kingdom is still coming and coming and coming…a little at a time.
Congratulations, but…um…why that one? You have other cartoons that say more, have more controversy, a stronger message…
You wonder if you make a difference in the world…hmm, how many ministers read your blog? how many of them were desperate to know that there were others out there who thought outside the box, or had a more mystical relationship with God than their colleagues? How many of them dare not share their beliefs within the confines of their churches for fear that they’ll be dismissed for heresy(not that heresy is necessarily bad)? but they can join this comments discussion under a screen name? How many of them come out of their morning prayer and meditation knowing that once they turn on their computers there is a kindred spirit who has attracted other kindred spirits and that those things they dared not speak of are openly discussed? And those ministers affect those they teach and just by being bring them into new levels of consciousness. And that isn’t even mentioning the lay folk who don’t dare to discuss their thoughts with their pastor…or who don’t have a church because their theology is forming and they don’t want someone to tell them what to believe and know its not all as cut and dried as people are telling them it is. Yes, David, you are certainly making a difference in the world, and those of us who are part of that world are grateful for your musings and drawings. Yes..you must obey the leading of the spirit…I for one hope it leads you to keep it up. Thanks
Wow, are people really that cowardly? How do they tie such a lack of authenticity in with their faith? At least Jesus was authentic and spoke his mind.
Twiggy…David has gone way out on a limb in sharing his z-theory with us. Unfortunately, within the churches there isn’t much room for people who think a little deeper or differently from the authorized set of beliefs. People learn early on not to ask questions lest they be told they are absolutely wrong. In general, the church world is dogmatic and we are not to deviate from the dogma. Thus there are small groups of us who share with a trusted friend or two and otherwise shut our mouths.
OOPS! SORRY TIGGY…I ADDED A W THAT DIDN’T BELONG THERE!
Sigh…well at least I’m losing weight or I must be because I’ve given up eating.
‘within the churches there isn’t much room for people who think a little deeper or differently from the authorized set of beliefs. People learn early on not to ask questions’
Ah, I thought they just had it in for me! I know this, I do go to churches and have done most of my life. The difference is I speak out and I do ask questions and have done since I went to Sunday school. I don’t give a toss about their dogmatism, authenticity is more important to me. And in fact I couldn’t conform if I tried – not that I would want to. I wasn’t afraid to speak out in churches as a teenager so it amazes me that these grown men are so pathetic. And I’m not speaking about David. I mean, what kind of a game are they playing? What do they think is the point?
Angry of Bath, UK
Tiggy said, on July 30th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Wow, are people really that cowardly? How do they tie such a lack of authenticity in with their faith? At least Jesus was authentic and spoke his mind.
————My congregation certainly are not cowardly. In fact, we are having a great study on “The Bride of Christ” because someone DARE to point out scripture that seemed to say something different than I believed. Wow! Everyone is opening up their Bibles and studing themselves and then come to class ready to discuss and reason together.
fishon
tiggy,
Don’t be to put off by some of us calling you T[w]iggy. Some of us, child of the 6os, remember a very famous model from England named Twiggy. She was a sensation, a cultural icon in America. If you don’t know of her, google Twiggy.
fishon
fishon…of course your parishoners aren’t cowardly…you freely take part in this and probably other discussions of our ever evolving beliefs so those you minister to would be open to sharing…otherwise they would have to leave. I know that people who are dogmatic and unyielding in their beliefs aren’t happy in such an environment. About three or four years ago I asked everyone in our study group to define what they believed. I said I didn’t care at that point what it was that they believed but that they could define it. It changed the course of the whole group.It ran the gamut from someone who said that he didn’t believe that Jesus had ever existed and that the bible was just a collection of myths BUT that he believed all the teachings attributed to Jesus and tried to live by them. Someone else said they believed that Jesus came only to those Jews at that time and that another teacher would come to us etc. etc. So the discussions went on and are still doing so. We began an in depth study of the red letters…took a real good look at the sermon on the mount…spent several weeks on what Jesus would say to us if he were part of the group. I had gotten it across that it was ok to speak your mind and no-one would call you names if your beliefs were a little different…that yes, this was a class and I was the teacher, but more importantly, even though the class was being taught from the perspective of my beliefs, they wouldn’t be put down for disagreeing with me.
preacherlady,
I know that you said “…people who are dogmatic and unyielding in their beliefs aren’t happy in such an environment,” but I am wondering if you mean the people who sit under that dogmatic, unyielding in their belief preacher/teacher, or is it the dogmatic…preacher that is unhappy?
I would consider myself dogmatic and unyeilding in my belief[s], but I am quite joyful within my environment and within myself. I believe that you hit the nail on the head when you say “they wouldn’t be put down for disagreeing with me.”
We have some very passionate discussions, but what keeps us going strong is that we know, even in disagreement and the voicing of it, there is still love and respect for differences of opinion. Probably what is our biggest strenght is that everyone knows they will get a full chance to voice their desent, and they are not intimadated if they can’t convince anyone. Ah, we do have some great fun.
fishon
Don’t know if this matters – but I had intended on becoming a Methodist minister and then discovered what that actually meant. Pastors lie. They aren’t naked. Far from it.
Our pastor created a major story about something that my husband and I did and it floored me. He glorified something completely average about my husband and I – actually below average – to make his glorious point. I suppose he thought we’d be flattered but we weren’t. We were angered and I let him know it angered me. He claimed that was the way of pastordom and defended his story even though my husband and I would never have agreed to it. He said that being a part of the ministry involved stretching reality in order to make a point about what is really true. Why do you need to stretch the truth if the truth is truth? So instead of becoming a minister, I left the church altogether – I’m going on 10 years of not being a member of a church, which is almost unbelievable because it was always such a huge part of my life. But I agree with Nietzsche. God is dead and we killed him and don’t even know it.
And then I stumbled upon your blog and I wonder if maybe there isn’t a point of reconciliation? Some Christian ministers, like you, are actively involved in engaging in the vulnerability reality demands rather than stretching the truth of your own version of it.
Keep working on your z-theory. But ultimately, aren’t the questions way more important than our individual answers? It’s the questions you ask that drew me in and made me trust in Christianity again. Your answers don’t matter one iota to me. It’s the questions you are asking that matter.
Hi Fishon, I know Twiggy because I had older sisters. She still does clothes modelling for one of our major stores on tv. I saw her in the film The Boyfriend. She’s still very pretty. I didn’t know she was well known in the US. However, there has only been one Twiggy, whereas there are thousands of Tiggys – though most of them are cats. My Tiggy name is short for ‘Auntie Tiger’ and was given to me by my nephew when he was five. Now most people know me as Tiggy.
Oh, for heaven’s sake. I just found your blog. Don’t quit now.
Fishon, I wasn’t suggesting you or your congregation are cowardly. I just think it’s cowardly when people keep quiet in order to conform and fit in. I think that about any sphere of life, not just religious beliefs. I’ve always spoken what I saw to be the truth, even though sometimes it’s meant me being knocked-about by my father, cold-shouldered by others and evicted from places. It can be lonely and isolating and make you feel there is something wrong with you or that you’re a bad person. But someone’s got to do it. And jobsworths who pretend to believe something when they don’t are harming all of us and the church because they make it harder for anyone to speak out.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake. I just found your blog. Don’t quit now.’
LOL, yeah one cartoon in print and he thinks he’s too big and important for us!
Hey David, don’t give up your day job! Or the evening one.
fishon: I guess when I say dogmatic, I mean those individuals who are not only unyielding in their beliefs, but who will shame you, condemn you, and just about let you know what a worthless individual you are if you don’t share their beliefs to the tee. I’m unyielding in what I believe, and particularly since I’m an interfaith minister, I will honor your beliefs…I didn’t say I’d share them…but I will honor them and if you stay in my group we will then proceed to study the sermon on the mount. My ministry is to people who have been hurt by the church…have been bible beaten…who have been bashed with a Jesus who only existed in someone’s mind…ministers who have been exploited and abused by congregations and denominations…and, unfortunately, those situations do exist…they are the exception rather than the rule…but these people need somewhere to turn when they havn’t given up on God or decide to give Him another chance. Vasilia…look at the situation you ran into as a chance to forgive…he didn’t know what he was doing. If there is a calling on your life, that hasn’t changed…the questions are the most important thing, and you need to find YOUR answers, not someone else’s…and there are times when the answer is to live in the question.
congratulations!
I love your cartoons. Keep doin more.