cartoon: just a stone’s throw

Posted in humour by nakedpastor on the October 23rd, 2009

stonesthrow

If you liked this post, or would like to use it, please buy me a beer!

70 comments

70 Responses to 'cartoon: just a stone’s throw'

Subscribe to comments with RSS or TrackBack to 'cartoon: just a stone’s throw'.

Mark VH said, on October 23rd, 2009 at 11:31 am

Thank you, come again.
Gina said, on October 23rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Awesome. Sometimes it seems seeking out the truth isn’t always the answer to winning the popularity contest. You’re work is inspiring… and intriguing!
amy said, on October 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm

You are very interesing to me. I added you to my blog roll, if this is not cool with you please let me know. The Raging Genius
nakedpastor said, on October 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm

amy: nice to meet. i added you to my blogroll too. come back soon.
Tiggy said, on October 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm

I’ve always been a truth seeker and it’s caused me problems all my life. People don’t like it, esp. if they give you an answer and you’re not satisfied.

Someone told me that if I didn’t feel love from people in the church then I was blind. Later on he came out as a homosexual and he didn’t feel too loved then and left that church.
preacherlady said, on October 23rd, 2009 at 7:50 pm

Ain’t that the truth! I’ve always had a list of things that, if I mentioned them in the wrong place, I would be tarred and feathered. You have the courage to explore these things in the open for all the world to see(although I’ll wager there are a couple of things that are just too “off the wall”at the same time that they’re spot on, for you to get into in public).
Societyvs said, on October 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 pm

Just rocks that’s it? No one is throwing garbage bags – lol.
Richard Harty said, on October 24th, 2009 at 12:43 am

It looks like he did find out the truth.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 1:24 am

Looks like another bunch of “misunderstanders” of Islam.
Fiona said, on October 24th, 2009 at 2:59 am

Oh boy, spot on. (sorry i can’t be more verbose!)
anne-fi said, on October 24th, 2009 at 7:45 am

Just wanna say I’m with you and love you!
William Lehman said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:14 am

at least you didn’t say “I am going to find my own truth.” which still leaves room for an ‘external objective truth” found in the person of God.
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 4:54 pm

@steve martin
…why exactly do you feel the need to bring Islam into this? Simply because you cannot take criticism of your own religion and instead take it out on other religions or is their a more rational reason?

@David
As always, provocative post. Thanks for your courage.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Because the only religion that I’m aware of on earth that actually stones people to death for leaving that religion…is Islam.

It was a fitting picture and commentary about the hideous practice of actually killing those that wish to leave that religion.
nakedpastor said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

squirm steve. squirm.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Why should I squirm?

I’m not in that demonic religion.
nakedpastor said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:11 pm

why don’t we try to examine the demonic elements of our own? i talked with 4 different people yesterday who were stoned for trying to be independent… not with physical stones but stones just the same. rejection, alienation, and metaphorical murder in every case. those who stone literally are no different than one who despises another.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

Well I wouldn’t go that far David, I despise Nick Griffin of the BNP, but I wouldn’t stone him to death.

Steve, its’ just cultural development. Many adherents of Islam are from tribal cultures. They are at the same level as those in Old Testament times and people would have been stoned to death then for leaving Judaism.
nakedpastor said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

tiggy: i suppose you’re right. hate is the same as murder, and i hesitate to use the word hate because religious people can’t admit they hate. they might admit they despise… poor attempt i guess.
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

@steve martin
I’ve read through your blog; you seem so proud of the fact you’re Christian. I can’t help but feel the One you claim to be your Savior is sorrowed by such an attitude…

Condemnation, rejection, alienation— semantics don’t matter so much to the person in the situation.

Jesus taught that anger alone was murder in our hearts…
…I don’t think He meant it in a metaphorical manner.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

I love the Muslim people. I love them so much that I want to see them come to Christ and not perish eternally by worshipping the devil as they currently are.

I hate that evil religion (Islam). it is all about enslaving people, subjugating women, and converting by the sword, and killing those who would leave Islam.

Check out a couple of these stories:

http://www.womenagainstshariah.blogspot.com/search?q=leaving+Islam

I’m not proud that I am a Christian. I am thankful! I had nothing to do with it! The Holy Spirit opens hearts and minds to Christ Jesus when and where He wills.

We need to stand in the face of evil and to call them on it. If bunch of Christians started killing in the name of Jesus, I wouyld be the forst to stand against them and fight them.

Right now, it’s Islam. The Quran is filled with passages on how Muslims must subdue the infidel.

Almost all the religious murder and terror in the world today is committed in the name of Islam.
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

“Almost all the religious murder and terror in the world today is committed in the name of Islam.”

…if you only mean those words to be taken literally, then… maybe.
I’d say Christians perpetrate a whole lot of the murder and terror in the world, too.

And please don’t confuse radical Islam with Islam. I’m sure you’d rather the rest of us didn’t confuse say, Binny Hinn with the rest of Christianity, right?
ttm said, on October 24th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

Does anyone know how many killings in the name of Jesus that there have been throughout history? I don’t know the specifics, but think about the Crusades and the wars fought over theology and between tribes and denominations throughout history. Think about abortion providers being murdered by people in the name of Christ and homosexuals who have been murdered by “Christians” who believe they are doing God’s will by killing them.

Then if you take Jesus’ words literally that “hate” equals “murder,” the numbers go up exponentially. There is no doubt that killing, in both a figurative and a literal sense, has been rampant in Christianity. I am willing to hazard a guess that Islam and Christianity are NOT the only religions which have condoned killing to promote their agenda, either. There are radical people who do extreme things in every religious system.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

The metaphorical stoning that goes on in the Christian church is monumental. Shall we start with a female bible school student who worked the all night shift in a restaurant all weekend…this was years ago when smoking was allowed in restaurants. The place where they could hang their coats was in the smoking section, so they reeked of smoke when they got off. She also had been required by her school to volunteer at a crisis center. It was a secular organization and in their training they were given condoms. She was going to receive an award so she had bought a beautiful black dress for the ceremony…she had also bought black underwear to go under it. Her roommate went to the school officials, and on the basis of the fact that she smelled like smoke, had a condom, and black underwear she was thrown out of school, her parents were sent a letter, as was her hometown pastor, and she was sent a letter which I read. She was condemned as immoral and told she was going to hell. She was never talked to or questioned…just condemned. This was at one of the biggest bible school in the country. Or shall we talk about the pastor of a church at which I was an affiliate pastor? We had begun a ministry to the prostitutes, the druggies, and the gay population. They were using our parking lot to do business in. The church was an old mainline denomination and some of the congregants’ grandparents had founded it. They were very possessive of THEIR church and didn’t want the pews dirtied with “those people”. The pastors mother died, and while he was out of town they had a meeting with a lynch mob type mentality demanding that he be fired…and this meeting was against the rules of the denomination…it was cruel..it was immoral…the things that surrounded this issue were horrendous. The pastor left the Christian church..it took the rest of us years to recover. And these are only two stories out of hundreds. We don’t have to look at Islam…in fact their physical stoning is more merciful than what the Christian churches do…the Christian church does so much damage to people with their self righteous attitudes and accusations that they really need to have an old fashioned solemn assembly. No denomination is exempt. Phariseeism is alive and well in the Christian church.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

We have to go over the same stuff every time.

OK..here we go again.

Christians have committed atrocities in the past, hundreds of years ago, and not in accordance with the Scriptures.

The Quran exlicitly gives Muslims permission to kill those that leave the faith, or that get in the way of their expansion.

Islam is doing this now…today.

The Islamic world does not condemn violence committed in the name of Islam other than a few isolated voices (because they themselves become targets).

Christians do not stone to death, or shoot, or behead those that leave Christianity.

This type of thing happens regularly in the Islamic world.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

Wow, what’s wrong with black underwear? At least it doesn’t show skid marks. Just imagine if she’d been wearing red underwear! That’s what Satan wears. I know the weather isn’t great in England, but I’m so glad I don’t live in America. I’d find it very hard to be a Christian there – or indeed to decide what underwear to put on!

I hardly think hating is the same as murder. I know which one I’d rather be on the receiving end of. Reading the history of the persecution of the Cathars is quite enough to make anyone realise the history of violence in Christianity, let alone the Crusades and the Inquisition. Different parts of the world are in different stages of cultural development and some are what we would see as backward. Some parts of America seem very backward to me. I have Muslim friends whose attitudes are not at all the same as those we see in the media. And let’s remember the efforts by the Saudi regime to spread Wahabi Islam. They have so much money that they are able to build mosques around the world that teach this extreme form of Islam and that’s why we are seeing a resurgence of it.
bob said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

steve martin said – “I hate that evil religion (Islam). it is all about enslaving people, subjugating women, and converting by the sword, and killing those who would leave Islam.”

Read your own Old Testament…or not.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

There are right now in this time African Christians who are killing children that they are accusing of witchcraft. The Christian Church needs to take the log out of its own eye before it accuses others.
nakedpastor said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:26 pm

Steve: We are aware (or should be) of the violence that occurs in other people groups. What this blog is about is the violence that goes on within our own. If anyone has ever tried to think independently (nevermind speak independently) from popular orthodoxy, they understand what this cartoon is about.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:28 pm

Murderous rage, even though a physical murder is not commited, is measurable with scientific instruments as are all energies which the human being can emit. This energy attacks its target violently on the energetic level, usually in the solar plexus or the heart and can be the forerunner to physical disease or even death.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:32 pm

Oh, I thought Islam was all about beauty, poetry and the oneness of God. But then I have actually studied it.

Doorkeeper of the heart
If I adore You out of fear of Hell, burn me in Hell!
If I adore you out of desire for Paradise,
Lock me out of Paradise.
But if I adore you for Yourself alone,
Do not deny to me Your eternal beauty.
Rabia

I am a fountain, You are my water.
I flow from You to You.

I am an eye, You are my light,
I look from You to You.

You are neither my right nor left.
My foot and my arm too.

I am a traveler, You are my road.
I go from You to You.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

Bob,

I was talking about Christianity and what the Bible teaches Christians how to live.

You find me where the Bible tells CHRISTIANS to go and kill somebody.

On the contrary, it tells us to give our lives to others.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

Here’s some more of “beautiful Islam” :

http://theoldadam.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/two-months-woth-of-peace-spreading/
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

Tiggy…unfortunately, most Christians wouldn’t read Hafiz, Rumi, or even Gibran. They think it’s love songs to the devil without ever finding out for themselves.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Some Christians are stupid and intolerant and speak ill of those who disagree with their version of Christianity.

OK…that’s a given.

But there are multitudes of Islamists that are actually ok with someone being killed if they leave Islam. Ho-Hum. It’s just murder…what about the Christians!!!

Give – me – a – break
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:13 pm

Why are we talking about Islam at all? If they must be mentioned it should be to forgive them and to pray that God bless them in the manner He chooses.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

By the way, Tiggy, I thought Satan wore Prada…but maybe theres red underwear underneath.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

You could point to a ny nation in the world and cite instances of violence and murder. Steve obviously has a blog for spreading hatred against Muslims – nice.

‘most Christians wouldn’t read Hafiz, Rumi, or even Gibran. They think it’s love songs to the devil ‘

Really? I find it hard to believe anyone would be that stupid. I don’t know of any Christians who would react that way, but then I don’t know any thicko extremist bigots, just Charismatic Evangelicals and Anglicans.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:25 pm

Charismatic Evangelicals here would discourage the reading of Sufi mystics…or any mystics for that matter. I realize some of the problem with this discussion. There is no understanding between those who espouse the religion about Jesus and those who follow the spirituality that Jesus taught.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Steve – you really don’t listen, do you? I’ve said several times now that most Muslims are living in more backward tribal cultures. It isn’t to do with the religion, but the difference of environment and history. Much more difficult to create a nation under law in a desert nomadic culture. Islam actually really civilised the people’s of Arabia. Before that it was all warring tribes. Also the Saudis have been stirring it up and indoctrinating people into a fundamentalist form of Islam. There have been far more tolerant Islamic cultures than there are now. I really don’t think you want to learn about culture and history. You prefer to see things in black and white terms than understand the complexities.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:33 pm

Preacherlady, it appears our countries differ more than I realised if what you say is the case. I’ve grown up in evangelical low Anglican churches and now go to a Charismatic one and i know th e people there wouldn’t have such a reaction. They’d appreciate the beauty of what’s expressed even though they don’t agree with the tenets of Islam. They would still see it as a prayer to God. We were only talking the other day about the beliefs of Native Americans/First Nation people and how amazing they were and that was in my Bible Study group run by one of the church leaders.
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

So… at least three of us have pointed out the error of your comments in regard to this specific post, and still you won’t listen? What is with you? I’ve followed this blog for quite awhile, so perhaps I oughtn’t be surprised…

At any rate, I didn’t mention this earlier, but I identify so much with this post. I have a hard time calling myself “Christian” these days, and a lot of it’s got to do with such attitudes. Makes you stop and wonder if you’ve ever caused another person to walk away… Abba, forgive me if I have.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:39 pm

Oh, Anglicans are another story…they, at least in this country, are generally sophisticated and intellectual. Although they just excommunicated Mother Anne Redding for taking part in Islamic prayer services. I knew her years ago when she made the decision to be a priest.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:41 pm

ally c…Amen!
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:45 pm

Well the church I go to now isn’t Anglican, but they aren’t anything like Steve.

Haha! The thought of Anglicans here excommunicating anyone! The highest levels of the church would take part in prayers with Muslims. Are Anglicans different to Episcopalians? I went to a talk by that gay bishop at Greenbelt. Which group is he from?
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 9:55 pm

Some Episcopalians are Anglicans…I’m not sure how to sort it out. When I knew her, Anne went to a high church, known as smokey Steve’s, on the Brown University campus. In most non-denom evangelical churches here if someone were to bring up another practice or spirituality they would be told that “we lift up Jesus here” I once made the mistake of saying Namaste…from the platform…whew!
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:17 pm

You guys have convinced me.

Islam is great..and the true faith…and Christianity is really of the devil.

Nice job! I’m sure the Lord Jesus (or is it Mohammed that you prefer?) will be quite pleased with you for constantly shiting on Christians and the Church.
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:26 pm

…and you don’t think you’re proud?

Wow. That’s just sad.

Question, do you know know what the term “metaphor” means? Because just to remind you, this post had absolutely nothing to do with Islam. You erroneously brought that in, and we attempted to correct you. Or, are you above all correction? /shrugs

You come off as a very proud, ethnocentric person… just saying.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:39 pm

No, I’m not proud…but I am trying to stick up for Jesus Christ and His Church.

Many people here are lukewarm about Him and He said (not me) that He will spit them out of His mouth.

This fence sitting Christianity that constantly berates Christ’s people (everyone already knows that they are not perfect and have many faults) and His Church is not a good thing.

It would like constantly complaining about your wife, husband, or kids. How about highlighting the good now and then?

Jesus Christ is the true God after all, and all the other religions are just made up. So why in Heavens name are we sucking up to people and religions that are just leading people away from Christ, and quite possibly to hell?

It makes absolutely no sense at all.
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:41 pm

Mmm… perhaps because we don’t all have your beliefs.

If you disagree with this so much, why are you here?
That makes absolutely no sense.
steve martin said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

To stick up for Christ in the face of all those who crap on Him and His people.

That’s why.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

‘Many people here are lukewarm about Him ‘

That’s something you know, is it?
I’m passionate about Jesus and the things he said and the way he was with people. That’s why I don’t like to see people in churches preaching the opposite.

’sucking up to people and religions’

How childish a statement is that? Straight out of the playground.
Tiggy said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

Yeah, Christ really needs you sticking up for him here, Steve. Couldn’t cope without you.
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

Yeah, I dunno… I’d consider myself rather passionate about Jesus… the real Jesus, that is. Y’know, the guy who hung out with all the outcasts and whatnot. That guy, remember him? Maybe not… maybe you’re too busy digging out the specks in our eyes…
ally c said, on October 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm

@Tiggy… ahaha, great point.
preacherlady said, on October 24th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

So, its just Steve and Jesus against the rest of us…well. what I see here is a lot of people passionate about their quest for truth. Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God” and everything else would fall into place. He didn’t say seek it to Steve’s satisfaction. He extended Grace to all who make their search their first priority. This is a group of seekers who are doing their own questioning, not a group of people who have memorized theology out of a book. There is evidence of some real soul searching here, and Steve, even if its not your intent, you are turning people off. They don’t want to know the Jesus you claim to know. Again, even if it isn’t your intent, you come across as arrogant, condemning, condescending, and smug…as if you and you alone have a handle on the truth, and if not you alone, certainly your particular synod of the Lutheran church. No one else here claims to have the “one true way”…even fishon, who everyone is calling a bully, is acting out of passion for the God who saved him, and he’ll argue theology, but will concede when he,s wrong. Jesus doesn’t need you to defend Him…you need Him to defend you. The last time I looked, the Holy Spirit wasn’t on vacation. Maybe you need to look at what your job is and what God’s job is. He’ll reveal Himself to those who seek Him. Do you really think you are acting Christlike in here?
Erp said, on October 24th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Despite Deuteronomy 17 calling for stoning of those who cease worshiping God correctly, most Christian countries used other means for heretics and apostates. The latest legal execution I can find for western Europe is 1826, Cayetano Ripoll, in Spain (hanged or garroted).

Some very conservative Christians (Catholic and Protestant) wouldn’t mind a return to it. Admittedly those in favor see themselves as the ones who will be in control.
http://www.sspx.org/against_sound_bites/defense_of_the_inquisition.htm on the Catholic side
Christian Reconstructionists on the Protestant side
Note not all very conservative Christians agree with this.
Tiggy said, on October 25th, 2009 at 12:25 am

Wow, what a horrendous document. It could almost be taken for a spoof. On the whole though I find Catholics to be less inclined than Protestants to want to attack ‘heretics’. I mean these days. We also have the example of the witchcraft craze which here was not under Catholic scrutiny, but that of King James I.
preacherlady said, on October 25th, 2009 at 12:49 am

I couldn’t finish reading it…yuk!
Tiggy said, on October 25th, 2009 at 12:56 am

I couldn’t either! It was unbelievable. He’s probably one of those people who flogs themselves.
preacherlady said, on October 25th, 2009 at 1:06 am

Yeah, like Opus Dei. We have a whole parish of them here in the city.
Erp said, on October 25th, 2009 at 10:39 am

He is Society of Saint Pius X, the group whose bishops had their excommunications lifted earlier this year by the Pope. I’m not saying he speaks for the society though that document is from their website.

I tried to find a similar document from (not about) a Protestant group specifically on heresy or apostasy but didn’t have much luck on a cursory look.
bob said, on October 25th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

steve martin said – Bob, I was talking about Christianity and what the Bible teaches Christians how to live. You find me where the Bible tells CHRISTIANS to go and kill somebody. On the contrary, it tells us to give our lives to others.

Steve, do you claim the first 5 books of the Old Testament as part of the Christian bible?
Are they in the bible you read from?
Do you believe there are instructions in those books for you, as a Christian?

Just curious.
eileen said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 am

This is TEH awesome! And isn’t it great that you have a commentor who so aptly illustrates the point you are trying to make, in real life Christianity! Wow! Who would have thought?

God forbid you were to look for the beauty in another religion/culture – it must mean you are abandoning your own! Ugh.

Also, seeing the beauty in your own should not preclude you from working on those aspects that are more human and far less divine.

Just my two cents.
nakedpastor said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 am

thanks eileen. agreed.
Denise said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Dear David~
I am a happy and blessed 45-year-old mother of six and wife of an amazing man. I was raised Catholic and about the time my husband and I started having kids, I started having more and more religious/spiritual questions.
When the Catholic church couldn’t (or wouldn’t) give me reasonable answers, my curiosity became even greater and now I have even MORE questions.

Your cartoon describes very well what I feel is occuring in my life. The more questions I ask, the more ostracized I feel by some Christians. I completely respect the fact that Christianity works for them but when I say that it does not work for me, I get ’stones’ thrown at me.

Thanks for your cartoon — I posted it to my FB page.

p.s. I’ve learned not to engage with people like Steve M. here.
There’s a saying: “It’s like trying to teach the pig to sing… it just wastes your time and annoys the pig.”
nakedpastor said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:14 pm

welcome denise. interesting story… the theme of which is shared by many. feel free to question!
Denise said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 pm

Eileen~ I would love to become your friend. Are you on facebook?
eileen said, on November 2nd, 2009 at 1:44 pm

Hi Denise – I am on fb, twitter and I blog. I am a former Roman Catholic, now Episcopalian, who despite my heretical, unorthodox beliefs, manages to teach Sunday school to high school seniors, acolytes (since I couldn’t be an altar boy as a child…I’m getting a second go at that!), serves the working homeless and got a position on the vestry. Feel free send me an email at episcopalifem at gmail dot com.

Let me give you fair warning…I can be rather “coarse” and I’m a major feminist liberal commie pinko – I think I even have a badge for it…Looking forward to hearing from you.
Ugly Truth… « jamierowe’s random thoughts said, on November 6th, 2009 at 2:36 pm

[...] Source [...]

nakedpastor

The Author

Subscribe

The Pages

The Search

The Categories

The Associates

The Archives

The Meta

cartoon: just a stone’s throw

70 Responses to 'cartoon: just a stone’s throw'

Leave a Reply