Alex: I don't like your type.
Adam: What do you mean?
Alex: Holier than thou. "God's my friend not yours."
And so it makes me very --
-- troubled to see that you have some kind of real human compassion.
- American Virgin #6
by Steven T. Seagle and Becky Cloonan
I found the implication here amusing. Some Christians (especially those with their own television shows) often come off as so elitist and holier than thou that nonbelievers may actually be troubled if a Christian was to buck this trend and actually exhibit true love and compassion for others. It's hard to blame non-Christians for this mentality when the ailments of the world are routinely blamed on lifestyles that don't line up with conservative American Christianity. In that context, I can see how it would be surprising to witness a Christian showing compassion toward a sinner instead of just outright and heartlessly condemning them.
In case you haven't noticed, much of mainstream graphic literature that delves into matters of theology and religion aren't too fond of Christianity. We'll see a lot more of that when I get around to talking about Preacher. However, I don't see this as a reason for Christians to reject or condemn graphic literature. That is just what would be expected of us. Instead, create our own graphic literature, our own graphic theology. And make it good. Don't make it simply a "Christian" alternative to market and pander only to a Christian audience. Titles like American Virgin, Preacher, and others show that readers of graphic literature are interested in reading about matters of theology, especially if they are framed within a good story. All we need is people to create those stories.
I know, I know. The first response is, "Well Mitch, it's your idea, so why don't you go create those stories?"
I set myself up for that, didn't I?
In case you haven't noticed, much of mainstream graphic literature that delves into matters of theology and religion aren't too fond of Christianity. We'll see a lot more of that when I get around to talking about Preacher. However, I don't see this as a reason for Christians to reject or condemn graphic literature. That is just what would be expected of us. Instead, create our own graphic literature, our own graphic theology. And make it good. Don't make it simply a "Christian" alternative to market and pander only to a Christian audience. Titles like American Virgin, Preacher, and others show that readers of graphic literature are interested in reading about matters of theology, especially if they are framed within a good story. All we need is people to create those stories.
I know, I know. The first response is, "Well Mitch, it's your idea, so why don't you go create those stories?"
I set myself up for that, didn't I?
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