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January 27, 2008
Shorter Stantis: Prayer Is Worthless
Uh oh. Scott Stantis is getting all philosophical on us again. And in doing so, seems to be dismissing pretty much every form of organized religion out there.
Did you know that Carmen/Stantis thinks the only way you can talk to God is to die? Gee, our own President might disagree with that, seeing as how God apparently told Bush that it was fine and dandy to invade Iraq. I'm sure all those people that see God in things like tortillas and oil stains are going to be disappointed as well.
This strip is such a mess. It starts with Winslow saying he's not going to die, and Carmen telling him he has no choice. Winslow wants to lodge a complaint, and Carmen says the only way to do that is to die. Then there's the bizarre final panel. Mind you, the discussion Carmen and Winslow are having is why Winslow has to die.
Winslow: The answer to the great cosmic question is basically an automated answering machine?
Carmen: Press one to return to the main menu.
Um, what?
Does anybody else think this last panel was meant for another strip on another topic and Stantis accidentally included it in this one? Because to me, the "great cosmic question" isn't "why do I have to die?" but simply "why?" or "why are we here?" Maybe selfish people like Stantis think the most important question in the world is why they can't die whenever they want, but I don't think priests and monks pursue their calling to God to find out "why can't I live forever?"
On top of that, I really don't understand what Stantis is trying to say. So death is the equivalent of an answering machine? Huh? Maybe I'm missing something there. But apparently Stantis is having a crisis of faith right now, since he doesn't think prayer will put him in touch with the Big Guy and answer some of his questions, like "why do I suck so much?"
Oh, and why does Carmen have a magazine in the first few panels?
Worst. Comic Strip. In the World.
Comments
But what about Terri Schaivo? And Scottie's hard-hitting series comparing that to Carmen's team losing a basketball game? Didn't Scottie want Terri Schaivo to live forever?
And isn't he a Christian? Christians believe in a God who hears prayers and grants some of them. Many Christians believe in a personal Jesus who gives them the direct line, while others believe in a more remote God who can never be known precisely. But still, they all believe they can talk to the Big Guy in the hear and now.
So what liberal strips are left to be sacrificed the next time newspaper editors reach their limits with Prickly City? Will we have to wait for Garry Trudeau to retire?
Posted by: Annie at January 28, 2008 08:10 AM
