Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT

Atheist Penelope

(1/90) > >>

Dotes:
Why's Jeph raggin' so hard on crazy atheist Penelope? As an atheist myself it kinda bothers me, especially since the whole "fundamentalist atheist" thing is a big farce. Atheism is about skepticism, not absolutism. I understand that they're just characters and dialogue, but it all comes from somewhere, and I don't like the way some of her views are being treated in the comic.

I know I shouldn't complain and just be happy that Jeph makes such a great comic, but I can't help but be bothered by the latest few Penelope strips. I'm not making a big deal about it though, I just want to see what a few other people think. Are you bothered by it? Or does it seems like a fair portrayal of atheists that you met? Or am I just a crazy person who gets offended by nothing?

Discuss.

Surgoshan:
I'm an atheist, but I'm pretty laid back about it.  Once upon a time, such was not the case.  I was an asshole evangelical atheist.  There are all types of atheists.  Some, like Penny, have yet to relax and accept that there is no god and, yes, the world has yet to acknowledge the fact. 

He's riding it because 1)  It's true to character and 2) it's good for a few laughs and PROFIT) it may lead to future character development as the hardcore Penny bounces of the supremely laid back* cast.  And Wil.

*  With one or two exceptions.

Jeff7:
Lots of people have opinions on things; if you dare to scratch the surface, what lies beneath might not be to your liking.

"Everyone's nice until you get to know them." ;)
Or something like that.
Maybe "nice" is actually "normal" in the expression, but I think this one works too.

How's this to sum things up:
"Blasphemy is a blast for me."


If someone asks about my religious affiliation, or lack thereof, I'll politely reply that I am without religion. If it takes a turn from there, such as, "Oh, you're going to Hell you know, you'd better convert to the RIGHT religion, which mine happens to be," or, "Wow, I thought all smart people knew that <deity> existed," then I shall return fire with proportional intensity.

CaseyKoons:
I have indeed meet atheists like Penelope.
There are atheisms of skepticism, even sincere doubt, that challenge the idea of god.
There are also atheisms of certainty, of faith in there not being a god.

I also agree that it fits what we seen from Penelope. She seems to have defined what she is/isn't likes/dislikes very carefully, and rails violently against that which stands against her norms. That certainly reminds of me of people I know.  :wink:

Auberon:
I'm not particularly bothered by it. Truth of it is I sympathize with her and feel the same way. My parents are Catholic, well my mother's a hardcore one and my father's Christian in general in the way that he doesn't believe in any specific denomination, so I really feel the whole being raised under religious indoctrination and feeling that it's all highly irrational. You might say that I'm more of the 'militant' atheist in the way that I'm opposed to things such as teaching irrationality to children, indoctrinating them at an age where they're intellectually defenceless, labeling them under their parent's religion and so forth, but neither do I run around bashing religion and preaching the Gospel of Joe Pesci (kudos to those who get the reference).

Like christians and people of other religion, there are many kinds of atheists and Penelope just happens to be more 'fundamentalist', as you call it. I don't think it really paints atheism under a bad color. If people are so close-minded that they always think of atheism as being that way, then I doubt the personality of a webcomic character will make that much of a diference.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page