OCR Text |
Show _ The Salt Lake Tribune RELIGION Saturday, April10, 1999 Hart Makes No Apology for Religious Views B.C. You ANDI WILL BE ADAM AND EVE, WE'LL STAND ON THESE MARKS. iS THIS (vow. WERE <009 } | FAR Away From HIM | — DO YOUTHINK HE WAW.-.HES A. GOD OF LOVE, EVE HATES us, ADAM 2 ® Continued from C-1 Compiled by PeggyFletcher Stack Early Christians Did Not Use Cross Symbol The cartoon was simply four empty panels, with no art. The first panel was gray. The second was darker. The third was darker still. And the last was completely black. Thatfinal panel carried the caption: Good Friday. All of which raises two questions: Why is Johnny Hart doing this a confusing world, Hart says. The And: Whydoesit get people so Avoid Hell Hart values simplicity. He is not big on change. He has been if it gets peopleso riled? Though today the crossis one of the most widely seen symbols of Christianity, some scholars believethatit was almost never used by early Christians. Numerousarchaeological finds have been made of early Christian symbols such as thefish, the anchor and various forms of christograms — thefirst letters of Jesus Christ in Greek superimposed on one riled? “Johnnyis the most controver- sial person on the comies page: says Richard S. Newcombe, presi- dentof Creators Syndicate, which distributes “B.C Johnnyis also the most courageous person on the comics pages. To be outspoken on the subject of Christianity is exposing yourself to ridicule. It's easy to mock thereligious be- another — butthe cross does liever.”” not appearuntil the fifth century. “Thecross at the time was being used for crucifixion runs, Newcombesays, the syndicate gets hundreds of letters. Every time a religious strip and torture,” said Father Je- Some are critical, but most, he rome Murphy-O'Connor, a says, are from approving Christians. New Testamentscholar. “To wear it around one’s neck would be like wearing a minia- ture electric chair.” — Catholic News Service ie: Pope Enters ‘Top 10° Speaking of Catholics, Pope John PaulII entered the “Top 10” of longest pontificates in early April. At 20 years and five months, the pope displaced Pope LeoIII, who Teigned from 795 to 816. By the end of 1999, Pope John Paulwill moveinto the No. 7 spot, surpassing Popes Syvles- ter I, Urban VIII and Leo I the Great. The longest pontificate was the 31-year reign of Pius IX, from 1846 to 1878. — Catholic News Service a Refuses Blind Woman Ride A Muslim cab driver in Cincinnati refused to pick up a blind woman and her guide dog onreligious grounds, and nowthe city must issue a deci- sion. Federal andstate laws guarantee guide dogs access to all public places and vehicles, but the First Amendment protects religious freedom. A complaint wasfiled in February by Annie McEachrin against Hassan Taher. McEachrin,blind since birth. has a constant companion, a To understand why Hart does it, Newcombesay ju have to But the Bible cures this, Hart Says, because its message is sim- ple: Be good. Worship Jesus married to his wife, Bobby, for nearly 50 years. He has known his chief gag-writing assistant since high school, and his Wizard collaborator, Brant Parker, just as long. Hart says he cannot understand why some readers — and some newspaper editors — get so angry at his religious messages whenall heis trying to do is impart to the world The Truth as he knowsit to bi fe. thinks Hart is a hero for free speech. the divinity of Jesus. But he amiablyfor six hours. His voice is gentle, almosttimid He says: Jews and Muslims whodon't ac- cept Jesus will burn in Hell. Homosexuality is the handiwork of Satan. America was founded as a Christian nation, and should remain one. The country’s moral decline began the daythat prayer in the public schools was outlawed. The end of the world is approaching, maybe by the year 2010. And: Johnny Hart is going straight to heaven Hartis 68, looks a decade younger, with tousled silver-white hair and a mildly bemused expression. Onthis day he is working alone in a studio the size of an amphitheater. It is out in the country, 20 miles east of his native Binghamton, N.Y. Polsby thinks the issue is about theintolerance of one religion for another. And the tyranny of the when Garry Trudeau doesit with the TVs tuned to religious stations. Hart began watching. Bit by his religion, which happensto be for the record. But he said he Godinallof this. There are coincidences he cannot otherwise ex- would be willing to look at some of Hart's religious cartoons. He read them. Laughed. plain, not the least of which is the nameof the town to which he had moved. It is called Nineveh. “Please tell me this is not con- In the Bible, God orders Jonah troversial,” he said. “What's the to warn people to repent their evil ways or be destroyed. Instead, Jo- problem — that, God forbid, Johnny Hartstill believes in God? These are good. “What's important is that he still honors his first professional ooueR ow which is to entertain. 30-foot ceiling, thickly paneled walls, two pool tables, a piano, a drum set, a bar and exercise picture windowoverlooking a 25- acre lake, which Hart owns. His Tt Hart once thought they did, but church that proclaimsto all its welcome’ infuriated most of those attending from the periphery,” said the report April 19, 1998. Peter the caveman etches a message on a stone tablet and casts it out to sea, where it will presumably be read by a distant civilization. The message reads: “Over here, we are changing our statue in the harborto read, ‘Give meyourlying, worthless trash./ Your sleazy scum who cheat and steal/ who see our faith as balderdash/ and sin with vulgar zeal.’ Hourslater, a reply comesfloating into shore. It reads: “A dysfunctional country! Ha! I doan bleeb it! You theenk you are unique, do you? You lousy, steenking, racist pig of a Yankee infidel! languageof thefinal panel, the use of vulgar dialect. He apolo- “We are a nation of immigrants,” he said Pause. You can almost hear the on- coming crunch, crunch, crunch of eggshells. “The only thing I object to is whenthey comeoverhereillegal- ly and havea child so the mother and father can get on, ah Hart gropes for the word Welfare? “Yes, welfare.” New Project: These days Hart has a newproject, something Big. He wants to drawanelaborate cartoon, a mural, rendered as a timeline, with various overlay explaining the meaningof life. Hart says he shouldbe finished with this project by now, but he keeps getting distracted. Hart says he knows whythisis happening. It is that when someonetries to do God's work, heis“inviting a lot of aggravation by Satan.” The Devil is distracting him. “You know,” he says suddenly. “There is not an end to the overlays. There'd have to be one on all the prophecies and the fulfill- ments of them, and on bloodsacrifices Za ‘That wasthe entire strip Muslims saw it as anti-Arab, be- cause it used the word “infidel.” He looks away, lost in thought “Maybe,” Hartsays, slowly,“it Nearlyeveryone who wrotea let- can't be done.” was forced to write aee ex- tan again.” ter thought it xenophobic,a condemnation of immigrants. Hart This thoughtstartles him “Damn,” hesays. “There's Sa- Early fundamentalist Bibleschol- forebears. ‘‘Nospecies ever he ‘TheBibleis an oasis of sanity in Discover God's plans for your ie at HIS FAMILY Rik CHURCH Non-denomintional chuch,preventing the plain and simple — Religion News Service April 14h 9:30am- 11:30am Share our vision “To provide a caring and challenging education, which academically prepares and spiritually equips students to becomeservants, leaders, and people of influence in their homes, cities, nations and the world.” ICS invites prospective student: and/or their families to meet our administration, faculty, & students, tour our campus, & visit classrooms in progress. Entering its 18th year, ICS is accepting applications for the 99/00 school year, pre-school through grade 12 Join us to learn more about quality Christian Education in Salt Lake. Call 942.8811 for more information. > Church of Religious Science Qakwood Villoge Santer Se eo rae erst) “Your Questions PU 9:30 & 11:00a.m. Worship, Sunday School & Nursery Care: 10:30 AM “Open oe}Door’ 32] |The Episcopal Church Welcomes You For complete information on weekday and other Sunday services, please call the numberslisted below All Saints Church 1710 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84108 581-0380 Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 am, 10,00 am & 6:00 pm The Cathedral Chureh of St 231 East 100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 3400 Sunday Holy Kucharist Rite Santa Eucharistia 10:30am Holy Eucharist Rite I St Church 7486 uinion Park Ave. Midvale, UT 84047 566-1311 Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00am& Spm SALT LAKE Ne ee ne ae CHRISTIAN SESSIT FELLOWSHIP: Bill and Angie Whorton UNITED METHODIST FIRST UNITED METHODIST 203 8. 200 E. - 328-8726 Pastor and Mrs. Williard Richard of WASATCH PRESBYTERIAN B sss CHRIST UNITED METHODIST “Breath Of Hope” 2375 E. 3300 So. 486-5473 “The Thomas Test” Rev. David A. Henry pad care The Rw. Dawid A. Honey The Rev. Renee Rico a WESTVALE PRESBYTERIAN aenen 3610 South 4400 West, WC HILLTOPUNITED METHODIST 985 E. 10600 So, - 871-5777 Worship Gervioes: 0:20 am.& 11 am Schook TongenWorst 300 os (lomo “1 esesSaveSoous” I se toma Oo 7128 wept 0000 Bouts nae 382-0700. wite you wthtoweworship i ‘Wiocated ‘ais So. wtm 2000 Reema Nursery Provident Service times eres Sun, 10:30om Midweek is Wea “750pm For more intomation please contoct them ot 969-6115 or 969-3618 “Forgiving One Another" Dr. Donn Peters Wervhip Sarview 100 AM Neuron,eet JAPANESE CHURCH OF CHRIST Dougines J MaKe Moe Ramer Alcina Pastors TRUNITY UNITED METHOOIST CHURCH 4200 West 5415 South Keane 968-0001 WORD ALIVE FELLOWSHIP Thee church be ot 1700 South 1700 East 487-7576 ‘Worship. at 8:20 am & 1100 mn ‘Bonday Schoot 8:30 am Worship Service 11100 am Chad Care Pe i aame i St. Stephen's Church 4615 South 3200 West Weat Valley¢ ty, UT B4119 BB-2731 Sunday Holy Bucharist 10:00am Sunday 82! A new’Foursquare planting: Christian Family Church Se Mary Jemnon Ree, Crater, 10300 § Medwont Ral, 254-1908 Suei psyonedsenerPovo “Surprised On The Road” Rion Hodges preaching aake's Chure 4595, North Silver Springs De fark C FIRST UNITARIAN 5829687 Tee 588 So, Ih Fas vices: 9:00 AM ND 11:00 am “A Holocaust Memorial” Rev. Tom Goldsmith Rey. Silvia R. Behrend Intergenerational Service: 10:20 am Religious Education Nursery Care: 9:00 am 10:15 am 11:00 am 12:15 pm Ge Worshi THE RIVER RUAmoe) 615 E 9800S, Sandy 572-4211 pew siete mt St ake Chins Acme St. Paul's Church 261 South 900 East Salt Lake City, UT 322-5869 or 322 Sunday Holy Buchariet Rite 1 8:00am. Sunday Holy Eucharist Rite 1 10:00am Chureh of The Resurrection 92 Kast Pages Ln. Centerville UT 84014 61160 Sunday Holy Kucharwt 30am 8575 SOUTH 700 EAST 801-255-8181 ST edita UnitySchoolof Christianity FIRST Congreganional Church Free, Liberal & Democratic “T am a literalist,” he says, which meansthat hebelieves the wordsof the Bible areliterally the word of God, not metaphors, not parables, but the literal truth research among nonactive members of the Church of whelming desire" for the de nomination to baptize anyone who asked. “The very idea of children being rejected by a drew appeared in newspapers people. Hartsaid heregretted the gized,if anyonewas offended. Ratigiows brandishes his leather-bound family Bible, generously annotat- evolved into another spec Darwin isalie Protestant denomination. But controversial strip Hart ever even though we rescued their Rev. Sue Spencer 10:30am and 4:00pm Service Even though they never exist- baptized church member for a child to be baptized into the Scotland found an“over: with hobnail boots. Perhaps the most cryptic and nah heads for a city and delivers a brief, terrifying sermon on the need to oes The eye heed partof a 150-acreestate Cavemen have been very good to Johnny Hart 14 in Edinburgh, that there should be no change in the rule set up in 1963 requiring that at least one parent bea Johnny Hart sometimes treads like a man walking on eggshells nah flees. God finds him, saves him from the whale. And so, Jo- road, which he also owns. It is all ars, working backward from the Gospels, placed the Creation roughly at 4004 B.C. No Neanderthals? No. Since the Creation, Hart says, man has existed as man. There were no Scotland, which meets May8: In this tricky arena, immigrants, were scornful of us “Sitting In The Fire” ed in the margins. assembly of the Church of frequently relies on skepticism Hart sees the thumbprint of houseis a quarter-mile down the has since changed his mind. He A working groupset up two years ago has concludedin its report to this year’s general Religion entails faith, and humor and doubt. SOUTH VALLE! { UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY equipment. There is a panoramic Islamic law, says his religion considers dogs impure o Uneasy Alliance: Humor and religion do not easily intersect nal panel, he said, showed that His studio has an atrium with a ed Welcome to All? Whohappenedto speak to 100 born-again Christians. They kept bit, he decided this was The Truth other countries, the source of our million peopleeverysingle day. Local cable TV could not reach the secular religion of politics, can’t stand it when Johnny Hart does it with his religion.” Trudeau almost never speaks plained, but of ourselves. The fi- nary man satellite dish. The installers were The cartoon was not a condem- nation of immigrants, Hart ex too. That God sent himto Nine. But how? Hewas just an ordi- drinking soon got out of hand. Material goods, and having fun, became overwhelmingly important to him. In 1977, he spent a fortuneto buy this house and studio, and found himself shuffling around a giant compound, fabulously wealthy, and unhappy. It was contrite, though it fell shortof afull-seale apology warn people that their souls arein jeopardyunless they embra sus He becamelessinhibited. But the past the lake, and so he needed a cate Website. veh, N.Y., to urge repentance, to work. “I got mad at God,” Hart says quietly. He strayed from Christian faith. Dabbled with reincarnation. Dabbled with Ouija boards. Once, he said, he believed he was communicating with his dead mother. Life, says Hart, became complicated. He began drinking high- liberalintellectualelite. He mentionsthe strip “Doonesbury.” “A lot of people who love it planation on the Creators Syndi- cloth and are spared That town was Nineveh It took a few years, but Hart daily, for her to be cured. It didn't The Doonesbury Effect: Daniel Polsby is a law professor at Northwestern University. He him, confess their sins, wear sack- eventually becameconvincedthat God gave him a second chance Religious Conversion: There was no signal moment, Hart says, of his religious conversion. He had al been a Christian, but mislaid his faith in the early 1960s after his mother, only 52, fell ill with cancer. Hart prayed to God, he starting drawing In the beginning, hesays, it helped him. Cavemen Never Existed: Johnny Hart has been talking faith, more powerto him.” ballsat 10 am. every day,just as teaches the First Amendment. He is Jewish. He doesn’t believe in filled with love. If he wants to stimulate people into thinking about the nature of It’s that simple, he says. meet Johnny: He is humble and black Lab named Jessica. Taher, whoadheresstrictly to — The Associated Press material world fills a man with too many choices. He despairs 268 Wewt 100 South SiC 363-3251 “Not Seen and Yet Believe” Worship Service 10.30 Bble Heart Stody Kev. dewarese Kant adeLangonge & Or ae BE Lngual bapenere and Inghh COMMUNITY OF GRACE PRESBYTERIAN 2O1S 1 Mewcarte Sandy 043-4043 "im Cod Va EST ETS Science Cor C3 |