Palladin the “Mad Monk” of “Christians Read Comics Too!” talks about his religion and how it helps him appreciate themes in superhero comics:
I gain comfort from heroic tales. They remind me of the calling I have accepted as a Christian. I live now hidden within my own Faith because of the forces more powerful than I feel I can stand up to an still be an effect minister. I read and wish I had the Oan Power Ring, the evils of the Sudan and other places would be on my list as places to try and protect the helpless. I see wish fulfillment on a global scale as I try and do simple heroic deeds locally. I can not battle the regimes in the Sudan, but I can help raise money to feed the refugees and displaced. I cannot stop evil in the world, but I can combat it at every turn I find it in my path.
Unfortunately, he’s found that much of his church isn’t open to these ideas:
What is my place? I wrote the title as a way of striking out because “church politics” had used my hobby as the way to attack me. It still stings. I was in no less terms being accused of being a person that would harm children because I read and reviewed comics of a supernatural nature. Lies were told, this I know because I looked on sites of a Christian nature that was cited as the source of the attackers information. Other lies were dismissed by people that read the addresses of pages printed from on-line that were not the sites I wrote for and with. Why and how did I survive the almost destruction of my professional ministry? God.
October 26th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Hey there!
1st time getting to read your stuff here MadMonk. I sure do appreciate the article you just wrote, although I’m sad that you had to go through those trials for others to learn from.
Im 43, been collecting comics since I was 10. Been a christian believer since I was 20. All these years Iv’e had to “hide under the rug” that I still collect. Not that I feel any conviction through the spirit about it, but the public/churchs view on it. I have a young man( mid 30’s) that runs my local comic shop that I have befriended by playing golf and inviting him to my church on occasion. But when other people ask what he does I say he runs a “bookstore”. AAAGH! I hate it! Makes me mad that other peoples misguided views might keep him from giving his heart to the Lord or even coming on a regular basis.
I’m picky about what I buy thats out there. And have even got my 3 sons involved on a few titles that they enjoy. I love to read and these , as well as reg. novels, are a source of great enjoyment for me. No difference, IMHO, between a comic with a good story and a good hardback mystery novel. Just the comic has pitures and not as much imagination needed.
Keep on preaching the good word MM. I’m now a new follower of your crusade to enlighten the masses.
Jon/SONICMAN2
Lafayette, Ga.
October 26th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
Imagine that, organized religion trying to tell their followers what to do instead of celebrating their faith together…
October 26th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Well, I certainly never figured the releasing of the pressure valve to be of much interest to anyone. What is most upseting is that the Christians that are accepting get pushed out or forced to live oppressed within their on Christian community. When in the service of my calling I help someone in need, they are not as concerned with my comicbook pull list as the way i am treating and helping them in that moment.
For any that love good fiction and concepts of truth, try Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth novel series. http://www.terrygoodkind.com/ the series is soon coming to an end, but this fantasy series is full of interesting parrallels to our current world situtation. I entered the door through, Faith of the Fallen, then began with the first book.
Thanks for the mention.
October 28th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
“By their fruits shall ye know them.”
October 30th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
Amen Scott.
Analogy I always use is:
If you call yourself an “apple tree” and I only see oranges hanging on your branches..then you darn well ARENT an apple tree!!! 9-)
Faith is better expressed in our daily walk and how we live our lives then by preaching and pointing fingers.