The Parables of Peanuts

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Maybe you thought Snoopy was a beagle. Turns out he's actually a Christ symbol, according to Robert L. Short's ingenious book, Parables of Peanuts. Cartoonist Charles Schulz, a devout Christian, once asked, "If we are all members of the priesthood, why cannot a cartoonist preach in the same manner as a minister, or anyone else?" This book explains that many of Schulz's cartoon strips, like Jesus' parables, combine "the proclamation of God's love for the world, and [depiction of] the world as it really is." Parables reproduces many classic Peanuts strips, including some rare early Red Baron strips. The illustrations are accompanied by some fairly heavy interpretations, laying out the basics of a conservative Reformed Protestant view of the gospel, with extensive references to theologians such as Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Soren Kierkegaard. Although entertaining and engaging, Parables of Peanuts is not kids' stuff. --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

First published in 1968, this contemporary case for vigorous Christian faith –– profusely illustrated by Charles Schulz's delightful peanuts cartoon strips –– sheds more light on the Christian faith and how it is to be lived than many more "serious" theological works, with hundreds of cartoons featuring your favorite peanuts characters Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, And of course, Snoopy (including the earliest red baron strips). This book's wise observations are as timeless as they are timely. "Short . . .succeeds in making theology enjoyable." ––Christian Century ". . . a real delight from beginning to end. I could not possibly be more pleased." ––Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts

Customer Reviews:

Nutty with substance.......2007-03-08

This is a book that both young and old can identify with. It's funny and yet very introspective into the human character and condition. Humor is often the best way we are able to see those things about ourselves that need repair. Here it is done masterfully.

Great until Barth and Bultmann get in the way..........2003-08-07

As a huge fan of Charles Schultz and Peanuts, I was really looking forward to reading this book. And, indeed, much of it is excellent. However, Robert Short gets into real trouble when he starts attempting to explain what he calls the "heresy of eternal damnation". Short winds up stating that no one is damned, that all eventually will be in heaven with God. It's an argument that can make one feel good, but his arguments against the reality of hell as presented in the New Testament are weak and against the whole of orthodox Christianity. If Short stated this was his theory, that would be one thing; it's another entirely to call a central belief of the Christian church heresy. Short is right in emphasizing that the message of Christianity is positive; those who preach Christ as an escape from hell are missing the point entirely. But Short has an annoying habit of throwing away the real difficulties of Christianity, providing simple explanations that soothe the reader but don't provide a genuine picture of what the church has struggled with for millenia. Ultimately, Short comes across as just another unhelpful liberal theologian. However, Schultz's comics which illustrate the book throughout are as timeless as ever, and though Short doesn't always work them into his text well, they stand on their own as they always have.

Nothing Wishy-Washy Here.......2002-04-20

This is a new edition of a book originally published in 1968. As such, many readers are probably already familiar with this title. I, however, had never seen it before. As a Christian and a fan of Peanuts, I found it to be a very good book.

One of the reasons I think I like it is that, since it was written in 1968, it's not one of these wishy-washy new-age/ spirituality books that have become so common. Someone looking for "inspiration" should look elsewhere. This book is a serious theological tract that uses Peanuts cartoons to illustrate various points. I found this to be a very clever approach with which Charles Schulz himself "could not be more pleased."

I also like the fact that Short is not afraid to come out and say what he thinks. He tackles the tough questions of Christianity and gives the answers he believes are true. He doesn't try to sugar-coat the cross that a Christian is required to carry and he tries to make his way down to the very core of Christian belief. This is a worthwhile task.

On the other hand, I did find Short to be a bit repetitive in his writing. He hammers away his points over and over. Additionally, I have to say that I'm not a believer in everything he has to say. That, in and of itself, is fine with me. People willing to state their convictions make me willing to examine my own more deeply. This is something we all--even Mr. Short--need to do from time to time if we are to keep our faith strong.

A unique presentation of a particular kind of theology.......2002-04-05

Robert L. Short uses Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" cartoons to illustrate his theology, which is broadly speaking, Calvinist. As he is aware, his interpretations are not the only ones possible, but he has the merit of showing the depths of Schulz's work. He cites various thinkers and writers to illustrate his points, such as Kierkegaard, Barth, Bonhoefer, Pascal, Herman Melville, Kafka, Einstein, T. S. Eliot, and Paul Tillich. He takes account of modern biblical scholarship and theology on such things as original sin and hell. It is a very good book, which describes and illustrates many features of human life and the need for saving grace. The fact that I disagree with some of the theology doesn't change that. I will contrast some of his theology with more Catholic views.

Short points out that Schulz quite explicitly communicated Christian themes in his cartoons, but knew well he could not impose his own interpretations on them. As Jacques Maritain pointed out long ago, if art is to be Christian, it must be real art. Having read enough devotional and didactic stories and pictures in my life, I can attest to their general dullness. In great part, I think, Schulz has created real art in his Peanuts cartoons. As Short points out, they say something; they are more than mere entertainment.

Short summarizes the freedoms offered by Christian faith: first, the freedom from worship of false gods, idols; second the dreadful freedom of being deprived of being left with nothing to hold on to; third, the freedom of living under the easy yoke of Jesus Christ; and fourth, the freedom to use any legitimate means to spread the message of Christ. This can serve as a summary of the many descriptive themes of the book. One can see that in many ways, Christian faith lights up reality, the world as it is. However, he regards doctrines of free will as illusions.

Short is convinced that human beings are basically depraved, and that one must discover this fact before one can become a Christian. Along with this is predestination, although he conceives God's love as so universal as to preclude final damnation. This is hard to argue with, for there is nothing in Christian belief that implies that anyone has ever been consigned to Hell.

There is no question that human beings can be very evil indeed. Schulz was a master in showing the self-deception, arrogance, and confusion to which we are prone. The Peanuts are often quite cruel to one another. Short quite skilfully uses various cartoons to illustrate many aspects of human life in the light of the Gospel, and this is one of the great strengths of the book. However, people often do a great deal of good, and sometimes this comes out even in "Peanuts." Does it make sense to consider human beings as totally depraved? Not really. For one thing, evil is a deformation or misuse of something good. It has no independent existence. While one can agree that wounded human nature cannot attain the salvation without God's help, there are serious objections to removing all goodness.

As well, to whom would the Christian message be preached if human nature were totally depraved? Preaching would respond to nothing in human nature. Only if we were created for something better does salvation make sense. Short evidently sees the force of this objection and cites Pascal, who follows Aristotle and St. Thomas here, that human beings desire happiness, something Short does not elucidate. For Aristotle, happiness was eudemonia, well being. Short points out that Jesus wished to bring new life and joy. He finds support in T. S. Eliot, among others, to the effect that only God is capable of giving full happiness and that human beings are prone to seeking happiness in the wrong places and in the wrong ways. In other words, if there were not tendency to good in human beings, there would be nothing in them to respond to Christian teaching. But then what becomes of the doctrine of total depravity?

Following on his view of human nature, Short also proposes that human beings must be driven to despair before they can become Christians, a view historically reflected in much evangelical preaching. What this really means is that only persons of the right psychological types with the right experiences can become Christians.

Short accepts predestination of a deterministic kind. In particular, in the chapter, "Just Who`s in Charge Here?", Short proposes that doctrines of free will are simply attempts to assert our independence from God. This appeal to a motive is not a valid argument against free will. Technically, it is a circumstantial ad hominem. As well, he opposes free will to the sovereignty of God. The view that the more one attributes to the creatures, the less one attributes to God has antecedents has antecedents in St. Bonaventure, Luther, Barth and others. But really, how grand is it when God can only create puppets? Thomists such as Etienne Gilson and existential ontologists such as Paul Tillich and John MacQuarrie point out that this is to treat human beings as things rather than persons, and misrepresents the relationships between human beings and God. On a more theoretical theological plane, they also hold that the creation of free beings shows the wisdom and majesty of God far better than the creation of mere things. For myself, I would rather worship a God who can create free beings, rather than one who cannot.

The Parables of Peanuts is a very effective popular presentation of a particular sort of Christian theology. I have tried to indicate some the areas I think the theology falls short, but there is so much good in it that I give it a top rating. After all, there is nothing else quite like Short's way with "Peanuts."

THE PARABLES OF PEANUTS
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THE PARABLES OF PEANUTS
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A Claymore - a female warrior named for the sword she carries - travels from medieval village to village to destroy Yoma, monsters who disguise themselves as humans and who are almost impossible to kill. Claymores are half-humans, half-demons who willingly transformed themselves by mixing their blood with monster's blood. Claire, nicknamed silver-eyed killer, is such a powerful Claymore, she can slay a Yoma using only one hand. But she must constantly struggle to keep from becoming a monster herself.

Customer Reviews:

Sword Action, Monsters, and Mystery.......2007-07-12

The Claymore series is a very good series. All the volumes are great - I have up until volume 7 and plan to purchase more. The Claymores are a type of female fighter engineered to fight demons that prey on humans. Claymores are created and ruled by a shadowy organization that has imposed strict rules on the silver-eyed, blond women. Breaking these rules is punishable by death, no questions asked, and death is dealt by fellow Claymores.

The armor/uniforms the women wear are not skimpy and revealing. This is a serious series that treats women as humans, not sex objects. Violence is harsh and shocking, with great drawings and lots of intrigue as to what is the shadowy organization and the conspiracy that some Claymores uncover later in the series.

Some Minor "Cuts" to the Artwork.......2006-10-28

One of Viz's better new titles, the story from vol. 2 is contiued, and a new one involving Clair's origins is begun. Artwork and story both continue to maintain the high quality of the previous volumes. Like vol. 2 however, it has become a victim of Viz's recent policy of censoring its titles. The "cut" in question is to some male youma mummy nudity. It's silly. It's hardly worth mentioning, but I find it a little sad that Viz decided to censor somthing like that at all in a title that is clearly rated "Older Teen".

Engaging stuff, and it only gets better!.......2006-06-15

I'm a Claymore fan. I'm recently reading the 10th book in Japanese and I'm loving it. When I first saw this comic, I knew right away that I was going to like it. It reminded me of "Gunm"(Battle Angel Alita) in that it appeared to be a pure action piece but actually had much deeper themes. I have to admit that the art in the first few volumes isn't perfect, but like Rumiko Takahashi who found her stride somewhere in the middle of "Urusei Yatsura" (Lum), you can recognize a huge difference in creator Norihiro Yagi's art (yes, it's Yagi, not Yago) when you get to #6. Maybe earlier, but it really hit me at #6. I hope Viz continues to put this out in English as this title deserves a wide fan-base. The pace is slower for this comic to come out in book form because it is published in the Monthly Shonen Jump (as opposed to Weekly Shonen Jump). Monthlies tend to have more mature, less commercial titles and are therefore usually more interesting. When they hit book form, they are packaged just like the weekly books however and so tend to get some prime shelf-space.
I had to snicker at the Publisher's review of the comic being 'pleasant' though. There is hacking, slashing, and a lot of bleeding, but it's stylized enough not to be gory (bloody, yes; gory, no). No cutesy stuff either. No animal side-kicks, no easily packageable fluff. Just great story, great art (trust me, it does get better), and great characters. I only wish the books came out faster.

oddly engaging.......2006-06-04

To start out, the only reason that I even picked the book up was that the girl on the front stood out to me. A heroine! A strong female in the lead role, unusual in a manga. Unfortunately that luster wore off as I started into the story. Neon lights flashing the words "generic plot" sprang into my thoughts. However, as I kept reading I found that although there are many stories containing an apocalyptic vibe, this one has something to it. Claymore is unpretentious and caries a surprising amount of emotional resonance. I believe that this series may find its way into my collection, but I can't be sure just yet.

Well worth your time.......2006-04-18

I could not believe this when i saw it. It was great.

First of all a claymore is a human who has drunk a monsters blood in order to become half monster so that they can seek out and destroy these human possessing monsters. Only Females live through the process.

In the first chapter you get a sense when she first shows up she is a heartless monster. But later on through the book you see that she has a kinder heart than you might think.

It has a very dramatic/action/adventure plot and great characters that have deepening stories to be told.

I reccomend this to anyone who is interested in something new and exciting. This is not for younger children. It has Blood/language/partial nudity/violence.

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Considered by many to be the definitive book on the subject, Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Second Edition clearly illustrates all of the steps involved in preproduction, production, postproduction, and distribution. Its unique two-fold approach looks at filmmaking from the perspectives of both producer and director, and explains how their separate energies must combine to create a successful short film or videoall the way from script to final product. This guide offers extensive examples from two award-winning short narrative films (Lunch Date and Truman) and one short documentary (Mirror Mirror), and includes insightful quotes from the filmmakers themselves describing the problems they encountered and how they solved them.

This edition expands on the director's role in pre-visualizing a project, aided by the addition of more than 50 new photos and illustrations. Issues such as storyboarding, lighting, and composition are addressed in detail. Other additions and enhancements include a discussion of the evolving role of digital technology on all aspects of production from script to screen.

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Second Edition is accompanied by a companion website (www.focalpress.com/companions) containing useful forms and information on grants and financing sources, distributors, film and video festivals, film schools, internet sources for short works, and professional associations.

Whether you're a student or an independent filmmaker, this practical guide will demystify the process, and help you to develop and sharpen your skills as you tackle the challenges of making a short film or video.

Unique approach looks at the process from both the producer and the director's point of view

This edition includes significant revisions and updates to the study of post-production, and the evolving role of digital technology

Companion website offers useful forms plus information on grants and financing sources, distributors, internet sources, and more

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Starter Book.......2002-09-05

For a person curious about creating a short film, this book will help you. This book breaks down the function and importance of each individual person involved in the making of a short film, how certain problems were encountered and resolved, provides websites for other film affiliated tools and/or questions and answers, and points you to certain short films which can inspire you. A plus for anyone willing to get into movie production on short films.

Here is a excellent and important textbook that delivers!!.......1998-12-29

As an actor, interested in all aspects of film, I cannot imagine a more detailed and succinct introduction to this world. David Irving and Peter Rea have found a way to clarify all the difficult areas of film direction and production in one small wonderful book. All film students will be grateful.

Here is a excellent and important textbook that delivers!!.......1998-12-29

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Good beginner's book

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Good beginner's book.......2006-04-18

This is a good starter book for kakuro. The easy ones help you learn the basics, and even the toughest ones aren't too hard. One puzzle per page makes it easy to read and still have some margins to make notes. Even the solutions are readable!

Good puzzles, good price.......2006-04-04

I like the paper quality (for erasures), the size of the cells, and the white space around each puzzle. This book was a dollar or so cheaper than the other kakuro books I purchased. If you enjoy Kakuro, this book is a quality one to own.

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