Tolerance of all things except one

Funny how the pillars of Tolerance and Diversity suddenly become bigots and narrow-minded when the subject turns to Christianity. The author of the B.C. cartoon dies and he can't even be memorialized without railing against his occasional Christian theme.

SR.com: 'B.C.,' 'Wizard of Id' cartoonist dies at 76

For a strip whose tone was lighthearted, "B.C" suddenly became controversial in the 1990s when Hart included themes influenced by his fundamental Christianity and literal interpretation of the Bible. He did so sparingly, often around holy days, but its inclusion was perceived by many readers as making him far more frank about Christianity than any of his mainstream contemporaries.

Some newspapers canceled the strip. Others pulled it selectively. On at least one occasion, the Los Angeles Times relocated it to the religion page.

Isn't that the cardinal sin of Censorship?

Other work by Hart brought criticism from Jewish and Muslim groups for what they called insensitive and at times offensive themes.

One Easter "B.C." strip showed a menorah's candles being extinguished as the candelabra morphs into a cross; the final frame included the words, "It is finished." To his critics, this symbolized a triumph of Christianity over Judaism, but Hart said it was meant to "pay tribute to both" religions.

Muslims were enraged by another "B.C." strip that ran during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It featured an outhouse with multiple crescents – a symbol associated with Islam – and showed a cave man saying from inside the makeshift bathroom, "Is it just me, or does it stink in here?"

He swings and misses at a pitch WAY outside. Boy was he reaching for one here. First off, the crescent is rather common on old outhouses. Don't know why but I have a feeling it goes back almost as far as Islam does.

And as I have said before, for a society that often praises the masculine sacrifice to the extreme of raising suicide bombers, they are a bit on the sensitive side. No?

As far as the menorah morphing into the cross, isn't that what all good Christians think of Judaism? That the Jews were waiting for the Messiah and Christians believe Jesus was the fulfillment of Judaism? Now those still of Jewish faith would disagree and that they are still awaiting the Messiah. But that is a difference of opinions.

Anyway, Johnny Hart, Rest in Peace. You will be missed.