Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for April 07, 2010

Whew, I was concerned about Calvin’s displeasure…

Calvin would like to have the best of both worlds!

Thought processes of the seriously wishy washy….

Enough snow now, it’s time for spring and summer!

Yeay Calvin, “It’s OK just the way it is.”

You said it, Hobbes! Just enjoy it, guys.

Yes Calvin, God knew what he was doing.

Glad you came to your senses, Calvin.

A true conservative.

Yukoner,

That’s what I was thinking. And I was wondering who would be the first to say it.

Well, except I was thinking “….exactly what He was doing”.

Fine conclusion, Calvin! It’s peaceful to be content with what is, though my guess is that your contentment won’t last long.

Well thats a surprise .. Calvin approves something .. ofcourse after going thru the motions though ..

A conservative (in the sense some of you seem to be taking the word) wouldn’t be asking such “what-if?” questions in the first place. It’s Hobbes who’s playing the conservative here. Calvin’s playing the liberal: always trying to fix what isn’t broken.

Yes, it’s OK just the way it is, but you know it would be great if ……….

Maybe a different color?

conservative…liberal….. darn!! I thought I must have logged on to that comic strip Reagan and Johnson…. Calvin and Hobbes are decidedly more metaphysical

Hasn’t every kid said, “It would be cool if—-”

HEY! but you what would be cool!? WARM SNOW!!

True, a good conservative.

Since when does Calvin play baseball?

Hmm… I don’t hear anything thumping…

Attention Dogsniff: where did the big bang come from? And please, don’t respond with any multiverse nonsense.

Evolution (i.e. macro-evolution) is a theory of development, not origin. Plain and simple.

I seem to recall “We’re glad you approve” being used in a Peanuts strip. I think Lucy was commenting on the color of the sky.

boy, am i glad that’s settled. jabbo…..oximoron! scottsilby, when did is go from snow white to snow dark?

Ignoring all the debate that has confused the meaning of a simple strip, let’s go back to the good comments.

Exactly, Yukoner.

Please, people, don’t associate Calvin and Hobbes with politics! We get enough of that as it is…lol

good grief!

Maybe Calvin would like to have one meadow filled with snow and the next completely melted and warm.

God knew Calvin would approve when he created snow. He may have made it just FOR Calvin. He knew He’d be getting a big kick out of Calvin’s snowman scenes.

An optimist is convinced that this is the best of all possible worlds. A pessimist is very much afraid that this is the best of all possible worlds.

What would really be cool is one backyard with dry snow to play in and another with wet snow to make snowballs. Another backyard without snow would be welcome too…

Dogsniff i read somewhere that man created god in his own image. ergo, maybe he evolved?

unlikely calvin

Dogsniff,

Your question assumes that time exists outside of this universe. Time is unique to this space. God exists out of time (at least as we know it). Therefore, we say He has existed forever, but that is a misstatement.

scotsilby,

Exactly. I have always put it this way: It is the theory of natural selection that has been observed, and proved. It is an incorrect extrapolation to say that this proves the theory of evolution.

Even Darwin realized this.

Good point Jascat! I’d go one step further: let’s keep BOTH politics and religion out of these comments. It may be true that comments on both subjects often resemble comic strips, but it would be nice if that resemblance were not put on public display so often.

Yukoner, your comment that God “knew what he was doing” reminds me of the man who refused to exercise saying that if God wanted us to touch our toes, he’d have put them higher up on our bodies.

Boy you few God haters just can’t get off anyone else’s backs, can you? What’s it like to be so full of yourselves that you’re empty?

All you’ve got is to keep insulting God, and other peoples’ religions. Wow. you sure know how to show your “depth”.

Hey, you know what? What they’re doing, attacking God and your religion is against the site rules, so why doesn’t everyone report these offensive people by clicking “contact us” below, and letting the administators know about the assault we keep finding ourselves under by these “people”.

Ridicules, its a comic is it not ?

Calvin doesn’t play baseball, he plays CALVINBALL!

Think of the rules Calvin could come up with. Such as, when Calvin is at bat, the outfielder has to make a snowman before tagging out the runner yet the runner can nullify a tag by first hitting the outfielder with a snowball! Snow could add a whole new dimension to Calvinball.

Calvin should try that logic the next time he has Roslyn over

Calvin is learning that there’s usually a downside to all our “improvements”.

@Dogsniff

“The theory of evolutionism in a nutshell”

Once upon a time, there was absolutely nothing, then that nothingness exploded and made everything. Then life started as a virus on a meteor and traveled through space until it reached Mars, where the virus evolved into space-slugs. The space-slugs then built a spaceship out of mars rocks and fueled it with dry ice and flew it to Earth, where they gradually became less intelligent, and eventually evolved into the purposeless animals we are today.

Pretty far-fetched, right?

Hobbe’s response in the last panel is in the plural. Just exactly who is this “we” that he is referring to? Is that the Imperial “we” ?

Try living in north eastern ohio. We had summer today, expecting fall to return in the next few days and before the end of the week, snow is forecasted. We are not amused!

I think the notable absence of “God” in the strip says more than anyone who tries to read their own usage into the script. No matter how we got to where we are, we are here, and it’s up to us to make things better if they’re not, and to accept things that are okay if we can’t change them. If people don’t understand that “theory” doesn’t mean “questionable”, then let’s not argue with them. Theory just means “not proven for every possible case”, as in the “theory” of gravity … ignorance of this is not an asset of which to be proud. But to deny the possibility of a superior being is almost as ignorant; how can you know without proof, either way? God’s existence is a theory, too, accepted by many and not by others.

Let’s not attribute more to this comic strip than was intended, and let’s not read into it any more than as intended, either. It’s fun, and “we” approve, pretty much.

Calvin is showing how introverted he is today.

Its just Calvins world relative to him and he will evolve therefore the future will prove his theories and his imagination will live on in us. How Amazing!

khpage, I think your answer is Yes. Good move by Watterson, and good call by you … I think that’s exactly why this punchline has punch.

Everybody, I don’t think God is absent from Calvin & Hobbes at all - but neither do I think anyone need judge whether God is present in the strip. Philosophy, morality, human nature, imagination, contemplation, loyalty, and courage - and joy and humor - are all closely concerned with God. But they are also closely concerned with humanity, regardless of any God. Watterson simply represents them truly and creatively.

So this strip works equally great for believers and for atheists … it’s actually neutral (or universal) on the topic. That leaves no reason why this would be the place to discuss it, let alone debate it.

It’s eternal God or eternal matter! Take your choice! The universe is running down according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics (the Law of Increasing Entropy). Unless the universe is oscillating (eternal bangs and crunches), though no theory has been developed to explain how this could ever happen, oblivion awaits the believers in evolution, from their perspective. Eternal life (bliss) awaits the believers in God (through our Savior Jesus Christ).

I just got my snowshoes so I’m ready for next year. I always wanted a pair and I finally decided to go forth and conquer the great unknown!

mankind is grateful to Calvin for his acceptance..

There is a show called Phineas and Ferb- in one episode, Swinter, they had a similar concept what Calvin is thinking of…

Avon,,,,I agree 100% I guess people have a need to get excited and look anywhere to ride the “excited mobile.”

The point is, why does one bunch who believes in nothing have to constantly bash the 92% who believe in something. None of the pro God comments were taunting in any way. That’s the beef here. Efforts to appease two sides doesn’t work when 4 people constantly incite hatred with the other 53. If you don’t believe in God, and someone posts a God related comment, and you can’t help but call God a fairytale and believers in God a bunch of dupes, then the problem lies with the troublemaking nonbeliever, not the rest who didn’t call the nonbeliever satan or anything else! The taunting and the ridicule have no place here or anywhere else. THAT’S THE ISSUE!

Additionally, since we were all the ones under attack here today, If you don’t have the conviction to stick up for God, who you claim to believe in, you are as lost as a non believer. The people who didn’t bother to speak up are as lost as the heathens.

Luke Sky - Your last paragraph is certainly debatable. I am a born again Christian and believe in witnessing about my faith, but I don’t believe in arguing it. I see the discussion as debate, and I don’t think that is appropriate for my faith, or for this forum.

It is blatantly obvious by your statement that you didn’t read all of what I said.

Plus, the statement you debate is an indirect quote from the Bible.

dutch boy; i love phineas and ferb!!!!!!!!

behold! a two headed snowman!

It’s all alright to Calvin.

I’m glad the existence of God isn’t governed by a vote!

The fortunate coincidence that a big majority here believe in God (if it’s even true - I’m not too sure) had better not prove anything! What about the next time or place we find ourselves? It may be 92% non-believers, but so what!

In my church, we know God, rather than try to believe. Others will believe once they know God, too, so we welcome them anytime they want to sit with us.

Meanwhile, the farthest I’m willing to stick up for what I know is in my comment above (the last one on Page 1) … but I think it’s enough if I can help open minds. I’d rather let God change minds.

I found Bill Watterson’s statement in the 1986 interview (link posted here a couple of months ago) was very instructive. He was asked whether all Calvin’s cosmic philosophy arose from his own belief or non-belief in religion. I personally happen to think his answer is encouraging, reinforcing the value of reverence regardless of religion.

oh but he was so much older then….he’s younger than that now…..or is he?

I’m a little late, aren’t i? MrsLuke, I respectfully applaud you standing up for your religion and what you believe in. But, I also tentatively remind all people here that since this is the computer, one may simply ignore or flag any comment that isn’t appropriate to them. I don’t think anyone really likes flame wars. And I think anyone should keep any rude comments to themselves. :/

I enjoy the Taoism of Calvin and Hobbes and reminds me of a more innocent time when people didn’t try and read too much into what Winnie the Pooh and Piglet were conversing about. Please just enyoy the humour of comics regardless of the contradictions that they expose in our daily lives.

I find it offencesive to be called a heathen or a non-believer. I believe, just not in hatred but in humour and happiness. thank you calvin and hobbes you make me laugh and smile. Unlike some who have posted here recently. Find another forum, please.

Cold can get drier when colder, the moisture content of a storm decreases when it’s coldrr.