FROM "THE NEW YORKER"
In a post titled “Can Science Lead to Faith?,” Gary Marcus writes, “Most scientists I know are nonbelievers, convinced that there is no deity, or at least there is no convincing evidence of one.” On the other hand, practically all the politicians I know of claim to be believers, with “claim to be” as the operative phrase.
On this issue, I’ll let my cartoons speak for themselves.
Perhaps they’re not speaking loudly enough. Just to clear up any ambiguity, I’m not a believer, or even agnostic, I’m an atheist (denomination: Jewish). That means the God I don’t believe in is different from the God you don’t believe in if, for example, you’re a Muslim atheist, a Catholic atheist, or a Protestant atheist. But if we’re all wrong and God actually does exist, in my opinion He’s going to turn out to be Jewish. At least, I certainly hope so, because if He is Jewish I figure He can take a joke.
That’s my opinion. Is it representative of other cartoonists? Here’s a sample from an informal poll I took—I couldn’t find my tux for a formal one.
Frank Cotham:
I think of myself as a believer, but without interference from a church.
Jack Ziegler:
Agnostic, I suppose, but it’s not something I ever think about. Raised Catholic, but stopped at age thirteen, when I realized what a load it was. Don’t like any religions at this point—think they’re all nuts to one degree or another. And they cause way too much trouble in the world—as they always have.Don’t get me started.
Roz Chast:
I’m an agnostic. I would be an atheist, except that when I was a young ’un I took L.S.D. a few times, and, especially the first time, had an experience that made me not so sure of my atheism. When I am old and farther along Decrepit Highway than I am now, I want to try them mind-expanding chemicals again. Because what will there be to lose?
Michael Shaw:
It’s too big of a question for just one answer. And I’ve always been skeptical of passing judgments on the spiritual world while still mired in my mortal coil. It seems that with this test, the best you can hope for is an incomplete. Though I do admire people who can take a firm stand in one camp or another. They’re usually kind of annoying, but in a sincere way. Plus, I just took a job at Xavier University, in Cincinnati, a fine Jesuit institution. And with a Jesuit Pope, I might have connections. I’m sure it doesn’t help that I was raised a Southern Baptist (those who will not make love standing up lest God think they’re dancing). I am married to a fine Catholic woman, so I do have Christianity fairly well covered. My daughter says she wishes she was Jewish. I told her, Go marry a Jewish guy, that’s close enough.
Chris Weyant:
Since my mother is Jewish and my father is Catholic, it’s too much guilt for me to go with atheist.I’m an agnostic only in the pre-Big Bang sense that there had to be something that started it all—even if the “it” was no more than collapsing quantum physics. The idea of a god or gods doesn’t hold for me—but works great for cartoons.
Indeed it does, Chris. And I think all cartoonists can say “Amen” to that, including P. C. Vey, who is also of the agnostic persuasion:
