FREETHUNK:
To start off with, a little shop talk. What materials do you use to make your cartoons? Paper, Ink, Pen and Software? Any suggestions for cartoonist newbies when it comes to materials?

ANSWER:
I make rough sketches with pencil, trace those in ink on a light table, scan them, and finish them off in Photoshop. I do a lot with really cheap materials because they work perfectly fine for me. Cheap ol' pencils, junk paper (often someone's scraps), a self-built light table, and Micron archival quality pens.

FREETHUNK:
Do you view your cartooning skills as a skill acquired or a gift from God?

ANSWER:
Everyone has certain talents and gifts that they are born with. Call it God, genes, or whatever you want. I was gifted with a sense of humor and the ability to draw weird cartoons and I have used that ability for many years so I'd say it is a combination of both.

FREETHUNK:
It looks like you started Reverend Fun in 1998. What is the history of your feature and why did you start it?

ANSWER:
In April 1995 Gospel Communications approached me and asked me to come on staff as a Graphic Designer. At the time they were starting to work with that new Internet thing and were looking for content to fill out their site and draw traffic. I was asked to do a daily cartoon. That right there is the number one argument for divine intervention in my life. I had not formally practiced my cartooning, had not promoted myself as an illustrator in any way, and had no idea I could even do it ... yet over ten years later I'm still doing it.

FREETHUNK:
Now I noticed you don't sign Reverend Fun cartoons and I know other artists, Atheist and Christian, who don't sign any of the religious satire they draw. Is there a reason for that? Do you think there's a stigma or danger to being recognized as a cartoonist who draws religious satire whether it be positive or negative towards Christianity?

ANSWER:
There are a few reasons that I don't bother with signatures. First, when I started, I was a bit naive as to self-promotion and did not develop the habit until much later. Second, because I create them for Gospel Communications (GCI, gospelcommunications.org) on GCI time I've considered them GCI property throughout the years. Third, because I am concerned about locking myself into a very specific genre. Fourth, because I do not want work done outside GCI to reflect on the ministry of GCI.

FREETHUNK:
What is your spiritual upbringing if any? Do you associate yourself with any one denomination or sect? Or are you "nondenominational" and what does that mean to you? I realize many mainstream Christians do not like to refer to their beliefs as religion but a personal relationship with Christ? But usually even if that is so, most Christians subscribe to some sort of core beliefs rooted within some sort of church tradition.

ANSWER:
I do not like religious tradition. I don't think that tradition should dictate how you come to interpret something that is extremely vague. The idea that you can learn belief is odd to me. I tend to be extra sensitive on this subject as I spent thirteen long years in a terrible Baptist school (Ross Corners Christian Academy). Not only did the people there have no original thoughts in their heads whatsoever, but there were adamant about seeing to it that nobody else had original thoughts either.

My personal beliefs are a work in progress and always will be. I have a lot of agnostic in me and tend to question everything from what jeans to buy to who is my favorite deity. Many of the big questions cannot be answered 100% in my opinion, and I feel that the quest for those answers is a life-long quest.

FREETHUNK:
I won't try to make too many assumptions about your beliefs so I should ask if you are a Biblical Literalist or do you feel the Bible is more allegory and not meant to be taken literally as far as talking animals or miracles? I've noticed a couple of cartoons that have some fun at Balaam's expense.

ANSWER:
Again, I don't think those questions can be answered 100% until you die and find yourself having a nice Q&A with the divine. I figure to ask about that stuff as well as why knees were designed in such a way as to be so vulnerable to injury. That said, I lean towards viewing some (not all) of the miracles and parables as allegory and, in a few cases, I wonder if a few snippets slipped through the canonizing process that weren't intended to.

FREETHUNK:
Most freethinkers will most likely be curious as to your views on science, specifically origins. Do you embrace a young earth view or do you lean towards theistic evolution?

ANSWER:
I don't know. There are bits of most all theories that strike me as a little odd. My approach is to take it all in and see what sticks with my gut. Thinking you have the exact story of the origins of everything seems a little pompous to me and I hope to never think that I am the one who happens to have the exact story.

FREETHUNK:
It looks like on the bottom of many of the cartoons that you credit certain people with the idea for the toon itself. Do you regularly get email with cartoon suggestions? How many bad ideas do you receive versus good ideas?

ANSWER:
I probably get between three and ten suggestions per week. Those add up fast, naturally. I probably put about 10% of the suggestions on a "oh, I must do this" list and probably another 20% on a "might be good" list. All suggestions are archived and sometimes I bounce back through them and find that ones I did not think would work now seem like they will.

FREETHUNK:
What translation of the Bible do you prefer or use as a standard for your cartoons? With all of the varying translations out there do you think there could be something done such as the cartoon version--a Bible completely done with cartooning?

ANSWER:
I've used KJV the most simply because I was familiar with it and the language lended itself to many a good gag. Recently I have taken to using The Message because it is a much easier read and works better for seekers. I think the best version overall is the version that touches each individual's heart ... it's different for everyone.

I would imagine that a cartoon version could be a fun and interesting way to present the Bible, so long as it was done respectfully and thoroughly. There are folks who have encouraged me to do just such a thing over the years.

FREETHUNK:
Are you inspired by any current cartoonists or cartoonists from the past? Are there other Christian cartoonists that you have come into contact with or appreciate from afar?

ANSWER:
Gary Larson cracked me up the most, I appreciated the fine-art style that Calvin & Hobbes exhibited, and I've been wowed and amazed at some of the works-of-art that Disney has put out. Some of my favorite cartoons are those, such as Simpsons and South Park, which provoke (or provoked many years ago) and get people riled up. When people get riled up questions get asked, issues get considered, and ice gets broken.

FREETHUNK:
One of the things I've found in drawing cartoons about the Bible is that sometimes I feel like I'm drawing the same idea over and over again. After so many years how do you keep a Christian cartoon series fresh? Is it by using anachronisms like modern appliances in the garden of eden or are there still new ideas that can be dug out of the Bible?

ANSWER:
Is my work fresh? Good ... I was worried. :)

I would have a tough time if I tried to only pull ideas straight from the Bible. When brainstorming, I consider current culture (Christian and secular), news items, holidays, church trends, etc... The more elements that I consider, the broader the possibilities ... all I have to do is make a connection between something people can identify with and something religious.

In addition, I have to give a huge shout-out to my awesome, idea- submitting fans.

FREETHUNK:
Since you are an artist and you have to depict descriptions in the Bible of otherworldly beings, what do you think Angels look like? How about devils?

ANSWER:
I can describe fun ways to represent them so that people can quickly identify them, but it would be totally goofy to actually think that I could guess what an angel or a devil looked like, if they even look like anything at all. I think describing our perceptions of our interactions with them is easier and the visuals we attribute are merely attempts to sum up that sense of interaction.

FREETHUNK:
I've read quite a bit of your series and the one thing I've noticed is that some of your toons could be considered profane. Such as Moses putting out the burning bush with a hose. Has this issue come up with criticism from your readers or do you feel there are certain boundaries that you shouldn't cross when portraying God and the Bible?

ANSWER:
My work upsets people sometimes, though on the whole it is received very well. If it did not offend anybody I would be upset. I spent enough time in high school watching people sacrifice their own free thought to placate others.

That said, I think there are boundaries and that you set them for yourself. I would not do something that I personally feel is disrespectful, but if someone else did that same thing I would not fault them because they are obviously operating on a different wavelength than I am. Moses putting out the bush with a hose is simply ludicrous, however, and if that freaks someone out it is probably because that person is a bit insecure in their faith.

FREETHUNK:
This is a follow up to the last question: one of my theories is that in our current American society we still think of Jesus as a real person while we think of the devil as more of a cartoon character not to be taken seriously. This is because there is a long history of drawing the devil in a cartoony manner such as Looney Tunes animation, Disney toons and thousands of gag cartoons and comics. Jesus on the other hand has not gotten as much attention from animators and cartoonists until more recent times, especially with the internet. As Jesus is drawn and animated more in cartoon form would you think that he might not be taken as seriously also? Wouldn't this be a concern for a Christian Cartoonist especially considering that you yourself have depicted Jesus as a cartoon character?

ANSWER:
We as a society are breaking down more walls and I am sure there are pros and cons. It is true that Jesus and the Devil's images might be tarnished in some ways by being cartooned more these days, but at the same time we are a little freer now. We are no longer scared to include Jesus in other works simply because people didn't before. That can empower us. That can drive more thought in our readers.

At the end of the day, they are still cartoons, however, and I give the human race enough credit to be able to put some perspective and common sense into play.

FREETHUNK:
Being that I've read the Bible as a Christian and after becoming an atheist I'm well aware of all of the less than Disney-like stories contained within it such as rape, war, violence, Child and Animal slaughter, incest and general descriptions of the end of the world. Do you avoid such subjects because the comedy might go into R-rated territory or have you tackled any of the heavier parts of the Bible?

ANSWER:
I could tackle more mature topics, but I do not think that Reverend Fun is the best place. My goal is lighthearted fun and some encouragement of thought. I don't want it to be too heavy and I really doubt that GCI would either.

FREETHUNK:
What's your current feelings on the growing pop culture of Christianity--rock music, movies, comic books, and fiction like the Left Behind series. Do you think this is a good thing for Christianity or does it have any negative effects? What about the effect on youth. Do you think pop culture can be used for instilling ideas into a young person's head without them critically evaluating what it is they are being told?

ANSWER:
There has always been culture of religion that effects everyone. If it is not rock music it'll be something else, perhaps a phony religious icon. Rather than worry about each new things that comes along I prefer to worry when people are not critically evaluating.

FREETHUNK:
Many of your cartoons deal with parodying Christians themselves. Do you think most Christians have a sense of humor about going to Church, speaking Christianese and engaging in a culture that many nonChristians would not understand? I personally think humor is humbling and also can be seen as a compliment so I see it as a necessity within any organized group, religious or otherwise.

ANSWER:
It seems that people are more able to appreciate humor directed at religious dogma because people are getting more frustrated with that dogma and are more free to express their frustration now than in the past. I believe that this expression will help reinvent the church in a stronger and more relevant fashion.

FREETHUNK:
I noticed one of your cartoons about a guy concerned with "Christian Friendly Businesses" and a gay grocer. Do you think there is an overreaction amongst Christians towards gays or is it justified? We're you poking fun of a certain mindset in this cartoon?

ANSWER:
I was poking fun at the mindset and waiting for a fallout that (surprisingly) never came. I firmly believe that Jesus loved every person he came in contact with on Earth and that it is our calling to do the same. We should be firm in our convictions but with love. You don't win souls by telling them that they suck.

FREETHUNK:
I thought the cartoon about Adam 'N' Eve being drawn so that their nudity was hidden was hilarious, at least from an artist's perspective. As an artist, even in doodling, what's the real offense in showing nudity? Especially silly nudity? Are Christians too uptight about the body that God made or is there something else going on? Is it an American thing because Christians in Europe don't see to have the same objections it seems? I understand the attempt to avoid lust but is anyone really going to get turned on if they see your style of cartooning in the nude? And wouldn't most Christians avoid thinking of Eve lustfully because she is their mother?

ANSWER:
In answer to "is anyone really going to get turned on if they see your style of cartooning in the nude?" I have to say that my wife does, which is why I now wear shorts.

I think America has a retarded view of sex and nudity that is unhealthy. Perhaps we have to keep lust in check, but we have to embrace ourselves as sexual creatures and promote healthy, sexual relationships. How nudity fits into this is a good question that I do not have the answer for. Nudity, even at the cartoon level, will turn on someone, somewhere. Is that a problem, or is the problem trying to avoid anything that could possibly turn someone on instead of encouraging people to learn how to process the stimuli and to learn what is healthy and unhealthy? Rather than figure out how to censor life, I would rather see people equipped to handle not only cartoon boobs, but also the hardcore porn and randy members of the opposite sex that they are most certainly going to run across at some point in life.

FREETHUNK:
As a Christian who drew comics in my youth (and very poor drawings they were) I often focused on apologetics. Have you attempted any arguments through the use of cartooning to prove the Bible is right or Christianity as a belief system is right in any area of life? Or is your goal mainly to entertain Christians who are already familiar with the Bible and are converted?

ANSWER:
I try to encourage people to loosen up and think for themselves, which could lead to people considering Christianity or possibly considering switching from Christianity to something else. It has to be real, whether it is Christianity or not.

FREETHUNK:
I'm not sure if you run into too many atheists but what do you tell nonbelievers when they ask for evidence that God exists? Does Reverend Fun reach many nonbelievers who email in? Does your feature provide opportunities to talk to nonbelievers?

ANSWER:
I cannot give empirical evidence and do not try to. Instead, I try to engage those writing in and encourage them to probe into themselves while explaining how I have come to the conclusions that I have.

I have had atheists write in and generally they are appreciative of open dialog and lack of condemnation they find at Reverend Fun. I have also had Christians write in to tell me that they have used Reverend Fun to start conversations with non-Christians. Hearing encouraging stories like these makes me give even less of a crap about folks who are upset by Moses hosing down a bush.

FREETHUNK:
Are there any cartoons that you've drawn and thought were a good idea but then caused some controversy with your readers or offended anyone unintentionally? Cartoons you may have regretted drawing or should have thought twice about?

ANSWER:
There have been a few and I removed them. Generally when I remove a cartoon it is not because it caused controversy or offended anybody but because someone pointed out an interpretation or facet of the cartoon I had not considered which made me personally uncomfortable.

FREETHUNK:
Do you receive responses from nonChristians such as people of other religious faiths? How about in different languages since all of your cartoons are translated into French and Spanish?

ANSWER:
I don't get much feedback from people of other religious faiths but feedback has become more international since I added the other languages ... and I get more foreign spam now. Hurray.

FREETHUNK:
Do you have any plans to do any other Christian features such as a comic strip or other nonChristian features in the future?

ANSWER:
I would enjoy creating a non religious cartoon at some point and would like to do a kid's book. It's a matter of time, motivation, demand, and a finite amount of creativity.

FREETHUNK:
I'd like to thank you for participating in this Freethunk interview. Are there any comments you'd like to add or leave us with?

ANSWER:
It was nice to chat with such open minded people. Keep it up.

ADDITIONAL INFO ABOUT REVEREND FUN: There are two books that have been published by GCI. They are available in the goodies section at reverendfun.com. Folks might also appreciate the cartoon mailing list (get them in your inbox once a week), the cartoon RSS feed, putting RF toons on their site and in their printed materials, and also the news mailing list which is only used to keep people up to date on periodic updates and features.