Rob Bell, author of the controversial book Love Wins, has a new book coming out next week called What We Talk About When We Talk About God. If you’d like to know more, you can check out the book’s trailer where Rob Bell talks about . . . well . . . to be honest I’m not sure what the heck he’s talking about in this video. Maybe you guys can decipher it.
SIDENOTE: Enjoy some old-school Dishwalla.
—-
In other news, my friend, Adam, has declared that today is Be Nice To Someone On The Internet Day. Here’s the holiday’s description in his own words:
Monday, March 4, is Be Nice to Someone on the Internet Day. This holiday is, depending on your preference, either a celebration of kindness or a quixotic stand against unkindness.
The idea is for everyone to take a couple of minutes on March 4 to send someone an appreciative note, message or e-mail, or else to leave a sincere, encouraging comment on someone’s blog, webpage or profile.
I think this is a super fun idea, and I plan to rock it out today. I’ve got a list of some folks I want to lift up and encourage, and I hope you guys will take a few moments to say something kind to someone (or someones), too!
I’ll start by saying something nice to Rob Bell:
Rob, I think you have an excellent sense of fashion. I appreciate your willingness to ask big questions and challenge the thinking of those of us who love Christianity and the Church. I don’t always see eye-to-eye with your theology, but I’d definitely have a beer with you if the opportunity ever came up. Also, you do a good job of keeping me on my toes by constantly changing the color and length of your hair.
Now it’s your turn! Go get ‘em, kids!
You drink beer! Sinner!
Oh wait, it’s be nice to someone on the internet day…
I think it’s great that you are willing to defy God so you can enjoy a beverage made of sin.
That should do it.
Also, that last panel is a lot of fun!
Thanks, man.
Also, haven’t you and I had a beer together? :)
I’ve been with you while you had one. I was judging silently while shooting coke.
Thanks for keeping your judgements to yourself. :)
It was the coke talking.
can’t I like this post or something for thinking the same thing about Wes drinking beer?
Glad I don’t sin like you guys do. Now get me another plate of food.
Ha!
One of the best strips yet, Wes. Hilarious how you pulled truth from the trailer itself, LOL. Thanks!
Thanks, man!
Now, I love Rob Bell. I have enjoyed everything that I’ve read, listened to or watched from him, but you are spot on about that trailer. Definitely the most abstract and confusing video of his to date.
Well played, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Boombox. Snail. Volume.
Honestly, I thought you were just making up that part. I can’t believe that was actually in there.
You can’t make this stuff up.
It is funny. For someone who usually makes incredibly provocative videos, it’s sort of like he just thought, “Hey bro, bring your camera over. I gotta throw a video together. Nah, I’ll make it up. It’s cool.”
I just can’t get on board about Rob Bell, lol. Brian we need to talk about it one day.
This strip is brilliant. I predict viral madness and new heights of celebrity for you. And a book deal. And then going off the deep end. That video just… just… man. Wow.
Ha ha! Here’s hoping! Thanks, Marla!
is there “new school” dishwalla?
That is a valid question.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say:
Rob Bell will not be retweeting this.
Probably a safe bet.
He doesn’t tweet much, so there’s a likelihood that he won’t even see the comic. :)
No there isn’t.
Anything that can contorted to be viewed as critical, by any one person, will find its way to its subject with trudging infallibility. It’s a bit like Murphy’s law of the blogosphere.
I’d rather listen to Rob Bell at his most obtuse than Mark Driscoll at any time. Just sayin’.
Thanks for sharing, yo!
Word. I play too many video games to be allowed to enjoy Mark Driscoll. :P
Ha ha!
“Be Nice to Someone on the Internet” is what I do EVERY DAY! Because I spend too much time on the internet…
That’s the right tactic, man. Make it a daily practice.
I’ve always been a moderate fan of Bell… especially his Nooma series, but that book trailer reminds of a ‘bad lip reading’ video. Like this one…
OUTSTANDING comparison, my man!
I’ve heard rumors that his next book will be titled What We Talk About When We Talk About Jesus, and that he will spend the next eight months listening to Joan Osbourne’s “What if God Was One of Us.”
Great comic, Wes. Your Rob Bell is Rob Bell at his Rob-Bellest.
Thanks, man!
I feel like there are no words to describe that video, but I’m sure Rob Bell has a few somewhere on a 3×5 card.
Rob Bell is never at a loss for words. :)
If he is, he’ll just make up new ones!
I sort of love that you portray folks that you’re maybe not 100% on board with not as evil or insane, but just sort of silly, as they are a bit silly. Props for not drawing devil horns on either Rob Bell or Mark Driscol. The sense of questioning wonder at contriversial church leaders is really refreshing.
You and Doug TenNapel should do a podcast or something together. His intensity as a counterpoint to your laid backness would be fun to hear right next to each other
Thanks, Steve!
That’s exactly what I’m trying to do. I’m pointing out the “silliness” about these guys, their character, and their theology. I think it’d be easy to simply vilify these guys; that’s what most people do! It’s more fun to turn them into funny cartoon characters. The good news is that these guys make it easy to turn them into cartoons. :)
That was outstanding, Wes!
Personally, I’m more looking forward to the lost James Herriot manuscript getting published next week:
What We Talk About When We Talk About Dog
On a more serious note, it seems that–at least to me–when you boil it down the messages of Rob Bell and Joel Osteen are the same:
Live your best life now.
True.
I wonder if Rob Bell’s supporters will crash the website too.
They’re welcome to try. I’ve been working diligently to make sure the site doesn’t go down again. It’d be a good test. :)
As the last dialog scene in the film Burn after reading.
[referring to the entirety of the film] “What did we learn from this Palmer?”
“I don’t know”
“I don’t know either”
1.) That is a very appropriate use of a movie quote.
2.) That scene was the best part of Burn After Reading.
Rob Bell releases new video: “Imagine there’s no heaven. It’s easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us only sky.” Ok. That’s John Lennon. Rob Bell didn’t say that … in those exact words.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2065289,00.html
All his “Is this really true? Did God really say that? Does the Bible really mean this? What if truth is less like bricks and more like a trampoline” is just rebellious silliness (that he’s cribbing from Genesis 3).
“Let me challenge all you know about God.” Oh really? Instead of relying on foundational truth? Sounds like a great idea.
Dude’s a universalist wolf in passive-aggressive sheep’s clothing.
I have a hard time trying to figure out if he’s telling us something or if he’s just throwing ideas out there for us to chew on.
I just read your comic and follow-up “I’ll Say something nice about Rob Bell”. She snorted as she laughed. Pretty much says it all. Thanks!
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you stick around!