|
The Parables of Peanuts | 
 enlarge | Author: Robert L. Short
Publisher: HarperOne
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $0.87
You Save: $14.08 (94%)
New (29) Used (53) Collectible (3) from $0.87
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 470842
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.3 x 0.8
ISBN: 0060011610
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN: 9780060011611
ASIN: 0060011610
Publication Date: March 1, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: ** Possible marking on cover. 100% Satisfaction guaranteed on all purchases.
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Maybe you thought Snoopy was a beagle. Turns out he's actually a Christ symbol, according to Robert L. Short's ingenious book, Parables of Peanuts. Cartoonist Charles Schulz, a devout Christian, once asked, "If we are all members of the priesthood, why cannot a cartoonist preach in the same manner as a minister, or anyone else?" This book explains that many of Schulz's cartoon strips, like Jesus' parables, combine "the proclamation of God's love for the world, and [depiction of] the world as it really is." Parables reproduces many classic Peanuts strips, including some rare early Red Baron strips. The illustrations are accompanied by some fairly heavy interpretations, laying out the basics of a conservative Reformed Protestant view of the gospel, with extensive references to theologians such as Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Soren Kierkegaard. Although entertaining and engaging, Parables of Peanuts is not kids' stuff. --Michael Joseph Gross
Product Description
First published in 1968, this contemporary case for vigorous Christian faith –– profusely illustrated by Charles Schulz's delightful peanuts cartoon strips –– sheds more light on the Christian faith and how it is to be lived than many more "serious" theological works, with hundreds of cartoons featuring your favorite peanuts characters Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, And of course, Snoopy (including the earliest red baron strips). This book's wise observations are as timeless as they are timely. "Short . . .succeeds in making theology enjoyable." ––Christian Century ". . . a real delight from beginning to end. I could not possibly be more pleased." ––Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 A good idea that gets bogged down March 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really want to like this book. Its premise is appealing and clever and it has a lot of good ideas. Simply put, it wants to relate the life lessons of Charles Schulz's famous Peanuts comic strip to the lessons of the Christian faith (or at least, that's what it claims). And there are indeed a lot of strips sampled in the book that seem designed to make subtle points (by "art-parable") for a strong, humane, and thoughtful Christianity. The strips are in good company: Short also brings in a wonderful sampling of other important thinkers on the questions, from obvious choices like Luther and Bonhoeffer, to delightful surprises like Kierkegaard and Camus.
My problem with the book is that all this never really gels, that Short engages a lot of topics "in a rush" and without making it clear to the reader where he's tending overall. Each chapter treats a different aspect of Christianity--sort of--but when the reader is finished with a chapter, he/she will be lucky if he/she can remember just what it was about. Like some of the denser theological discussions I've read, Short's reasoning is so quote-heavy and so poorly signposted that, however interesting or even inspiring a particular section may be, the main points are lost. Often the Peanuts cartoons seem only to serve as weak accompaniments to the thread of Short's argument, which would be fine if the book didn't purport to be about them.
There are some really excellent thoughts here, and, no doubt, more genuine theology than any dozen inspiration-lite books around. But surely a book about parables should be subtle rather than pedantic. I would expect a book on Christ's parables to be about symbolism, and folk formulas, and indirect communication. Above all, I'd expect it to be about the graceful way parables do a lot of work with very little textual material. It would have been nice if Short's book had really done this with the Peanuts cartoons, rather than using them as...well, illustrations.
 The Enduring Value in This Classic by the godfather of the "Gospel According to ..." Genre February 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Online reviewers of Robert L. Short's landmark books, drawing parallels between popular culture and the gospels, sometimes are suspicious of his theology -- so let me perhaps re-orient the conversation a little bit.
No, not all Christians will agree with Short's theology. It's true that in the middle of this 1968-vintage book, he talks more explicitly about a theme that began to emerge in his classic 1965 book, "The Gospel According to Peanuts." By 1968, Short was moving in the direction that he would land firmly after 2000 -- to a kind of Christian universalism that preaches a strong Christian gospel, but without the threat of hellfire and eternal damnation. Right in the middle of this 1968 book, in a chapter called "Good News of Great Joy," he wrestles with this teaching. And, yes, he even throws a few very pointed darts at hellfire preachers who he calls "vulture-evangelists."
Did you half smile as you read that phrase? That's really the strength of Short's books -- making us think about our faith and the culture all around us. I don't agree with Robert L. Short on every theological point -- just as Protestants don't agree with Catholics on every point -- and evangelicals don't agree with mainliners -- and even the man or woman sitting next to me in my pew on Sunday morning probably disagrees with me on various points.
But faith calls us to news of great joy and Robert L. Short was the godfather -- the creative catalyst that touched off a whole genre of "Gospel According To ..." books. His most important point is that we all, as people of faith, should engage our popular culture -- critique what's negative, warn against what's deadly, celebrate what's life giving and, together, talk about these issues so close to our hearts in a hopeful way.
That remains a mighty good recipe for small groups. Even though this book turns 40 in 2008, I think it's still a great choice for a six- or eight-week series. And, beyond the theology -- hey, the Charles Schulz cartoons in this book are a hoot!
Nutty with substance March 8, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a book that both young and old can identify with. It's funny and yet very introspective into the human character and condition. Humor is often the best way we are able to see those things about ourselves that need repair. Here it is done masterfully.
 Great until Barth and Bultmann get in the way... August 7, 2003
17 out of 25 found this review helpful
As a huge fan of Charles Schultz and Peanuts, I was really looking forward to reading this book. And, indeed, much of it is excellent. However, Robert Short gets into real trouble when he starts attempting to explain what he calls the "heresy of eternal damnation". Short winds up stating that no one is damned, that all eventually will be in heaven with God. It's an argument that can make one feel good, but his arguments against the reality of hell as presented in the New Testament are weak and against the whole of orthodox Christianity. If Short stated this was his theory, that would be one thing; it's another entirely to call a central belief of the Christian church heresy. Short is right in emphasizing that the message of Christianity is positive; those who preach Christ as an escape from hell are missing the point entirely. But Short has an annoying habit of throwing away the real difficulties of Christianity, providing simple explanations that soothe the reader but don't provide a genuine picture of what the church has struggled with for millenia. Ultimately, Short comes across as just another unhelpful liberal theologian. However, Schultz's comics which illustrate the book throughout are as timeless as ever, and though Short doesn't always work them into his text well, they stand on their own as they always have.
Nothing Wishy-Washy Here April 20, 2002
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
This is a new edition of a book originally published in 1968. As such, many readers are probably already familiar with this title. I, however, had never seen it before. As a Christian and a fan of Peanuts, I found it to be a very good book.One of the reasons I think I like it is that, since it was written in 1968, it's not one of these wishy-washy new-age/ spirituality books that have become so common. Someone looking for "inspiration" should look elsewhere. This book is a serious theological tract that uses Peanuts cartoons to illustrate various points. I found this to be a very clever approach with which Charles Schulz himself "could not be more pleased." I also like the fact that Short is not afraid to come out and say what he thinks. He tackles the tough questions of Christianity and gives the answers he believes are true. He doesn't try to sugar-coat the cross that a Christian is required to carry and he tries to make his way down to the very core of Christian belief. This is a worthwhile task. On the other hand, I did find Short to be a bit repetitive in his writing. He hammers away his points over and over. Additionally, I have to say that I'm not a believer in everything he has to say. That, in and of itself, is fine with me. People willing to state their convictions make me willing to examine my own more deeply. This is something we all--even Mr. Short--need to do from time to time if we are to keep our faith strong.
|
|
|
www.bestcomicbook.com view our
links | |
![[your site name here]](http://www.bestcomicbook.com/img/banner10b.jpg)