This is a modernization of The Parable of the Good Samaritan, featuring today’s outgroups. It’s an atheist/clergy collaboration brought to life by a wonderful artist.
The goals for this comic are to:
- fight bigotry
- comfort the stranger (outgroups)
- confront Christian nationalism (with the teachings of Jesus)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is subversive, because in that time and place Samaritans were a scorned outgroup – and Jesus made the Samaritan the hero of the story. But we have new outgroups today. So this modernization Jesus shows:
- an “illegal immigrant”
- a trans person
- a “drug addict”
- a niqab-wearing Muslim woman
- and a Christian
… being good neighbours to the person in need
FAQ
(this is duplicated in the Kickstarter)
Why modernize the Parable of the Good Samaritan?
In North America and Europe, bigots are attacking today’s outgroups: undocumented migrants (“illegal immigrants”). Trans people. Muslims. And others.
I asked some clergy friends if it would make sense to modernize the parable with today’s outgroups. They agreed and provided kind guidance.
Who will want to read this?
Non-religious people who value pluralism: a diverse society.
Progressive Christians.
Anyone whose family or friends have been harassed by religious bigots.
Everyone who is tired of bigots lipsticking their hate with faith.
Will this work?
Yes. Pictures speak louder than words.
Humanizing vulnerable groups in a cute way will make it harder for the hateful to de-humanize them later.
If this was made by Christians only, non-Christian and non-religious people might hesitate about it.
And if it was made by atheists only, Christians might hesitate.
An atheist/clergy collaboration makes the comic more approachable.
Will it be free?
Yes, this will eventually be a free download after a period of exclusivity for Kickstarter supporters. I don’t want people to have to pay for a resource that opposes bigotry or comforts the marginalized.
Readers are still encouraged to support the project.
I’d really like to reach the stretch fundraising goal and modernize a second parable, one which features an abusive oligarch. It seems timely for our era.
Who’s the girl?
The girl’s name is Sophie. (In Greek, sophia = knowledge)
Sophie was inspired by the Vatican Church’s anime mascot Luce, but she is not Luce. Luce is the intellectual property of the Catholic Church.
Why isn’t Jesus white?
Because the Jesus of history wasn’t.
Who is the Christian-who-helps?
The Christian woman is patterned on black civil rights and church leader Prathia Hall. Once, when Martin Luther King Jr. was in attendance, she gave a sermon, repeating the phrase “I have a dream”. She gave him permission to use the phrase in the future.