The Theology of <span style="font-style:italic;">Calvin and Hobbes</span>: Table of Contents

Welcome to the Table of Contents of my online series of essays entitled The Theology of Calvin and Hobbes.

Last school year I wrote a series of essays for an "online book" about The Theology of Peanuts. I had such fun with that project and so many of you enjoyed it that I thought I'd offer up this sequel, The Theology of Calvin and Hobbes.

I grew up with Peanuts so that was a natural place for me to begin, but during the writing of The Theology of Peanuts many of you (mostly former students of mine) expressed your fondness for Calvin and Hobbes. Demographically, this makes sense. Calvin and Hobbes appeared from November 18, 1985 to December 31, 1995. I was in college and graduate school during those years, a bit too busy to notice or keep up with the Calvin and Hobbes phenomenon. But for many of my former students Calvin and Hobbes was a large part of their childhood.

So I was late in coming to Calvin and Hobbes, but after The Theology of Peanuts I was looking for something new to explore. Consequently, I promptly went out and purchased The Complete Calvin and Hobbes and sat down to read. The three volumes of The Complete Calvin and Hobbes weighs over 22 pounds, but it is a beautiful bit of publishing. I sat, read, laughed, and pondered through the spring and summer. I now count myself to be a fan of Bill Watterson's genius. My affection for Calvin and Hobbes now rivals my love for Peanuts.

So welcome to The Theology of Calvin and Hobbes.

Table of Contents

Prologue: Incurvatus in se

Part 1: Human Nature
Chapter 1: "Virtue needs some cheaper thrills."
Chapter 2: The Democracy of Sinners
Chapter 3: A Vindictive, Twisted Elf

Part 2: Wagons and Wills
Chapter 4: The Wagon Ride
Chapter 5: "Quit playing with your oatmeal and eat it."
Chapter 6: Get Rid of Slimy Girls

Part 3: The Immanent Frame
Chapter 7: Spaceman Spiff and Religious Experience
Chapter 8: Monsters Under the Bed
Chapter 9: "I can't figure out this death stuff."

Part 4: Satan
Chapter 10: Bully
Chapter 11: "The world seems like a pretty mean place."

Part 5: Grace
Chapter 12: Calvinball
Chapter 13: "All shall be well."
Chapter 14: Hobbes

Epilogue: "Let's go exploring!"