That an “artist” would be accused of publicly assaulting the Christian religion is hardly news; even the obscene scribblings on display recently at the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, Scotland hardly attracted any attention. Thus, when the Associated Press carries a headline, “Comic-Strip Artist R. Crumb Mocks Book of Genesis,” the “news” in the story is not that yet another “artist” may be cashing in on shock value, but that the aging ’60s artist was still alive. For a reader born after 1968 — unless they are “fans” of the underground comix genre — the most immediate reaction they would have to today’s story is: “Who?”

Robert Crumb (or “R. Crumb”) is probably best known for the “Keep on Truckin’” image once popular along the left edge of the “baby boom” generation, and — like listening to a Grateful Dead album or listening to a National Public Radio broadcast — Crumb’s work is likely to evoke a period-appropriate “flashback.” Now, the artist who describes his own religious views as “Gnostic” has decided to turn his attention to the first book of the Old Testament. According to the AP:

"The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb" was published last month, and on Oct. 24 the stunningly detailed, beautifully crafted black-and-white drawings that comprise its 201 pages will go on display at Los Angeles' Hammer Museum. After the exhibition closes in February it will move on to other cities, including New York and Portland, Ore., a circumstance that has the normally circumspect Crumb shaking his head in disbelief.

"The Bible! Jesus! Incredible," Crumb says in a voice filled with awe as he reflects on the project that has consumed the last five years of his life.

Indeed, the project does raise an obvious question: Why would the guy famous for drawing voluptuous women and nerdy looking, well-endowed men, who put the phrase "Keep on Truckin"' into the national vocabulary with his posters of a big-footed oddball out for a walk, and who by his own admission owes much of his artistic inspiration to his extensive use of LSD in the 1960s, take on the Bible?

"It's kind of complicated," Crumb guffaws during a phone interview from his home in the south of France.

"I don't think 'Genesis' is a good place to look for spiritual guidance or moral guidance," he continues.

"I don't believe it's the word of God.”

"At the same time," he continues, "I think the stories are very powerful. I'm not out to ridicule them or belittle them."

Of course, denying that the book is a “good place to look for spiritual guidance” does not rest easily next to the claim one is not “belittling” Genesis; but Mr. Crumb and his readers have a right to form their own opinions.

As of this writing, Crumb’s Genesis is ranked #14 in overall sales at Amazon.com, just above Glenn Beck’s Arguing with Idiots, a lucrative place to be, and a correlation the significance of which we will leave to our readers.

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Bonnie said:

	Mr. Crumb may want to rethink his position But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 1:17-19
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October 22, 2009
Votes: +6

Crumb Cartoon Images / Information said:

	Robert will take some heat, but . . . I think R. Crumb will survive the onslaught of critics. This is tame, compared to what he illustrated in his crazy daze!
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October 22, 2009 | url
Votes: -4

Flu-Bird said:

	Crumb is a crumby comedian I suppose this idiot belives everything he reads in NATIONAL GEOGRAFAKE and thinks all this ancrstors swung from trees he only proves he is a pathetic fool
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October 23, 2009
Votes: +0

BAYMAN said:

... Nobody objects to this rendition of Biblically inspired illustration in the Newsweek account of R Crumb's book. Not this article, the Newsweek article. Look it up. I suppose because the person who wrote the article didn't say that R Crumb was mocking the Bible. He said, in fact, that it was something like reverential. But wherever one goes these days, one finds Christians quoting the Bible in comments, aggressively proselytizing. Mindless sheep.

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October 23, 2009
Votes: -5

For Freedom... said:

To Bayman and Crum Cartoon... God is not mocked...whatever you sow you will reap. He is patient...not wanting anyone to perish. You treat with dishonor the Creator....that is a perilous place to be. If you really knew Him you would not be so cavalier in your remarks. Listen to the rapture of Handel's Hallalujah Chorus. The Oratorio was created by someone in relationship with God. You cannot call Handel mindless. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fu8YIG8uyQ

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October 23, 2009
Votes: +3

patriot1964 said:

	Crumb's Demise I used to be a comics fanatic and if I remember right, R. Crumb met his end by committing suicide(?). Had he known a loving Creator, he might have been comforted enough to avoid his fate.
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October 23, 2009
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Rachsuchtiger Spurhund said:

	Crumb Respectful Crumb's Genesis is completely respectful of the scripture. Too bad Mr. Heiser is not, for he is a bearer of false witness. The ten commandments are no doubt familiary to him; my guess is that he simply does not care.
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October 24, 2009
Votes: -2

Puzzled said:

... Mr. Crumb says, "I don't think 'Genesis' is a good place to look for spiritual guidance or moral guidance," he continues. "I don't believe it's the word of God.” Rachsuchtiger Spurhund, you seem to agree with Mr. Crumb. Then you accuse Mr. Heiser of violating one of the ten commandments. Are you aware, Rachsuchtiger Spurhund, that the ten commandments appears in the book of Genesis? How can you deny that a set of rules exist, and then turn around and accuse someone of violating those same rules?

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October 24, 2009
Votes: +1

joey alone said:

	crumb the adulterer... Jesus is lord! Many times have i turned my lustful eyes away from another man and turned away from the flame of homosexuality because of the lord, and this blasphemous fool insults the religion that hath prevented me from being that which i am not! Curse him!
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October 25, 2009
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