Welcome to this week’s “Throwback Thursday” installment. Today, we’re going to revisit a post that was originally published back on June 1, 2016 and has been revised.
I attended an independent fundamental Baptist (IFB) church from 1983 to 1991. Back in those days it was very common to see tracts from Jack Chick Publications in fundamentalist Baptist circles. Chick tracts were usually spread out on the information table of our church lobby, available for visitors and members. The tracts were illustrated like small comic books, but there was nothing comical about them.
Tracts, comic books, and books from Chick Publications contained information that was extremely critical of Roman Catholicism. I bought several comic books and books from Chick Publications, but many of the claims appeared to be outrageously irresponsible and without any foundation. According to Chick and the mysterious, alleged ex-Jesuit priest, Alberto Rivera, the author of several of the publications, every calamity that ever beset Western Civilization could be traced back to the Jesuits or a pope. This was going way too far.
Unfortunately, Jack Chick’s sensationalistic half-truths and conspiracy theories (presented as fact) hurt the efforts of credible Christian outreach ministries to Roman Catholics. There is more than enough verifiable material regarding Roman Catholic doctrine and history to critique without resorting to exaggeration and fanciful and fraudulent extrapolations. Christians unfortunately began to lump together responsible witness to Roman Catholicism with Chick’s extremism. Chick was also a propagator of take-no-prisoners KJV 1611-Onlyism.
See Victor’s excellent post below for more details regarding Chick Publications.
Just as an image formed on a plane mirror is a duplication or reflection of the object placed directly opposite its surface, there is also a dangerous condition that can affect Christians contending for the faith which can make them start to reflect what they are contending against. A person opposed to a set of […]
via The “Mirror Image” Syndrome — The Kindled Flame Blog
Postscript: Chick Publications still offers its “Alberto Series” comic books, perhaps the focus of a critical review project in the future.
excatholic4christ 
Good post, Tom. Some of those tracts have some pretty brutal imagery. I remember one in particular I had to keep away from my son when he was a boy. Just too terrifying.
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Thanks, David! Yup, and in addition to their sensationalistic graphics, their accusations against the Jesuits was really crazy stuff such as creating the Nazis, the Bolsheviks, the Ku Klux Klan, the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Freemasons, and Christian Science. Also sinking the Titanic. And that Jim Jones was a secret Jesuit agent. I would advise anyone going to a church that recommended Chick Publications to run to the nearest exit.
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Going to read this now!
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👍
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=)
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As a teenager in high school I really wanted to read some of those books by Chick Tracks especially the Alberto series. Now I look back and I’m glad God spared me from that.
I use to use their tracts a lot as people actually read them but then I saw a lot of sensationalized tracts especially the newer ones…and also the KJVO stuff. This is memory lane post for me
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I was contemplating re-purchasing, re-reading, and reviewing the Alberto series (8 comics), but I don’t think think I want to get mired down in all of that Jesuit conspiracy theory craziness.
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Wow that would be a fascinating review(s)!
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Well, I guess I’m undecided. When I’m done with my current multiple series, reviewing the Alberto comics with all of their fraudulent claims would be interesting.
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👍👍👍
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