It’s Iimi! Guilty As Charged

In the club period, Lilavati asks a question based on an anti-Catholic stereotype Saul told her about confession. Mike has his own question about the harmfulness of guilt. Iimi and her friends need to show why it’s neither wrong nor harmful to realize you’re GUILTY AS CHARGED…

It’s Iimi! Coffee Clash II: Electric Boogaloo

Returning from the mystagogia lessons of RCIA and waiting for the next bus, Iimi and Kismetta have another encounter at the coffee shop with Najiyah. Only this time, she’s joined by Assistant Imam Salah Hamdan.

 

Pre-Comic Notes

If you are wondering about the title, the phrase is often mockingly used for an unwanted and unnecessary sequel. The origin is the 1984 movie Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo… which was an unwanted and unnecessary sequel to a mediocre breakdancing movie.

Post-Comic Notes

If you forgot what “Lesson One” means, this is Peter Kreeft’s term for Socrates’ “realizing that you are ignorant about something.” You need to understand that you’re ignorant before you can start to learn about it (“Lesson Two.”) It’s discussed in Issue 27.

With the Assistant Imam, Salah Hamdan, you need to realize he’s educated, but he’s also young, lacking the experience of the Imam or Ibtihaj. He’s not intended to be a cardboard cutout villain. 

The arguments used by Salah in this comic are arguments actual Muslims have used.

It’s Iimi! Transitions II

Before school, Kismetta struggles with whether she is “worthy” or ready to enter the Church, and prays for help. On the way back from lunch in the cafeteria, Iimi and Kismetta find themselves in an increasingly expanding discussion of the Church. How is this an answer to her prayers?

Post-Comic Notes:

Given the way that biology works, I knew Sumeja would be having the baby in February when I decided she was pregnant. I also knew this would be when she made contact with Kismetta. The Dhumzur family is back, and will turn up from time to time in the coming year.

It’s Iimi! Better Call Paul

Iimi tries to find the proper balance between when to speak out and when to draw boundaries. While Fr. Gabe’s talk at Youth Group seems to offer solace, it will be tested when Najiyah asks questions aimed at “reverting” Kismetta to Islam. 

 

Will Iimi be able to defend Kismetta’s newfound beliefs while avoiding being overloaded?

 

Preliminary notes:

While not planned (I work about a month in advance in writing these comics), the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul falls on January 25^th, so things lined up nicely for this comic.

 

Outside of a brief mention in Issue 107, I never really dealt with the Muslim objections to St. Paul. The reason was that the arguments used were so weak I assumed they were strawmen arguments. But further research showed that they are indeed seen as “refutations” of Christianity. 

 

The general assumption among Muslims in these arguments is that because our Scriptures do not say the same thing as the Quran, they must have been corrupted. Paul is a common suspect. The Council of Nicaea is another.

 

Since Kismetta is in the process of converting, it made sense to have Najiyah raise these points in hopes of “saving” Kismetta.

 

The Exhortation (Christus Vivit) that Fr. Gabe read can be found HERE.

Post-Comic Notes:

Dhu alshier al’azraq is Arabic and roughly translates as “blue-haired one.”

 

For those unfamiliar with the Pop culture reference, the title and the cover are a parody of the TV series, “Better Call Saul.”