On June 5, 2009, The Washington Post posed the following question in a readers’ poll: “Do you think expressions of faith — and not just satiric references to religion — belong on the comics page?” Of the 257 participants, 70 percent answered “YES – the funnies are all about personal expression,” while 29 percent replied “NO – I believe in the separation of church and comics.” Should this be considered a surprising result?

Certainly, if you simply took into account the Post’s political bent, coupled with the extensive majority on the YES side. But if you step back and think about it, it’s really not that shocking. Although recent polls have shown that most cartoonists and animators are political and religious liberals, the cartoon universe has often depicted religion in a reasonably favorable light.