Lucas Delgado
Chick tracts are short evangelical gospel tracts in a comic book format, created by American cartoonist Jack Chick in the 1960s. His most famous tract, This Was Your Life!, was published in 1964. In it, a man holding a drink drops dead, and an angel takes him to a celestial drive-in theater, where scenes from his past play before him. His sins are tallied, and his name is not found in the Book of Life; he is damned. However, an alternate ending is offered: embrace Jesus and be rewarded with eternal joy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Published | 1964 |
| Author | Jack T. Chick |
| Genre | Comic book, Christian speculative fantasy |
| Publisher | Chick Publications Inc. |
| Number of Copies | Over 50 million |
| Number of Languages | Over 100 |
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What You'll Learn
Jack Chick's death
Jack Chick, the creator of Chick tracts, died on 23 October 2016, at the age of 92. He was an American cartoonist, publisher, and evangelist, best known for his fundamentalist Christian "Chick tracts", which took the form of short evangelical gospel tracts in a comic book format.
Chick's work was highly controversial, with his comics being described as "equal parts hate literature and fire-and-brimstone sermonizing". His tracts often insulted the Catholic Church, Muslims, gay people, and other groups, accusing them of murder and conspiracies. Chick himself was a recluse and, according to some, a paranoid character. Despite the controversy, Chick Publications, his company, claims to have sold over 750 million copies of his tracts in more than 100 languages.
Chick's death was confirmed by his secretary and friend of 45 years, Karen Rockney, who said she had last seen him the day before. Chick had been in poor health for weeks and knew he was nearing the end of his life. He is survived by his second wife, Susy or Susie Chick, and his first wife, Lola Lynn Priddle, and their daughter, Carol, predeceased him in 1998 due to surgery complications.
Chick's legacy is a complex one, with his tracts being described as "wild and harmful Christian speculative fantasy". However, some also regarded his work as folk art, and his small cartoon booklets became collectors' items. In the wake of his death, a biography titled "You Don't Know Jack: The Authorized Biography of Christian Cartoonist Jack T. Chick" was published by Chick Publications in 2017, containing previously unpublished photographs of Chick.
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This Was Your Life! plot
Chick tracts are short evangelical gospel tracts in a comic book format, created by American cartoonist Jack Chick since the 1960s. Chick's work has been described as "wild and harmful Christian speculative fantasy", with some critics noting that he took "delight in drawing demon critters—a practice cultural fundamentalists ordinarily forbid".
'This Was Your Life!' was one of the first Chick tracts ever read by some readers. The plot of 'This Was Your Life!' is not available online, but it is likely to contain similar themes to other Chick tracts, which include strong anti-Catholic views and criticisms of other faiths, including Islam.
Chick tracts are approximately 20 pages long and measure 3 by 5 inches (8 by 13 cm). They are written in a comic book style, with illustrations accompanying the text. Chick's company, Chick Publications, has continued to print his work, as well as tracts in a similar style by other writers. Over 250 different titles have been produced, with about 100 still in print and available in over 100 languages.
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Criticism of This Was Your Life
Chick tracts are short evangelical gospel tracts in a comic book format, created by American cartoonist Jack Chick since the 1960s. His company Chick Publications has printed over 250 different titles, with about 100 still in print and available in over 100 languages.
Chick tracts have been criticised for their controversial viewpoints, including strong anti-Catholic views and criticisms of other faiths. Religious historian Philip Jenkins describes Chick tracts as promulgating "bizarre allegations of Catholic conspiracy and sexual hypocrisy" to perpetuate "anti-papal and anti-Catholic mythologies". Michael Ian Borer, a sociology professor at Furman University, has also described Chick's strong anti-Catholic themes.
Chick tracts have also been criticised for their negative portrayal of Islam. More than ten tracts have been published on the subject, including 'Allah Had No Son', in which a Muslim is converted to Christianity when he is told that Allah is a pagan moon god. 'Camels in the Tent' claims that Muslim immigration will lead to the establishment of Sharia law in the United States and the forceful conversion of non-Muslims to Islam. In December 2008, a Singaporean couple was charged with sedition for distributing the Chick tracts 'The Little Bride' and 'Who Is Allah?', which were said to "promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between Christians and Muslims in Singapore".
Chick tracts have also been criticised for their homophobic and anti-Semitic messaging. In July 2020, Avon and Somerset Police investigated the distribution of Chick publications in Bristol, England, as hate speech. Some tracts were banned from being republished due to their notorious nature.
'This Was Your Life', one of Chick's most popular tracts, has received mixed reviews. While some readers enjoyed it, others found it boring and scary. One reviewer noted that the tract comes off as "a bit quaint", as the protagonist is sent to Hell for rejecting Christ, rather than for being gay or believing in science, as in other Chick tracts. The reviewer also criticised the tract for portraying the protagonist's greatest sin as being a "colossal douche". Another reader recalled finding the tract in a hospital waiting room as a child, and being scared by the imagery and story. They felt that the tract had a negative impact on their life, contributing to their wasted years as a Christian.
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Other Chick tracts
Chick tracts are short evangelical gospel tracts in a comic book format, originally created by American cartoonist Jack Chick in the 1960s. His company Chick Publications has printed over 250 different titles, about 100 of which are still in print and available in over 100 languages. The tracts are approximately 3 by 5 inches (8 by 13 cm), and twenty pages in length.
Chick tracts have been criticised for perpetuating anti-Catholic, anti-Muslim, and homophobic rhetoric. The Hindu American Foundation has stated that "Chick Publications promotes hatred not just against Hindus, but also towards Muslims, Catholics, and others". Several tracts have featured the ideas of anti-Catholic conspiracy theorist Alberto Rivera, such as claims that the Catholic Church created Islam, Communism, Nazism, and Freemasonry.
Chick tracts dealing with "false religions" include a prayer with a clause to reject these religions, along with directions for converting to Christianity. Media, such as television, film, and rock music (including Christian rock) are depicted as part of a satanic conspiracy to promote acceptance of homosexuality and evolution. Some tracts, like Let's Fly Away and The Throw Away Kid, portray the subject of child abuse.
Chick's claims about homosexuality have angered gay activists. In 1974, members of the Gay People's Liberation Alliance and the Women's Coalition protested the distribution of Chick tracts at Iowa State University, claiming that they provided an inaccurate representation of gay and bisexual people. Later tracts on homosexuality depict gay rights activists as aggressive and prone to violence. In Doom Town, Chick claims that HIV-positive gay men plan to donate blood illegally to protest a lack of federal funding for HIV/AIDS research.
Chick tracts have inspired many parodies, and he was featured as the subject of the documentary, God's Cartoonist. Two other Chick tracts, "The Sissy" and "Tiny Shoes," have been made into short animated films.
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Chick's legacy
Jack Chick's legacy is a complex one, particularly given the controversial nature of his work. Chick tracts are short evangelical gospel tracts in a comic book format, with over 250 different titles produced, about 100 of which are still in print and available in over 100 languages. Chick tracts have been criticised for their strong anti-Catholic views and their criticism of other faiths, including Islam. Several tracts have featured the ideas of anti-Catholic conspiracy theorist Alberto Rivera, with claims such as "In 1933, Catholic Germany, serving under the Vatican, launched a 20th-century inquisition, murdering 6 million Jews". Religious historian Philip Jenkins describes Chick tracts as promulgating "bizarre allegations of Catholic conspiracy and sexual hypocrisy" to perpetuate "anti-papal and anti-Catholic mythologies".
Chick tracts have also been accused of perpetuating harmful stereotypes and promoting feelings of ill-will and hostility between Christians and Muslims in Singapore. Despite this, some people have found Chick tracts to be thought-provoking and a good conversation starter about the gospel.
Chick's work has also been described as wild and harmful Christian speculative fantasy, with a particular focus on witchcraft and Catholicism. Over time, Chick became increasingly obsessed with these topics and "fighting them". Chick's work has been parodied and criticised for its sensationalist nature, with some believing that it was satirical rather than serious.
Despite the controversy surrounding Chick tracts, they have had a significant impact and reach, with Chick Publications continuing to print Chick's work, as well as tracts in a similar style by other writers.
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Frequently asked questions
"This Was Your Life" was first published in 1964.
In the comic, a man holding a drink suddenly dies and is taken by an angel to a celestial drive-in theatre, where scenes from his life are played. His sins are tallied, and his name is not found in the Book of Life; he is damned. However, the story offers an alternative ending: embrace Jesus and be rewarded with eternity in heaven.
Chick tracts are short evangelical gospel tracts in a comic book format, created by American cartoonist Jack Chick since the 1960s. They are approximately 3 by 5 inches (8 by 13 cm) and twenty pages long. Chick Publications, based in California, has produced over 250 titles, with about 100 still in print and available in over 100 languages.
