Comments on: Why is Humor Not a Christian Virtue?

By: mysteryofiniquity

mysteryofiniquity — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:00:21 +0000

Larry,
I never said that no Christian has a sense of humor. I said that fundamentalists of all religions have a curious inability to laugh at themselves. That’s far different. It implies seeing themselves with realistic eyes and trying to see themselves as others see them and getting the joke. I don’t find any of this in fundamentalism.

By: Obi

Obi — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:08:45 +0000

Or overt madness.

By: Rover

Rover — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:04:26 +0000

“I miss Joe”

subtle humor

By: Larry T

Larry T — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:00:48 +0000

I’m a Christian and I loved “The Life of Brian”. I love it when the “Judaic Liberation Front” start complaining about the Romans and the leader says “What have the Romans ever done for us!!??”" And a voice from the back says “They gave us plumbing sir”. The leader says “Alright then, besides plumbing, what have the Romans ever done for us?” The voice says “The made a very good road system sir”. “Well, besides the plumbing and roads, what have the Romans ever done for us?” etc. etc. Hilarious!!

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:48:13 +0000

I for one only laughed when it was totally religion-unrelated.

As a self-respecting geek I of course loved Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but at the sacrilegious parts I normally only gave out a nervous, guilty chuckle.

By: Rover

Rover — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:33:50 +0000

I think some Christian have a really fine sense of humor. I for one sincerely enjoy Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

I miss Joe.

By: Larry T

Larry T — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:17:57 +0000

Sure, fundies never come right out and SAY, “Don’t laugh” because they don’t have to. It’s part of the package. Sure, they all SEEM to be happy, laughing people, but it’s always at another’s expense. Those of us going to hell, that is.

Mystery of Iniquity—you should ask those who used to be Christians here if the only time they laughed when they were christians was at someone else’s expense. It would be interesting to see what the deconverts say. Did they ever have a really good laugh when they were Christians? Did they ever laugh at themselves? I think most of them will say they did.

Not discounting the fact that some Christians do laugh at the expense of others, but it is wrong to put everyone in the same box and say that no Christians have a sense of humor. I really don’t think that is true. No more comments—two in a row is enogh

By: Larry T

Larry T — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:10:41 +0000

“That is the first recorded time man at deviled ham”.

Sorry–meant to say “ate deviled ham”

By: Larry T

Larry T — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:09:22 +0000

This post really is untrue. I laugh at Peter in the Bible quite a bit. He is so sure of himself that he does many wacky things actually. Or the woman at the well—Jesus says “true—you have had five husbands, and the man you are with now you are not married to”
Her response? “Sir, I perceive you are a prophet”. (John 4) That’s actually some pretty funny stuff when you think about it.

And when Jesus sent the demons into the swine and they ran down into the lake. My Pastor said “That is the first recorded time man at deviled ham”.

The post is a bit unfair, because there are many historical accounts of people—take George Washington as just an example of many—that tell of his life, but do not meniton uproarious moments of humor in his life either. Most historical accounts—unless they are about comedians, etc, do not mention much about the humorous aspects of a person, as it is following a story which is being told.

I truly think Jesus himself often smiled and laughed (I love it when movies show him doing so—it is far more real than some somber Jesus surrounded with light and a halo on his head). And I think the Apostles probably often laughed—what fishermen don’t have their jokes etc. I’m sure they were able to laugh at themselves.

I’m sure there was far more laughter and self-deprecation going on than is revealed in the Bible—men are men, women are women—a whole group of people are not going to lose their sence of humor simply because they believe in God. That is actually quite ridiculous. just my opinion.

By: justachristian

justachristian — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:56:39 +0000

You know I never realized the bible hardly mentions humor in all its books. I guess if you are trying to convince someone to stop doing something they really like (sex, eat, drink, etc) its hard to be funny.

In the modern age, with food readily available (to first world nations), its easier to laugh and take a more humorous approach to things. Case in point is God’s Pottery on last comic standing. Granted the act got old, but still I thought it was humorous for one show.