Jesus Laughed: The Redemptive Power of Humor
“Agony and hilarity,” said Norman MacLean, “are both necessary for salvation.” We Christians seem to know a lot about the agony part, but what about hilarity? Why do we have to remind ourselves so often that the Bible is full of funny and ridiculous stories and situations? Why do so few of the pictures we’ve drawn of Jesus show him laughing? Because we’ve forgotten the redemptive power of humor, that’s why. In Jesus Laughed, Robert Darden–senior editor of The Wittenburg Door, the world’s...
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“Agony and hilarity,” said Norman MacLean, “are both necessary for salvation.” We Christians seem to know a lot about the agony part, but what about hilarity? Why do we have to remind ourselves so often that the Bible is full of funny and ridiculous stories and situations? Why do so few of the pictures we’ve drawn of Jesus show him laughing? Because we’ve forgotten the redemptive power of humor, that’s why. In Jesus Laughed, Robert Darden-senior editor of The Wittenburg Door, the world’s oldest, largest, and pretty much only religious satire magazine-draws on his years of experience deflating religious pomposity and making the faithful laugh to show why humor is so central to the faith, and how to make it a big part of your daily walk with God. Darden runs the project at Baylor University where he is a journalism professor. The purpose of the project is to identify, acquire, preserve, record, and catalogue the most at-risk music from the black gospel music tradition, primarily between 1945 and 1970. Robert Darden is Associate Professor of Journalism at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He served for 12 years as Gospel Music Editor for Billboard magazine, and since 1988 has been Senior Editor of The Wittenburg Door, the world’s oldest, largest, and “pretty much only” religious satire magazine. He is the author of more than 25 books, including the definitive People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music, which has been featured on National Public Radio, and Reluctant Prophets and Clueless Disciples, also published by Abingdon Press. Graham Christian - Library Journal Darden (journalism & Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, Baylor Univ.; People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music) is senior editor of The Wittenberg Door, a beloved religious satire magazine, on- and offline. Not surprisingly, his latest book recommends laughter and humor as important and even essential components of Christian life. He strains to find humor within Christian scripture itself-instances of the words laugh and laughter are as likely to suggest cruel mockery-but he is on better ground when he advocates laughter as part of the joy of the fulfilled spiritual life. For most collections.
Thanks to ixIntroduction xiWhat Humor Is and How to Recognize It, Day or Night 1For the Bible Tells Me So 21New Testament Humor 39How the Church Lost the Ability to Laugh 61"The redeemed ought to look more like it!" 83Carbonated Holiness 99It's Time for the Party to Begin 117Resource List 133
\ Library JournalDarden (journalism & Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, Baylor Univ.; People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music) is senior editor of The Wittenberg Door, a beloved religious satire magazine, on- and offline. Not surprisingly, his latest book recommends laughter and humor as important and even essential components of Christian life. He strains to find humor within Christian scripture itself-instances of the words laugh and laughter are as likely to suggest cruel mockery-but he is on better ground when he advocates laughter as part of the joy of the fulfilled spiritual life. For most collections.\ \ —Graham Christian\ \
