Comments on: Every Time a Christian Laughs an Angel’s Wings Drop Off http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/ Trying God's patience since 1958 Wed, 23 May 2012 16:29:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Don Rappe http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67726 Don Rappe Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:46:36 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67726 OK, I know no one but me finds that funny. But, then sometimes I laugh at mathematics jokes. I agree with John. It's very personal. OK, I know no one but me finds that funny. But, then sometimes I laugh at mathematics jokes. I agree with John. It’s very personal.

]]> By: Don Rappe http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67725 Don Rappe Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:43:18 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67725 Friedreich Nietzsche criticized Christianity for being completely humorless and thus created a problem for countless dogmaticians (systematic theologians). As John correctly points out, defining humor dogmatically is like balancing a balloon on the point of a needle. Does this account for the set in concrete smile of many Biblical literalists and other absolutists? I think it does. Still Nietzsche is more dead than God! Ha ha ha! (Christian humor) "Why do the heathen rage? He who sits in the heavens shall laugh!" Friedreich Nietzsche criticized Christianity for being completely humorless and thus created a problem for countless dogmaticians (systematic theologians). As John correctly points out, defining humor dogmatically is like balancing a balloon on the point of a needle. Does this account for the set in concrete smile of many Biblical literalists and other absolutists? I think it does. Still Nietzsche is more dead than God! Ha ha ha! (Christian humor) “Why do the heathen rage? He who sits in the heavens shall laugh!”

]]> By: Don Rappe http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67722 Don Rappe Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:20:29 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67722 I had to look up RCA, but, I'm pretty sure the definition of Reformed is: "To not know what a thurible is (or anything like that)". I was just surprised to find my spell checker was Reformed. But, now it is Lutheran/Episcopalian. Possibly even Catholic. Like 2/3 of the world's Christians. I had to look up RCA, but, I’m pretty sure the definition of Reformed is: “To not know what a thurible is (or anything like that)”. I was just surprised to find my spell checker was Reformed. But, now it is Lutheran/Episcopalian. Possibly even Catholic. Like 2/3 of the world’s Christians.

]]> By: c http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67706 c Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:44:45 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67706 I'm reminded of an old story about Kraft Foods building a plant in Nazareth, PA. They're calling it Cheesus of Nazareth. I’m reminded of an old story about Kraft Foods building a plant in Nazareth, PA. They’re calling it Cheesus of Nazareth.

]]> By: Phil Wala http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67624 Phil Wala Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:32:58 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67624 Check out http://larknews.com. It's what happens when evangelical Christianity meets The Onion. Check out http://larknews.com. It’s what happens when evangelical Christianity meets The Onion.

]]> By: Dennis Gilbert http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67517 Dennis Gilbert Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:11:23 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67517 I think you have a wonderfully twisted sense of humor, and you have a gift for sarcasm. Some folks just think laughing means you're not a serious person, and we know that not to be true. I think you have a wonderfully twisted sense of humor, and you have a gift for sarcasm. Some folks just think laughing means you’re not a serious person, and we know that not to be true.

]]> By: SugarMags http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67484 SugarMags Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:02:33 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67484 I despise those Chicklet things. There's no room for cheese on them at all. I despise those Chicklet things. There’s no room for cheese on them at all.

]]> By: Katherine Sinclair http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-67481 Katherine Sinclair Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:48:21 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-67481 You know who's funny and not vulgar? Mike Birbiglia. I discovered him on This American Life. He's self-depreciating and talks a lot about his own life in hilarious and sometimes thoughtful ways. He has a great bit on Christian (and other religions) music that I found on YouTube. It just kills me. You know who’s funny and not vulgar? Mike Birbiglia. I discovered him on This American Life. He’s self-depreciating and talks a lot about his own life in hilarious and sometimes thoughtful ways. He has a great bit on Christian (and other religions) music that I found on YouTube. It just kills me.

]]> By: pastoralmusings http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-11325 pastoralmusings Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:10:04 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-11325 C.H. Spurgeon often laughed. He thanked God for the gift of laughter. He once responded to those who did not like his humor by telling them that they should be glad that he held so much back. Humor is not the exclusive domain of the secular world. I get a kick out of Mark Lowery. He can really roast some sacred cows, but do it in a way that will make you think about what he's saying even if you don't agree. Humor, I think, is somewhat relative, too. Last night while in the pulpit I told my church that Jesus was much more tactful than I (I really wasn't thinking when I said it), I then turned to one of my references, and read where Jesus looked at a guy and said, "You hypocrite!" I started laughing right then and said, "You see, I told you Jesus was tactful!" C.H. Spurgeon often laughed. He thanked God for the gift of laughter. He once responded to those who did not like his humor by telling them that they should be glad that he held so much back.

Humor is not the exclusive domain of the secular world. I get a kick out of Mark Lowery. He can really roast some sacred cows, but do it in a way that will make you think about what he's saying even if you don't agree.

Humor, I think, is somewhat relative, too. Last night while in the pulpit I told my church that Jesus was much more tactful than I (I really wasn't thinking when I said it), I then turned to one of my references, and read where Jesus looked at a guy and said, "You hypocrite!" I started laughing right then and said, "You see, I told you Jesus was tactful!"

]]> By: skerrib http://johnshore.com/2009/01/14/the-christian-world-view-and-humor-like-a-balloon-and-a-needle/comment-page-1/#comment-11316 skerrib Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:20:26 +0000 http://johnshore.com/?p=2105#comment-11316 A quick story first--back when my husband and I were first married our church still used real bread for the communion (now they've resorted to the little Chiclet-looking things--terrible). They would pass around chunks and everyone would tear off a little piece. My husband went to take his little piece, and ended up with a strip of bread close to 4" long. But it was the middle of communion and he'd already touched it, what do you do? So he handed off the plate, and the usher-guy (who is a friend of ours) leaned over & asked, "you want some cheese with that?" Luckily we were able to keep our giggling quiet, and luckily it is the kind of church that doesn't kick people out for trying (unsuccessfully) not to giggle during communion. A quick story first–back when my husband and I were first married our church still used real bread for the communion (now they've resorted to the little Chiclet-looking things–terrible). They would pass around chunks and everyone would tear off a little piece. My husband went to take his little piece, and ended up with a strip of bread close to 4" long. But it was the middle of communion and he'd already touched it, what do you do? So he handed off the plate, and the usher-guy (who is a friend of ours) leaned over & asked, "you want some cheese with that?" Luckily we were able to keep our giggling quiet, and luckily it is the kind of church that doesn't kick people out for trying (unsuccessfully) not to giggle during communion.

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