The total absence of humor from the Bible is one of the most singular things in all literature. -- Alfred North Whitehead
via The Technium
Added: JAL says, "Personally I have always snorted when Elijah, taunting the priests of Baal, whose 'god' can't be bothered to light the fire, says "So -- where is he? Off to take a poop?." (I Kings 18:27)
You will not read that in any versions, but if you look, there are numerous translations of that construction "he is pursuing" or "he is busy" all of which are rather euphemistic as the Hebrew is seeg - "withdrawing (into a private place)." Heh."
Added: JAL says, "Personally I have always snorted when Elijah, taunting the priests of Baal, whose 'god' can't be bothered to light the fire, says "So -- where is he? Off to take a poop?." (I Kings 18:27)
You will not read that in any versions, but if you look, there are numerous translations of that construction "he is pursuing" or "he is busy" all of which are rather euphemistic as the Hebrew is seeg - "withdrawing (into a private place)." Heh."
76 comments:
Are you asking if it's true that the commandments were really written on stone?
Or ... is it true that the commandments are "in stone" and therefore not subject to debate or open to interpretation?
Or ... is it true there's no humor in the bible?
;)
Doesn't God always have the last laugh?
Humor in the Bible? Much of the Old Testament is God saying "Look, don't make me come down there!" to the Israelites.
Then D'oh! He finally did, and they still didn't get it. Tough crowd, tough crowd.
Humor is also entirely missing from the New Yorker, whence this cartoon seems to originate.
The incredibly muted, restrained tone of the cartoons is an expression of class snobbery.
Too smart and too hip to fall for fart jokes.
Should the Bible be humorous? My pastor saves the funny stuff for the sermon. That's probably where it should be.
Monty Python certainly found a gold mine of humor in the Bible. I guess it just depends on how the story is told. Costume and production values are everything.
I didn't focus on the 'absence of humor' quote. I read the whole post you linked to at the bottom called "Environments are invisible." instead.
It's very good.
If I recall correctly, MM is the guy in Woody Allen's Annie Hall scene of a couple waiting in line outside a theater.
I know nothing of MM's work.
Thanks Deb.
Not totally without humor. Jesus says of Peter, after Peter denied him three times, "Upon this rock" - pause and glare - "I will build my church."
A couple approached their pastor after Sunday services. In his sermon, he had assured his flock that they could turn to God's word for help with any and all of their problems. He had marvelled at the way that no subject is overlooked, so that we can still find answers there.
The husband pulled him aside to lament that they had tried in vain to find help with a problem in their relationship. The pastor asked what it could possibly be, and promised to search for relevant passages to address their problem.
A bit embarrassed, the wife looked around to be sure no one overheard and quietly told him, "I can't seem to deal with my moodiness and I constantly snap at my husband. We both searched the Bible but can't find anyone who struggled with this."
The pastor was taken aback but mumbled that he would see what he could find and report back to her the following week.
The next Sunday he greeted them excitedly. "So," she asked, "Did you actually find something about my problem in the Bible?"
"Well," he replied, "I have to admit I was stumped at first, but then it came to me. It's right there in Luke's account of the Nativity."
The woman was completely perplexed. "But what does that story have to do with my moodiness?"
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked. "The whole time they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Mary was riding Joseph's ass."
Is it that there's no humor in the Bible, or that it is just so dated it isn't recognized as such NOW?
The Koran is a freakin' laff riot. That's why we have so many muzzie standup comedians.
I'll be here all ramadan.
Two drunks were pushing a Pentecostal church out of the neighborhood on account of the noise. When along came two thieves and while one distracted them the other one made off with the drunks winter coats.
After pausing a bit to rest, one drunk says to the other... I don't think we are making any progress. The other drunk responds, are you kidding?... we are pushing so hard, I cant even see my coat.
I cant find that joke anywhere in the bible.
(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love, and Understanding?)
Humorless people are a big red flag and should be avoided. The bible, well many people have been saved by it, and many people have killed others in it's name. So, obviously it has a full range of effects on people. But, no laughing.
Is it that there's no humor in the Bible, or that it is just so dated it isn't recognized as such
Yes- it was pre-irony, when it was understood that God always gets the last laugh.
Lem - WTF?
The Bhagavad Gita is hilarious. Every bit as funny as the Koran.
Ouch:
"As a gold ring in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman from whom sense has departed" (Proverbs 11:22).
"It is better to live in a desert than with a contentious and angry woman" (Proverbs 21:19).
"It is better to live on a corner of a roof, than in a house of companionship with a quarrelsome wife" (Proverbs 25:24).
"A constant dripping on a rainstormy day and a quarrelsome woman are alike" (Proverbs 27:15).
Thanks, Lem, I love that sort of subject.
Micah 2:11
If a liar and deceiver comes and says "I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer," that would be just the prophet for this people.
Ouch:
"How beautiful you are, my darling!
...Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn [sheep] coming up from washing, each one having a twin, and not one missing."
(Song of Songs 4:1-2)
"Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which overlooks Damascus"
(The Song of Songs 7:5).
I think the New Yorker cartoon is pretty good.
Moses gets backtalk, same as if he were one of us, just a stranger on the bus, trying to make his way home.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
What a friend we have in Cheeses.
Icepick:
Is it that there's no humor in the Bible, or that it is just so dated it isn't recognized as such NOW?
C Stanley:
Yes- it was pre-irony, when it was understood that God always gets the last laugh.
Great points. You need a commentary to get the jokes in Shakespeare, how much more that would be needed in Biblical times.
Good thought. Would both, or either the New Testament or Old be pre-ironic?
Mitchell, sometimes you are called upon to link :)
I don't think the ancient Israelites were alone in their lack of humor. When you think about it, there isn't a lot of humor in much of classical literature, unless it is comedy (e.g. Aristophanes). There may be puns, witty allusions, or double entendres, but just not a lot of down home humor.
There's not a lot of kneeslappers in Homer or Hesiod either. Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if the brutal beat-down scene in the Iliad between Thersites & Odysseus was heard by the ancients as comic.
Oh I think it's there -- but because there are few if any descriptions of the tone of voice, inflection, raised eyebrows etc., it doesn't come through easily to a casual reader.
Of course, we read the Bible with a much more 'western' mindset. I am sure a Jew reading the old testament picks up some things we don't.
Personally I have always snorted when Elijah, taunting the priests of Baal, whose 'god' can't be bothered to light the fire, says "So -- where is he? Off to take a poop?." (I Kings 18:27)
You will not read that in any versions, but if you look, there are numerous translations of that construction "he is pursuing" or "he is busy" all of which are rather euphemistic as the Hebrew is seeg - "withdrawing (into a private place)." Heh.
None of which get to the, ahem, heart of the matter.
Hubby just laughed and said there is a lot of humor, but reminded me I have work to do and why on earth am I commenting about this now.
Tune in later. ;- )
Good thought. Would both, or either the New Testament or Old be pre-ironic?
Maybe both, but in OT times the Jews saw God laughing at them and then when Jesus came they saw that ahe was really laughing with them.
Funny that tou mentioned Shakespeare, deborah, because to me a lot of the Shakespeare comdey of error themes come right from the Bible. Leah being switched out for Rachel, and all of the battles over birthright like Jacob trying to pull Esau back into the womb. I guess the Biblical stories aren't played for laughs quite as forthrightly as the Shakespeare ones, but they are still comedic in their portrayal of human behavior.
The Bible is the straight man.
JAL:
"Personally I have always snorted when Elijah, taunting the priests of Baal, whose 'god' can't be bothered to light the fire, says "So -- where is he? Off to take a poop?." (I Kings 18:27)
You will not read that in any versions, but if you look, there are numerous translations of that construction "he is pursuing" or "he is busy" all of which are rather euphemistic as the Hebrew is seeg - "withdrawing (into a private place)." Heh."
Case closed.
Also, I was thinking of when Paul says:
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
-Romans 1:29-31
I always thought it was funny that he seems to be saying that people aren't satisfied with regular sin, but go out of their way to invent new sin.
Anguish : Comic Relief
C Stanley:
"Maybe both, but in OT times the Jews saw God laughing at them and then when Jesus came they saw that ahe was really laughing with them."
Didn't know that.
Great point about Leah being switched for Rachel. Isn't there an old saying that a joke depends on someone being injured/made the butt of?
Frankly I always giggle at the Transfiguration story when Peter asks if he should build three tents for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses.
Tents. Seriously?
I picture Jesus rolling his eyes.
Meade, the new floor looks great. Are you two going on a road trip while the varnish fumes clear?
Of all the things to criticize the Bible for, not having a sense of humor? That's inane.
I think the quote is suspect personally. I can't believe that Whitehead would say something that sounds so foolish.
It's like condemning Solzhenitysn or Primo Levi for not being funny.
@ phx
Now that made me laugh.
Not your second comment, your first.
Let us not forget Elisha sticking the shebear on the group of teenage hooligans who dared to make fun of his bald head.
Cracks me up everytime.
Not your second comment, your first.
The Peter "on-this-rock" thing? I don't know who originally said that - Lenny Bruce maybe?
It's not original though, I should take it out of my repertoire. : D
Some peoyple really need a hobby, as Whitehead proves, but, if you want to know why there are no punchlines in Scripture, read the caption again.
Our sacred texts are no laughing matter.
"Because he doesn't tell you jokes and fairy tales
Say that he fails to make you smile
But he's the property of Jesus
Resent him to the bone
You got something better?
You got a heart of stone."
-Bob Dylan
Does it go without saying, again, that leftists are humorless richards?
Of course, the Bible is filled with episodes of joy and happiness, even if it is not a laugh-a-minute joke book.
It is true that the genre is a bit on the serious side, as are most books about history and philosophy and theology and ethics. However, there are various snippets of humor in various forms.
There is the sarcastic Nathanael saying in response to the announcement that they have found the Messiah and he's from Nazareth -- "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
The entire book of Jonah is rather satirical.
There are many who are laughed at for being foolish.
I don't think the Bible is without humor, actually. St. Paul's admonition to be good to your enemies, because it's like dumping hot coals on their heads, comes to mind. Maybe the Bible -- and Christianity in general -- has been pushed by too many scolds who don't laugh much.
But most humor is flippant, and the Bible is meant to be taken seriously.
On the other hand, once you take the right things seriously, true joy -- far from being merely flip -- becomes possible. Like the difference between a smirk and a belly laugh, maybe.
I think C.S. Lewis talks about that somewhere.
It's easy enough to see why the two thieves doing the "I'm-the-left-nut, I'm-the-right-nut" routine never made it so far as the final draft.
The Book of J lifted out of the Bible and told separately is hilarious, biting acidly witty themes, acerbic wordplay throughout that has the patriarchy bumbling around and events controlled by Wile E. Coyote, I meant to say wily women. The blessing passed through generations is controlled by the schemes of women. With hilarious touches all the way through. For one small example, Lot's wife, not named in the Bible but Edith or Ado in other sources, is told not to look back at Sodom or be turned into salt, she wants to see if her daughters are catching up or still "married" to the cads back there in Sodom and instead catches glimpse of God raining down destruction upon the city, and thus seeing God BLAM turned to salt, and sure enough, if you doubt these words, there she is!
Odd pillars of salt just sticking right up that look a bit like people.
I'm no Reza Aslan when it comes to scholarly authority on world religions, but I can't think of much direct humor in any of the world's scriptures. Certainly not the Quran, nor the Gita, the Sutras, the Tao Te Ching. The Ramayana is huge and maybe there is humor to be found somewhere in there.
The Nasrudin stories in Sufism are kind of funny, likewise some of those from Chuang-tzu and the Zen enlightenment tradition (if you don't mind monks being beaten or having their fingers chopped off -- taking slapstick a little too far for my taste).
Gurdjieff thought that Jesus's lack of laughter was a sign of his spiritual attainment.
I found this New Testament story borderline funny for its indictment of Paul as a windbag.
Acts 20:7-12 Paul raises a dead man to life
7. On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread. Paul was due to leave the next day, and he preached a sermon that went on till the middle of the night.
8. A number of lamps were lit in the upstairs room where we were assembled,
9. and as Paul went on and on, a young man called Eutychus who was sitting on the window-sill grew drowsy and was overcome by sleep and fell to the ground three floors below. He was picked up dead.
10. Paul went down and stooped to clasp the boy to him, saying, "There is no need to worry, there is still life in him."
11. Then he went back upstairs where he broke the bread and ate and carried on talking till he left at daybreak.
12. They took the boy away alive, and were greatly encouraged.
I always thought that in Revelations when John has his vision of heaven and he's all freaked out and one of the apostles that he sees comes to speak to him... that it must have been John himself.
Sure, it doesn't say so, but it had to have been, right?
I always thought that revealed a deep sense of humor.
Come to think of it, news of being pregnant with Isaac when she was already about 106 years-old made Sarah laugh although she subsequently denied laughing because, after thinking it over, she realized laughing at God might not be entirely prudent.
Later, God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac which, according to Bob Dylan, caused Abe to guffaw and say to God, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”. God said, "No, as a matter of fact I'm dead serious" and, thankfully, Abe conveniently finds a goat or some sort of roadkill to burn instead of Ike somewhere on the highway between Wyoming, Minnesota and New Orleans, Louisiana. Covenant preserved and Dylan cuts his 6th album with the song for which he is most famous, thanks to Al Kooper's improvised organ riff which caused the song to go on about twice as long as it needed to.
This bit from Genesis 32 has always made me laugh:
And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
"Oh, the calf? Uh, right... You know, it was the darndest thing. Gold in the fire and out comes a calf! I had nothing to do with it."
Phx:
Actually, the conversation in which our Lord gave Simon the name "Peter," and declared he would build his Church on "this Rock," came before Peter's denial, not after.
Father, We definitely need you here when discussing scripture. Thanks for your knowledge, HUMOR, and class.
Others have already pointed out humor in the Bible, here are some more examples:
> Moses confronts Aaron about the golden calf:
"So I told them, ‘Let anyone who has gold jewelry take it off.’ They gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out” (32:24).
> King Saul was commanded by God to destroy all the livestock he took from Amalek, but he didn't do so:
When Samuel came to him, Saul greeted him: “The LORD bless you! I have kept the command of the LORD.”
But Samuel asked, “What, then, is this bleating of sheep that comes to my ears, the lowing of oxen that I hear?” (1 Sam 15:13-14).
> Our Lord giving James and John the nickname "Sons of Thunder"--which sounds rather ponderous; our Scripture instructor at the seminary translated it "Thunderboys."
I can think of many more, but without context, it can be hard to convey.
Nothing funnier than being commanded not to laugh... straighten up and fly right... wipe that smirk off your face.
This one isn't funny-haha but it is funny-odd. I was surprised to find it when I read through the New Testament. It's a story I didn't hear as a Catholic, but those who read the Bible for themselves know it.
Matthew 17:24-27 (NJB) The Temple tax paid by Jesus and Peter
24. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, "Does your master not pay the half-shekel?"
25. `Yes," he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, "Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do earthly kings take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?"
26. And when he replied, "From foreigners," Jesus said, "Well then, the sons are exempt.
27. However, so that we shall not be the downfall of others, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself."
What a weird story. Usually miracles are bigger deals.
The web says that a half-shekel in biblical times was equal to 160 grains of barley, i.e. not much.
So Jesus saying "Upon this rock I will build my church"
That is hilarious punnery by Jesus. I notice you pointing out he says that in connection of Peter's denial, so amusing cutting irony there, but I do not see in the comments the excellent play on Greek word for "rock" = "petra"
The Book of J is loaded with such punnery, mostly having to do with expansiveness the word a pun on Rehoboam the king whose reign saw an actual shrinking of the kingdom. The kingdom under Solomon really was internationally expansive, cedars from Lebanon and all that, but shrank under Rehoboam leading exegesisists exegesisers exegesisizers xxxxx people who write about that crap to believe it was written as satire and subversively so and brilliantly too during Rehoboam's reign and circulated among the court who would appreciate such clever cutting writing without ever notifying the attention of IRS NSA OSHA ATF DOJ, I meant to say the attention of Rehoboam's court informers.
@ Freeman and Fr Fox
My spouse and I always quote that after we've busted our children for something and we hear their lame excuse.
"Oh yeah, that golden calf just made itself did it?"
So, obviously it has a full range of effects on people. But, no laughing.
I don't know about that. Aren't the Seven Plagues of Egypt just practical jokes? For that matter, didn't Kutcher get the idea for "Punked" from the Book of Job? I mean, who got punked more than Job?
I always admire your erudition. You're a peach.
Chip Ahoy said:
The Book of J is loaded with such punnery, mostly having to do with expansiveness the word a pun on Rehoboam the king whose reign saw an actual shrinking of the kingdom.
I did not know that about Rehoboam's name. That sheds light on this description of him from the Book of Sirach (which was in the Greek Old Testament, and thus was used by the Apostles, and thus was included by the Catholic Church; but which the Protestant Reformers removed):
"Expansive in folly, limited in sense..." (Sirach 47:23).
Oh, he shoots, he scores!
Actually, the conversation in which our Lord gave Simon the name "Peter," and declared he would build his Church on "this Rock," came before Peter's denial, not after.
Thank you, Father. Excellent point and correction.
I do maintain, however, that Jesus knew where this was going.
I made up the stuff about the pause and glare to satisfy my dramaturgical needs.
Phx:
I agree, our Lord knew. I meant to say that your point was quite good, the transposition of the episodes notwithstanding.
Matthew's sequence has many virtues, including the presumption of being accurate; but yours is funnier.
I agree, phx's comedic license is warranted. I don't know who you cribbed it from but I can picture Jack Benny killing it with the timing and facial expression.
Abraham fell on his face laughing when The Lord told him he was going to be a father. Back then they could get God's humor. God really killed back then. I sometimes think the world is an elaborate practical joke created for God's secret amusement. On the day of final judgment, He will let some in on the joke.
Abraham fell on his face laughing when The Lord told him he was going to be a father. Back then they could get God's humor. God really killed back then. I sometimes think the world is an elaborate practical joke created for God's secret amusement. On the day of final judgment, He will let some in on the joke.
My husband and I had our Abraham and Sarah moment (albeit only around half of their ages, but still...)
After the feeling of sheer terror, what joy to fall into the arms of a loving husband and loving Father who made it OK to laugh.
Chip:
"So Jesus saying "Upon this rock I will build my church"
That is hilarious punnery by Jesus. I notice you pointing out he says that in connection of Peter's denial, so amusing cutting irony there, but I do not see in the comments the excellent play on Greek word for "rock" = "petra""
Cool.
(BTW, Pogo, That's not funny!)
Lost in translation, at least that’s what this paper on humor in the Hebrew Bible says:
[T]he Hebrew Bible is replete with its own special brand of humor. There are no jokes in the Bible but there is an abundance of wit and humor. Some of the types of humor found in the Hebrew Bible include sarcasm, irony, wordplays, humorous imagery, and humorous stories and situations. Much of this humor can only be appreciated if read in the original Hebrew and not in a translation.
Good wishes, C Stanley.
Gurdjieff thought that Jesus's lack of laughter was a sign of his spiritual attainment.
Oh Gurdjieff. What does he know.
Jesus was out with the winebibbers (isn't that the coolest word?) and such and was getting trashed by the Parisees for partying (well, a 2000+ year old version of it).
Somehow -- just somehow -- my guess is he would have been at home with Pasta and Bagoh and the whole lot of us.
I don't think they cancelled their parties (or salons like we have here -- [not saloons, guys, we have a *salon*]) when Jesus showed up. Heck -- he made the best wine at the wedding and I bet there were some pretty funny people there. That made people happy!
So while we miss the innuendos in a quick read, Jesus was not a kill joy.
After thought: It's like the stupid "What Would Jesus Eat" book some guy was promoting to push "healthy" eating. In today's world Jesus would be at McDonald's because that's where the people are.
Hey C Stanley --
Happened to us too.
Hubby walked around groaning about how he was too old for this. And I said "You're too old? It's MY old eggs!"
She turned out lovely. :- )
And we survived.
I don't know if it counts as "humor", exactly, but "Baalzebub" is basically the Old Testament version of "Rethuglican" or "libtard" -- a deliberately insulting misspelling of the actual god's name.
Also, like most mythology the Old Testament is big on ironic punishments for bad behavior.
Thanks, phx, and heh, JAL. Our little blessing is nearly four now and she's turning out beautifully. Now we just laugh about when we'll start to be mistaken for grandparents and whether either one of us will still be able to hear her when she's a teenager sneaking in past curfew.
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