Expert: Mel and Guyna Horne - 4/19/2006

Question
is this category not an oxymoron?

Answer
Hi Bob,

 If we could have named the category, we would have used "God and humor" but we didn't name it, we merely volunteered to answer questions in this category.

 Your question is, to date, the most appropriate one that has been asked in this category.

God has a sense of humor because we do, and it is "in his image" that we were created. His sense of humor can be seen in the animal world. It can be seen in aspects of the creation that puzzle scientists. It can be seen in Christ's dialogues with the Pharisees and in some of Paul's comments.

We don't get many questions in this category, and so far, they have all been serious questions that had nothing to do with humor.
That is probably because most of the "religious" people we have met in various denominations have no sense of humor when discussing doctrine or church affairs and they might also consider this category to be an oxymoron.
 Among non-religious people, that tends to give organized religion and by extension, God, a bad name. So, God gets a bad rap because some who consider themselves religious, take themselves too seriously. Perhaps it is our Puritan heritage or perhaps it goes back further than that. Somehow somberness became equated with righteousness even though some of the most evil people in history were and are not comedians.
 
 God created man. Man created various religions including many conflicting forms of "christianity". If man ever creates one in which humor has a prominent role, it may prove to be very popular.

 In the meantime, many who consider themselves religious, laugh at each other's religious beliefs, perhaps not always aloud, but silently, in derision, in scorn, and in contempt.

 So, "christian humor" can mean several things: jokes about the priest, the preacher and the rabbi; comparative religion; secular or atheists' jokes about religion; religions poking fun at the non-religious; or God laughing at the antics of the self-righteous.
 
 The latter is perhaps illustrated by various versions about the man who goes to heaven and sees the Pope crying. When the man asks Peter why, he is told the Pope just learned that the word was "celebrate" not "celibate".
 If you are Catholic, you may not find that funny, but we know some who did.

 To answer your question,"is this category not an oxymoron?".
 The answer is,"It shouldn't be an oxymoron, and it is not if it is meant in the sense of Christ and humor."

 Please do not take the following personally, as we do not know you, and we are not directing it at you.

 The answer also is, "It can be an oxymoron to those who by claiming to be a Christian (Christ-like, like Christ was) are themselves, oxymorons."

 The answer also is, "It is an oxymoron in the sense of man-made religions and humor, since most of them do not tolerate humor, or laughter or joy."

 Hopefully this answered your question. If not, feel free to write again.
 Sincerely,
 Mel and Guyna