Laughing at jokes about religion

[Master_Of_Irony]

I'm finding it easier and easier to laugh at most any joke about any religion lately. Do you think its wrong? I mean this humor site about a certain sect of a certain religion probably isn't the best place to be asking this. But i do sometimes feel guilty about it. Anyone with me?

[Hollandmichigan]

(04-24-2012 05:45 AM)Master_Of_Irony Wrote:  I'm finding it easier and easier to laugh at most any joke about any religion lately. Do you think its wrong? I mean this humor site about a certain sect of a certain religion probably isn't the best place to be asking this. But i do sometimes feel guilty about it. Anyone with me?

If god exists, who says he cant ha e a sense of humor?

[elfdream]

They can make fun of me and my fellow Christians (that includes Catholics) all they want. We can be a funny bunch.

Making jokes with God or Jesus as part of the joke is kind of iffy. Sometimes God is included in a non-offensive way to make a point and the point is normally some foible that Christians are guilty of. I don't have a problem with that.

I do believe in respecting people's deeply held beliefs though so jokes that disrespect God (or Buddha or Mohamed or the flying spaghetti monster) are off limits to me and to be honest most of the time they just aren't funny.

[Papa Bear]

I think it depends on who or what is being laughed at. I had recently moved back to my home state, and now had a family. I tried various Baptist and Evangelical churches, but the preaching was weak. A friend invited my to his Episcopal church. I was surprised to hear such good preaching. The more I listened, the more I became convinced that priest knew the Lord as well as any Baptist pastor. He even told his story. He had been an unbelieving priest. The church was holding a series of evangelistic meetings. (Unusual for an Episcopal church, I know.) A lay preacher was preaching on faith and repentance. The priest fell under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But the Bishop was there. He was afraid. "I can't admit to my boss that I'm not a Christian." But the Spirit so moved him, he came down the aisle, repented, and believed, something I've never hear of in an Episcopal church, before or since.

We continued attending because I couldn't find another church that was preaching the Word with such clarity, power, and truth. My sons had both made professions of faith, and wanted to be baptized. My parents' Baptist church refused to baptize them because we didn't plan on joining their church. The Episcopal church accepted my Baptist baptism, and I was beginning to accept the baptism of this church as valid, and the faith of those who had been confirmed as true faith. But it was a struggle. Given my Baptist roots, I was filled with questions and fears. I met several times with this priest to discuss my struggles and doubts, and he was very patient, kind, helpful, and understanding. My wife and I finally agreed, and he baptized both our sons in that church the next Sunday.

A few weeks later, I was in the Alpha class. It's for people who are new to the church. It's similar to Christianity 101. It covers the basics of the faith, focusing on those things all Christians everywhere have always believed. In that class, knowing I was there, and understanding my struggles, that priest got up in front of the group and told a joke about a baptism that mocked not only Baptists, but the very idea of baptism by immersion. We stayed in that church, and he was still the most trusted advisor I had, but for me, that joke crossed a line.

[Master_Of_Irony]

Yeah I tend to agree with you guys "in theory". But for instance when i'm watching family guy or the like I just find that type of humor (the way its presented, with extreme irony and sarcasm) funny. Of course anyone who's watched knows there's jokes about religion, with Christianity probably being dominant. Well, sometimes i find myself laughing, and i don't even know why.

[zeusTHEgoose]

I do have somewhat of a soft spot for making fun of peoples of other beliefs, but this only because I was made fun of quite a bit growing up. My Christianity just being one of the many things they poked fun at. However, I know that most people make jokes with other intentions rather than hurting someone's feelings. That's how I kinda see the Family Guy type of humor: They're just satirizing Christianity to make a finer point. But I also cannot ignore any emotional baggage someone may be carrying. My rule of thumb is just to know full well the people you're talking to and your intentions for sharing a joke.

[laurat99]

During one of our "backslidden" times, hubby and I watched South Park. There was a scene in church where the the Pastor was doing the sermon and said "Let's Go...Broncos," in the sing-song voice (sorry if that description offends) many Catholic priests use during Mass. It makes me giggle every time, because for many people, sports are their religion.

I'm sure there's people out there that get their dander up over jokes that have to do with St. Peter at the gates of heaven. Like elfdream said, as long as it's not a shot at the fundamentals.