Does God have a sense of Humor?

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I think God would not give us a trait that he himself does not possess. I think there is an example in Genesis. God tells Abraham and Sarah that they will become parents to a son. Both of them laughed in their hearts at such an absurdity, as they were both in their 90’s. God heard them laughing, and even told Sarah that she was laughing, and Sarah, being frightened, denied laughing. To which God replied, “No, you were laughing!” So what does He do? He tells Abraham and Sarah to name their son Isaac (Itzhak) which means “to laugh”. Sounds like he understands humor to me! 😃
👍
 
I’m thinking of the story in 1 Kings where Elijah is challenging the prophets of Baal to a “bake-off”, and when they can’t seem to make anything happen Elijah taunts them saying, effectively, where is Baal? Is he taking a nap? Or maybe he’s relieving himself?

I think if Elijah, the man of God, can have a sense of humor, then so must God!
 


“Platypus!”

God made it. Adam named it. Then they had SUCH a laugh.

The platypus, not knowing any better, may have laughed too. 😉

Exhibit 2: “WOMBAT!”

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/12/wombat_wideweb__470x276,0.jpg

Maybe the Garden of Eden used to be in Australia??! :eek:

WHOA! Posted at the end right after seeing the question. Seems like EVERYBODY thought of the Platypus! Lol. I still hold the Giraffe in reserve in case of rebuttals.
 
Did God intend for somethings to be funny? Or is this some kind of anomaly?
The answer is ‘No’. Humour accords because of the discrepancy between percept and concept, which for God is impossible. Perhaps that’s why Christ never laughed.

Most of the things we laugh at are actually tragic, if you think about it hard enough. I am not meaning to be judgmental against humor or anything (which I love as much as anyone), but it is basically a symptom of the fallenness of our state and the brokenness of humanity. We need it now, true, but in Heaven we will no longer it. There is no deliberate ‘joke’ in God’s creation.

All joking aside, everyone wants to say “Yes”, to make it seem like “Christians are Fun”, but the real answer is no. Christ sees the sorrow in every human heart at every instant, the anguish of every sinner, the despair of every suicide. Only a monster would think that the world is funny or that life is a joke.

For humans, it is excusable at times to drug ourselves with laughter, as an alternative to tears.
 
The answer is ‘No’. Humour accords because of the discrepancy between percept and concept, which for God is impossible. Perhaps that’s why Christ never laughed.

Jesus never laughed? OK wise guy, explain this :D:
 
And how about this?: I got this directly off the internet, so it must be true. 😃
 
And how about this?: I got this directly off the internet, so it must be true. 😃


:nope: Grizzly Adams, the early years …

Sometimes I think Jesus calling James and John the “Sons of Thunder” might be a bit of a humorous jibe. They did seem to want to call down lightning from heaven on some Samaritans (who wouldn’t welcome Jesus once they found out he was on his way to Jerusalem). That’d be a “guy thing” of sorts.

And perhaps Jesus’ line " … why don’t you give them something to eat …" was a similar jibe at the apostles who
  • wished to interrupt Jesus’ sermon in favor of the sundial
  • and some random ideas they had about meal management
  • times, places (and costs). In the run up to the loaves and fishes miracle. Mark 6:31-45.
The camel through the eye of a needle story presents a pretty funny visual. As would any camel story I suppose. 😃

I rather think Jesus might have laughed in an inviting way when he said “Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things …” with a gentle subtext of “relax, it’s a party. Come join us. The cleaning can wait a bit … pull up a chair next to Mary here and be an even better hostess!” 🙂

youtube.com/watch?v=fE78opn-aM8 < We really don’t HAVE tones of voices recorded in the Bible. But this take of Zeffirelli’s from the mini-series “Jesus of Nazareth,” where he tells a parable to the children suggest Jesus had a delightful sense of humor and love – and could combine those things with profound insights that could strike scholars and theologians dumb.

When he’d say "I’m am the vine and you are the branches … " to the apostles; he would sometimes say "devine …" just to see if anyone but Peter was up to speed yet. 😉 :nope:
 
Did God intend for somethings to be funny? Or is this some kind of anomaly?
Well, the only evidence of this (as far as I can see) is Psalm 36:12-13…

“The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him with his teeth. But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foreseeth that his day shall come.”
 
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbzip06smq1r0bqbdo1_500.jpg

“Platypus!”

God made it. Adam named it. Then they had SUCH a laugh.

The platypus, not knowing any better, may have laughed too. 😉

Exhibit 2: “WOMBAT!”

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/12/wombat_wideweb__470x276,0.jpg

Maybe the Garden of Eden used to be in Australia??! :eek:

WHOA! Posted at the end right after seeing the question. Seems like EVERYBODY thought of the Platypus! Lol. I still hold the Giraffe in reserve in case of rebuttals.
God did not make any living creature, human or animal, as a ‘joke’ to amuse someone else. Or, following the principle that He did, do you think that maybe He also made that person with the funny sounding voice or the irregular teeth, or perhaps the intellectual disability, so that everyone else might have something to laugh at?
 
The answer is ‘No’. Humour accords because of the discrepancy between percept and concept, which for God is impossible. Perhaps that’s why Christ never laughed.

Jesus never laughed? OK wise guy, explain this :D:
I find that blasphemous and highly offensive.

Would you post jokes about Mohammed on a Muslim forum, or Holocuast jokes on a Jewish forum?
 
I had read this about St. Teresa of Avila:

It was time for recreation and one of the nuns said “This is a waste of time - we should be praying instead!”

St. Teresa responded: “Go to your cell and contemplate, and we will play with the Lord here.”

She also said: “Deliver me from sour saints!”
 
CaptFun responds in RED
God did not make any living creature, human or animal, as a ‘joke’ to amuse someone else. Are you suuuuure? I’d agree with you (If what you are saying is) that the loving Lord does not like to see perversity or contempt of another in his children. Not all humor is perverse, contemptuous of another unto puffing up one’s own ego at the expense of another though. I was thinking of delightful, playful humor. For example, extremely CUTE animals often attract children (so young as to not HAVE a political agenda or much social training beyond their feelings) while other animals, who are “equally creatures of God” frighten or repulse them.

Or, following the principle that He did, do you think that maybe He also made that person with the funny sounding voice or the irregular teeth, or perhaps the intellectual disability, so that everyone else might have something to laugh at? < Short, direct answer: No.

Expanded answer: Oh, rather than decry your seeming suspicions about my character … or defend myself overmuch (when actually I think Platypus(es?), Wombats, Giraffes, Elephants and a myriad of other astounding animals are fascinating, fantastic, “really cool” … yet, sometimes make me laugh with delight), I will acknowledge this. > God has a wonderful purpose for creating every single **person **… and that each is a precious child to Him.

This is a philosophy thread …*** but ***with the word humor as half the subject. Some of us, me certainly this time, posted to this light philosophical question (I took it that way) in a light or humorous way. I applaud your counsel generally … “humor” at the expense of other people is not good. But one can err in enforcing humor interdiction too.

I don’t belong to the school that must politicize everything (though I do hold strong political views … usually based in my faith first though). As per humor that DOES involve people,
I have laughed at Jerry Lewis and Curly Howard and Jim Carrey and Jonathan Winters etc., etc. — and my conscience is clear that I was not perversely doing so because I was hating on some group or other (though the comedians’ characters might betray a “funny sounding voice” as part of their routine).

If you’ve laughed at anything in your life, and you probably have I’d think :), somebody ***could *** ascribe low motives for it – and likely be wrong at least a good percentage of the time … if not always.

It had not occurred to me about THIS wombat’s irregular teeth, for example, or that it might contribute to someone feeling bad. It probably will occur to me more in the future a bit, which may be good. So I thank you for the caution (or correction if the case is that I’ve already - accidentally - made someone feel bad by posting the … amusing to me … picture).

On the higher note of your post: I have an autistic nephew, who some may make fun of I’m sure (or his family, since Rory sure doesn’t care what people think) – and he teaches us all a lot. But surprises us to laughter with his uniqueness I must say! We love him.

Why did GOD make people and animals the way He did? 🤷

I’m not arguing with Him. And certain animals just crack me up (in a GOOD way, IMO). From the other posts, several posters here feel the same way.

But keep us grounded Qohelth. For all I know your critique may be inspired and ministering to any of us before we’d make worse mistakes than any I may have made on this thread. 👍
 
I had read this about St. Teresa of Avila:

It was time for recreation and one of the nuns said “This is a waste of time - we should be praying instead!”

St. Teresa responded: “Go to your cell and contemplate, and we will play with the Lord here.”

She also said: “Deliver me from sour saints!”
Good one! 😃
 
I find that blasphemous and highly offensive.

Would you post jokes about Mohammed on a Muslim forum, or Holocuast jokes on a Jewish forum?
That’s a big jump from “knock-knock” jokes to the Holocaust, isn’t it? No one is being murdered here. We’re just talking humor, it’s not disrespectful. 😛
 
That’s a big jump from “knock-knock” jokes to the Holocaust, isn’t it? No one is being murdered here. We’re just talking humor, it’s not disrespectful. 😛
I understand you didn’t mean to be disrespectful. But I feel that Jesus, Mary, God (as well as sacred Beings and persons of other faiths) should be off-limits for jokes and parodies. I find the practice of using the Divine Name of Jesus as an interjection to be offensive, so to see an image of Christ HImself doing this worries me.

You are welcome to disregard my view if you wish. But bear in mind that a ‘harmless’ joke can lead to a bigger one, etc.
 
The answer is ‘No’. Humour accords because of the discrepancy between percept and concept, which for God is impossible. Perhaps that’s why Christ never laughed.

Most of the things we laugh at are actually tragic, if you think about it hard enough. I am not meaning to be judgmental against humor or anything (which I love as much as anyone), but it is basically a symptom of the fallenness of our state and the brokenness of humanity. We need it now, true, but in Heaven we will no longer it. There is no deliberate ‘joke’ in God’s creation.

All joking aside, everyone wants to say “Yes”, to make it seem like “Christians are Fun”, but the real answer is no. Christ sees the sorrow in every human heart at every instant, the anguish of every sinner, the despair of every suicide. Only a monster would think that the world is funny or that life is a joke.

For humans, it is excusable at times to drug ourselves with laughter, as an alternative to tears.
I can assure you, 100%, that God laughs. Therefore, Jesus laughs. I can also tell you that I have heard His Laugh; I’ve laughed with Him, cried with Him…one is the most amazing sound you’ll ever hear, the other will cut you to the core. I am not a monster; there is much evil in the world, anguish, but that does not destroy His Love for us. I laugh at many things, and most would not be considering judgmental or evil. Christ sees the JOY in the human heart at the same time as the sorrow.

Also, tickling: that makes me laugh…how is that bad? Sometimes I’m so happy, I can do nothing but laugh… Also, in my advancing age, mishearing or misreading things due to age makes me laugh.

While some people do consider PUNS evil ;), they aren’t…such as the priest who was also a secret agent had an ‘altar’ ego? Or… Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
 
Thanks to the last poster! I have also heard Him laugh, as well as cry, thought no one would believe me that I’d experienced that, but my Priest did! Said he’s experienced the same thing on occasion. But when He cried, it changed my life totally, because He was weeping because I wasn’t following Him closely. When He laughed, I had to laugh with Him, because it was truly funny, not mean, not joking, but joyous!
 
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