Is Laughter a sin?

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Surely laughter is nothing more than the natural reaction to the incongruity of our existence in a fallen world. It is a natural gift that releases us from the seriousness of our mortality. It is our reaction to the incomprehensibility of a world beyond our control. We have no record of Jesus laughing, however the wit of his parables and repartee with the Pharisees surely shows a man not unaware of this incongruity.
As a natural part of our humanity it must be good as God’s creation is good. We must be able to laugh at the world as a baby laughs at his big toe, with the innocence of a child always searching for his Father whom he has misplaced amongst the toys of the world.
 
codefro said:
In chapters 4 and 6 of the Rule of St. Benedict, laughter and speech leading to laughter is condemned. Benedict used the passage in Sirach about the fool who laughs to back up his rule. Is laughter a sin? If not, why?
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Oh yes! Laughter is a terrible sin. A sin crying out to heaven for vengeance!! Even the slightest little giggle puts your soul in mortal peril. JOKE. What would cause you to say such a thing?

Our Lord laughed. Laughter, and joy are clear indicators of a soul filled with the Holy Spirit. God does not want dour saints.

The is no sin in laughter unless it’s also accompanied by cruel or immoral purposes. For instance laughing at the misfortunes of another or at a dirty joke is sinful. Not so much the laugh itself as the person’s interior pleasure at such things. That is not ordered toward God.

The document you’re quoting is a monastic rule intended for the order and spiritual good of the monks whose vows subject them to that rule. While there may be some edifying points in the rule for those outside of the monastic cloister, for the most part it does not apply to, or bind ordinary lay Catholics.

Now laugh a little. Your face won’t crack. 😃
 
Bonnie said:
It does sometimes feel that the forum has been taken over by those afflicted with scrupulosity. I’ve finally learned (most of the time) to recognize the people/types of questions so I don’t reply. This time I replied because I wanted to dispel any idea that Benedictines are joyless.
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I’m far from scrupulous. I am discerning becoming an Oblate and thus reading the Rule. I came across this rule and spent some time thinking about it. I don’t feel any conviction about laughter, but what I was looking for was the reason of Benedict and how it is reconciled with Church thinking today.

Don’t be judging one’s heart, that is reserved only to God.
 
Boy_Wonder said:
Oh yes! Laughter is a terrible sin. A sin crying out to heaven for vengeance!! Even the slightest little giggle puts your soul in mortal peril. JOKE. What would cause you to say such a thing?

Our Lord laughed. Laughter, and joy are clear indicators of a soul filled with the Holy Spirit. God does not want dour saints.

The is no sin in laughter unless it’s also accompanied by cruel or immoral purposes. For instance laughing at the misfortunes of another or at a dirty joke is sinful. Not so much the laugh itself as the person’s interior pleasure at such things. That is not ordered toward God.

The document you’re quoting is a monastic rule intended for the order and spiritual good of the monks whose vows subject them to that rule. While there may be some edifying points in the rule for those outside of the monastic cloister, for the most part it does not apply to, or bind ordinary lay Catholics.

Now laugh a little. Your face won’t crack. 😃
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Nowhere in scripture does it say that Jesus laughed. No private revelation indicates so either. To say so is only speculation.
 
codefro said:
I’m far from scrupulous. I am discerning becoming an Oblate and thus reading the Rule. I came across this rule and spent some time thinking about it. I don’t feel any conviction about laughter, but what I was looking for was the reason of Benedict and how it is reconciled with Church thinking today.

Don’t be judging one’s heart, that is reserved only to God.
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I was not judging your heart. The question did sound like one from someone suffering scrupulosity - those poor people often ask if X, Y, or Z is a sin. Perhaps you should have asked a Benedictine from the community you’re thinking of joining.
 
codefro said:
I’m far from scrupulous. I am discerning becoming an Oblate and thus reading the Rule. I came across this rule and spent some time thinking about it. I don’t feel any conviction about laughter, but what I was looking for was the reason of Benedict and how it is reconciled with Church thinking today.

Don’t be judging one’s heart, that is reserved only to God.
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The rule for Oblate’s is probably different than for Monastics.

There will be a period of discernment and formation in becoming an Oblate, so you’ll have time and access to people who can answer the questions you have, better than we in this forum can.

Jim
 
codefro said:
In chapters 4 and 6 of the Rule of St. Benedict, laughter and speech leading to laughter is condemned. Benedict used the passage in Sirach about the fool who laughs to back up his rule. Is laughter a sin? If not, why?
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It all depends on the source of the laughter:

Laughter is sin that originates from within the darkness of the unconscious. Humor, on the other hand, is the good spirit that manifests itself from within the fruit of the soul. The truly spirited person laughs at nothing, but can find some kind of humor in almost everything he or she sees.
 
surritter said:
You’re missing the point. I doubt that anyone really believes this in the sense that you’re implying. But we are analyzing a historical document that prescribed such for monks.
Nothing wrong with a little banter about what somebody 1500 years ago might have been thinking about!
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I disagree. There are a lot of people here who suffer from scrupulousness.

Yes, there are people here who will actually believe that per the discussion laughing is indeed sin.
 
From the Rule of St. Taffy of Whiteteeth:

"101. For those who laugh no more than three, soft “ha ha ha”’'s or their equivalent, commit venial sin, for they have given in to the pleasures of this world, but because three clearly shows restraint, we can attribute this lapse to the weakness of human nature.

"102. But for those who laugh more than three “ha ha ha”'s, no matter how softly, or even three or less, but at a volume that carries into the next room, then certainly, they have given in to a lesser good than the treasures of heaven, and they are therefore guilty of mortal sin.

“103. Therefore, should the impulse to laugh come upon one in pursuit of the life of holiness, let him exert all effort and call upon the name of the Lord, and use his fingers to assist with the effort to stifle the laughter until the tears flow; this is meritorious, for the Scripture says, ‘They who sow in tears will reap in joy’ (Ps. CXXV:v).”
 
I think the bigger problem on these forums are the trolls, not the scrupulous souls seeking aid.
 
Bonnie said:
Perhaps you should have asked a Benedictine from the community you’re thinking of joining.
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Our meeting is not for several more months, so plenty of time to think about it and talk to others first to gain some other valid thoughts, not insults.
 
codefro said:
I think the bigger problem on these forums are the trolls, not the scrupulous souls seeking aid.
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The thing is, those scrupulous souls should not be coming here seeking aid. This is the worst possible place for the scrupulous. They should seek aid from one resource only: a single trusted confessor whom they must obey without question.

Further, this is the only advice any of us here should give the scrupulous. Anything else will only likely harm them more.
 
I would say anything but!

Laughter is a sign of joy with life. As long as not at anyone’s expense.
 
St. Therese, St. Padre Pio and many others loved to laugh. “Laughter is only wicked when I is turned against Him Who have it.” (Ven. Fulton Sheen) The Rule of St. Benedict forbids such laughter. Silence is the norm.
 
codefro said:
In chapters 4 and 6 of the Rule of St. Benedict, laughter and speech leading to laughter is condemned. Benedict used the passage in Sirach about the fool who laughs to back up his rule. Is laughter a sin? If not, why?
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No it is not a sin. Laughter provides for natural health of the mind and body. Laughter releases endorphins that can curb depression. It’s a natural health remedy of the body. And that is not sin.
 
codefro said:
In chapters 4 and 6 of the Rule of St. Benedict, laughter and speech leading to laughter is condemned. Benedict used the passage in Sirach about the fool who laughs to back up his rule. Is laughter a sin? If not, why?
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I think this is where the Catholic Church gets a little weird to me. No offense. Laughter is a sin? What do the bible say? I trust the bible more than the spiritual books. Sometimes saints are not always correct.
 
CRATUS said:
I think this is where the Catholic Church gets a little weird to me. No offense. Laughter is a sin? What do the bible say? I trust the bible more than the spiritual books. Sometimes saints are not always correct.
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If you read thru all the responses, you’ll see that laughter is not a sin.

What is written by saints may apply to a certain event, time, or place, and should never be construed as Church doctrine that should apply to everyone.
 
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