Comments on: Laughing at the Sacred, Part 1: The Problem of Reverence. http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/ Mormon Arts and Culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:14:39 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: annegb http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 annegb Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:54:34 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=263#comment-1260 My sister told me a funny joke once, about Jesus on the cross. It was funny, but it crossed the line. Maybe it's all relative. Maybe we all have different "lines" depending on what's sacred to us. For instance, Scott Bronson's laughter at the experience of grieving parents crossed the line for me. But I have a wicked sense of humor and I probably make fun of things others find objectionable. I think it's better to have less sacred cows than more. But the Savior is immune to that, in my opinion. As are the feelings of others. I don't like mockery, ever--I would prefer gentle humor. I don't mind the jab, but mocking something that is sacred to another is just bad manners. That being said, my sisters and I find that there's very little that's not funny, if you look at it right. We're sort of demented that way. My sister told me a funny joke once, about Jesus on the cross. It was funny, but it crossed the line.

Maybe it’s all relative. Maybe we all have different “lines” depending on what’s sacred to us.

For instance, Scott Bronson’s laughter at the experience of grieving parents crossed the line for me. But I have a wicked sense of humor and I probably make fun of things others find objectionable.

I think it’s better to have less sacred cows than more. But the Savior is immune to that, in my opinion.

As are the feelings of others. I don’t like mockery, ever–I would prefer gentle humor. I don’t mind the jab, but mocking something that is sacred to another is just bad manners.

That being said, my sisters and I find that there’s very little that’s not funny, if you look at it right. We’re sort of demented that way.

]]> By: Eric Russell http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/comment-page-1/#comment-1258 Eric Russell Tue, 08 Aug 2006 23:41:54 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=263#comment-1258 Jim, good question. It might seem strange to others, but I and a friend can quite genuinely mock each other and laugh about it without feelings being hurt on either side. The problem with laughing at someone, it seems to me, is the attitude of disrespect. But I can laugh at something that shines negatively on my friend without any degree of thinking less of him, or without any sense of disrespect. The issue, I think, is roughly parallel to an anti and an apologist saying something negative about the church. On paper, they might possibly have said the exact same thing, but in the anti’s case, it was insulting, and in the apologists case, it was simply acknowledging a problem. I think the same things works with humor. It depends on our hearts. But I’ll admit that, like criticizing the church, laughing at the sacred is a dangerous thing. There are certainly certain times, places, and audiences where it would be inappropriate. And it is probably always best accompanied with a great deal of self-awareness and introspection. Jim, good question. It might seem strange to others, but I and a friend can quite genuinely mock each other and laugh about it without feelings being hurt on either side. The problem with laughing at someone, it seems to me, is the attitude of disrespect. But I can laugh at something that shines negatively on my friend without any degree of thinking less of him, or without any sense of disrespect.

The issue, I think, is roughly parallel to an anti and an apologist saying something negative about the church. On paper, they might possibly have said the exact same thing, but in the anti’s case, it was insulting, and in the apologists case, it was simply acknowledging a problem. I think the same things works with humor. It depends on our hearts.

But I’ll admit that, like criticizing the church, laughing at the sacred is a dangerous thing. There are certainly certain times, places, and audiences where it would be inappropriate. And it is probably always best accompanied with a great deal of self-awareness and introspection.

]]> By: Susan M http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/comment-page-1/#comment-1257 Susan M Tue, 08 Aug 2006 23:06:43 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=263#comment-1257 So I'm not going for hell for laughing at the hymn about seven struggling seamen? So I’m not going for hell for laughing at the hymn about seven struggling seamen?

]]> By: Jim F http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/comment-page-1/#comment-1256 Jim F Tue, 08 Aug 2006 23:02:32 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=263#comment-1256 Eric, though I'm generally sympathetic to what you say here, I'm not sure I can go as far as you do. Can you give an example of mocking something that you love dearly that is not also an example of doing something wrong? Eric, though I’m generally sympathetic to what you say here, I’m not sure I can go as far as you do. Can you give an example of mocking something that you love dearly that is not also an example of doing something wrong?

]]> By: Eric Nielson http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/comment-page-1/#comment-1255 Eric Nielson Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:17:44 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=263#comment-1255 Nice thoughts here. I think laughter is important for not taking ourselves to seriously as individuals, and as a group. I have had a couple of recent experiences that have shown this is an issue on the 'nacle itself. Laugh at the church and you're ok (maybe). Laugh at the 'nacle and you could be in for a scolding. Nice thoughts here.

I think laughter is important for not taking ourselves to seriously as individuals, and as a group.

I have had a couple of recent experiences that have shown this is an issue on the ‘nacle itself. Laugh at the church and you’re ok (maybe). Laugh at the ‘nacle and you could be in for a scolding.

]]> By: S. P. Bailey http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/comment-page-1/#comment-1254 S. P. Bailey Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:13:46 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=263#comment-1254 Eric: Nice essay. I agree: we should not maintain a wall of separation between church and humor. The statement <em>There’s nothing funny about the church</em> strikes me as remarkable. I love the church, but among its divine elements mingle humans and their problems. And that is a recipe for humor. (Perhaps <em>the church</em> in that quote was used in an unusual way to mean the divine elements of the church only?) You touch on this in a way, but I thought I would add my primary way of thinking of this issue: I have a general sense of what is sacred, and what mockery of sacred things looks like. It is a know-it and feel-it-when-I-see-it kind of test. For example, I can not see much humor coming from a send-up of temple ordinances. Other than that sacred space, I think the church is a rich font of humor (cf. Kirby, Grondahl, Sugarbeet). In general, I think if we do not laugh enough---if we have underdeveloped senses of humor---we are missing out on joy and relief from the strain of life that is unequivocally good. And if we do not maintain a sacred place where mockery does not go, we deprive ourselves of reverence and awe and worship that is essential to a full spiritual life. Eric:
Nice essay. I agree: we should not maintain a wall of separation between church and humor. The statement There’s nothing funny about the church strikes me as remarkable. I love the church, but among its divine elements mingle humans and their problems. And that is a recipe for humor. (Perhaps the church in that quote was used in an unusual way to mean the divine elements of the church only?)

You touch on this in a way, but I thought I would add my primary way of thinking of this issue: I have a general sense of what is sacred, and what mockery of sacred things looks like. It is a know-it and feel-it-when-I-see-it kind of test. For example, I can not see much humor coming from a send-up of temple ordinances. Other than that sacred space, I think the church is a rich font of humor (cf. Kirby, Grondahl, Sugarbeet).

In general, I think if we do not laugh enough—if we have underdeveloped senses of humor—we are missing out on joy and relief from the strain of life that is unequivocally good. And if we do not maintain a sacred place where mockery does not go, we deprive ourselves of reverence and awe and worship that is essential to a full spiritual life.

]]> By: Rusty http://www.motleyvision.org/2006/laughing-at-the-sacred-part-1-the-problem-of-reverence/comment-page-1/#comment-1251 Rusty Tue, 08 Aug 2006 14:15:48 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=263#comment-1251 Eric, This is funny you wrote about this because just yesterday I was drafting a post about this exact thing. I'm glad I didn't finish 'cause this is better thought-out than mine. I like your thoughts. I too will laugh at anything funny. I often have wondered if I'm going to hell for the things I've laughed at. I also will joke around with people saying such innappropriate things as "Well, if you had the Spirit in your life then maybe you would have gotten here on time" or whatever. I love straight-faced exaggeration humor and there is a lot to exaggerate about in the church. Eric,
This is funny you wrote about this because just yesterday I was drafting a post about this exact thing. I’m glad I didn’t finish ’cause this is better thought-out than mine.

I like your thoughts. I too will laugh at anything funny. I often have wondered if I’m going to hell for the things I’ve laughed at. I also will joke around with people saying such innappropriate things as “Well, if you had the Spirit in your life then maybe you would have gotten here on time” or whatever. I love straight-faced exaggeration humor and there is a lot to exaggerate about in the church.

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