Humour and religion
Subtitle: challenges and ambiguities
By: edited by Hans Geybels and Walter van Herck
Publisher: Continuum
Published: 2010
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 288
ISBN-13: 9781441163134
Description: "Humour and Religion highlights the importance and functioning of humour in different world religions. Exploring the major religious cultures, the book looks at more constructive aspects to the relation between humour and religion, with humour seen as a pathway to spiritual wisdom. Exploring how religions contain (implicit) references to the finitude and relativity of the human condition, and why humour and spirituality fit well together, contributors discuss what the meaning of humour in different religions is - Did it evolve historically? How does it function? How is humour related to the realization of spiritual goals? Looking at religions from an external perspective, the contributors then analyze the way religion interacts with humour in society. How does a religion respond to sarcasm and irony? Are there limits to mockery and making fun of believers? Does humour have a pacifying effect when societal tensions run high or does it intensify the sensitivities? This volume will provide essays of value to scholars in the various religions and literatures covered."--Bloomsbury Publishing.
Notes: Proceedings of a congress held Apr. 20-21, 2009 at the University Centre Saint Ignatius Antwerp.