Laughter: A Theological Reflection

By Karl-Josef Kuschel

Book Overview

Theology is not a subject especially noted for its jokes (though one of the chapters in this book has a good collection of them). However, since laughter is such an important element in life, there would be something wrong if it could not be heard in theology: not mocking laughter, but the laughter which indicates delight and joy. And that such laughter cannot be heard today in the Roman Catholic church in its 'wintry season' is an important indication of its problems. Dr Kuschel traces a fascinating story of laughter: from Sarah in the Hebrew Bible through Homer, Plato and Aristotle, Mozart and Kafka, to Umberto Eco and The Name of the Rose. There is a long chapter on Christian laughter and its foundations in the New Testament and there is a discussion of the Christian condemnation of laughter, among the church fathers and the monastic tradition. And sometimes laughter is out of place - a lesson which our modern world has not really learned. Jesus, from whom Christianity arose, was laughed at; and his followers have known what it is to be laughed at too. That recognition, too, is vital; one more strand in what proves to be the rich vein of new theological insights offered here. 'How much underlies laughter! This is the kind of theology that we need: the world in all its heights and depths, everything clearly thought through, brilliantly written and at the same time centred on the Christian message' (Hans Kung). Karl-Josef Kuschel teaches ecumenical theology and theological aesthetics in the University of Tubingen.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0334008670
• ISBN13: 9780334008675
• Release Date: March 2012
• Publisher: SCM Press
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Powerful book about humor

A powerful book in regard to humor analysis and where humor fits into life's plan. Since the author is a theologian, he views life's plan or purpose from that point of view...The book makes great mention of the writer Umberto Eco, who wrote a fictional book, called "The Name of the Rose." The real Aristotle wrote an essay on humor, but it was lost. No problem for Eco. He tells us what Aristotle said...Outside of the best seller "The Name of the Rose," Eco has written other works. His essays are satirically and sarcastically funny. As an Italian, he tells us what he thinks of transportation in New York City. Am I am sure people have written works on transportation where he is...Getting back to the book "Laughter," by Karl-Josef Kuschel, this reviewer would recommend that it be read by any performer, writer, or student of humor.

Readable theology with humor - that's literary too

Laughter: A Theological Essay may be questioned as an academic theory - the author too easily associates general cultural themes to the specific culture of the Gospel era - but the book is a wonderful catalyst to make one think about the place of laughter in religious experience. It forces one to consider the downplaying of humor and the emphasis on seriousness in the Christian tradition - for myself this brought up interesting issues with regards to the Holy Fools tradition and the Laughing Buddha tradition.The joy of reading this book is even greater - the reader gets a bonus in postmodern literary analysis in the book's interpretation of Eco's The Name of the Rose. Again, one may not ultimately agree with the book's conclusions but you will be nudged to think about issues rarely raised.