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Zusatztext Religion has many a times been perceived as a somber affair. Many traditions advocate donning a serious face during religious observances. What is the relation between humour and religion? This book makes an attempt to answer this question through a careful study of various religious traditions like Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and even some religious literature and plays. This anthology is divided into two parts: religious laughter and laughing at religion. Caricature of religion through cartoons and the consequent politics is also examined through an analysis of Greek history. That guilelessness and simplicity are core spiritual values and spirituality has a close connection with humour is well established through this work. Informationen zum Autor Hans Geybels is Associate Professor at the Department of Pastoral Theology in the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Walter Van Herck is Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Klappentext 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. Vorwort Leading scholars analyze the importance and functioning of humor in different world religions. Zusammenfassung Highlights the importance and functioning of humor in different world religions. Exploring the major religious cultures, this book looks at the constructive aspects to the relation between humor and religion, with humor seen as a pathway to spiritual wisdom. It also explores why humor and spirituality fit well together. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface Part I: Religious Laughter 1. The Redemptive Power of Humor in Religion. An Introductory Overview, Hans Geybels (Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium) 2. Humor as Practical Wisdom, Johan Taels (University of Antwerp, Belgium) 3. Humor in Hinduism, Koenraad Elst (Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium) 4. Laughing Priests in the Atsuta Shrine Festival, Elaine Gerbert (University of Kansas, USA) 5. Humor on Religion in the Greco-Roman World, Paul Schulten (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) 6. Transferring Aristophanes' Religious Registers in Modern Greek and English Versions, Vicky Manteli (University of Peloponnese, Greece) 7. Jewish Humor, Ludo Abicht (University of Antwerp, Belguim) 8. Why Did Ancient Gods Laugh? Humor in the History of Religions, Ingvild Saelid Gilhus (University of Bergen, Norway) 9. Homo Byzantinus Ridens: Humor in Byzantinium, Przemyslaw Marciniak (University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland) 10. Being Serious about Laughter: The Case of Medieval Biblical Plays, Jolanta Rzegocka (Tischner European University, Poland) 11. The Muslim Sense of Humor, Ulrich Marzolph (Georg-Augustu University, Gottingen, Germany) Part II: Laughing at Religion 12. Humor, Religion and Society. An Introduction, Walter Van Herck (U...
