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What's so funny about God? : a theological look at humor / Steve Wilkens.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: Downers Grove, Illinois : IVP Academic, an imprint of InterVarsity Press, [2019]Description: viii, 192 pages ; 23 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780830852673
  • 0830852670
Subject(s):
Contents:
God has to be in there somewhere -- You may not have a sense of humor, but you are funny -- High holy days, part one: Christmas -- High holy days, part two: Easter -- Seeing God on Tuesday, or any other day that ends in "y": extraordinary ordinary time -- Going to church with bacon eaters, dead people, and superheroes -- Does this eschatology make my end look big? -- Epilogue: laughing with God during earthquakes.
Summary: "Jokes often touch on the biggest topics of our existence, but many Christians haven't taken humor seriously. This insightful yet delightful crash course from philosopher Steve Wilkens argues that viewing Scripture and theology through the lens of humor helps us understand the gospel and avoid the pitfalls of both naturalism and gnosticism, while facilitating a humble, honest, and appealing approach to faith"-- Provided by publisher.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 230.0207 W681 Available 33111009583606
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

If you don't believe God has a sense of humor, just look in the mirror. Humor is a truly human phenomenon--crossing history, culture, and every stage of life. Jokes often touch on the biggest topics of our existence. And although it may seem simple on the surface, humor depends on the use of our highest faculties: language, intelligence, sympathy, sociability.

To the philosopher Steve Wilkens, these facts about humor are evidence that God just has to be in there somewhere. Yet many Christians, scholars and laypeople alike, haven't taken humor seriously. In What's So Funny About God? Wilkens launches an exploration of the connections between humor and many of the central topics of Christian theology. He argues that viewing Scripture and theology through the lens of humor brings fresh insight to our understanding of the gospel, helps us avoid the pitfalls of both naturalism and gnosticism, and facilitates a humble, honest, and appealing approach to faith.

Wilkens turns this lens on the paradoxes of human nature, the Christian calendar, church life, and new readings of well-known biblical texts, including the book of Esther, the nativity narratives, and Jesus' own teachings. Taking into account the problems of suffering and the need for timely lament, he portrays the Christian story as one that ultimately ends in cosmic comedy. Full of wit and thoughtful jokes throughout, it's enough fun that you may not realize you're reading theology.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

God has to be in there somewhere -- You may not have a sense of humor, but you are funny -- High holy days, part one: Christmas -- High holy days, part two: Easter -- Seeing God on Tuesday, or any other day that ends in "y": extraordinary ordinary time -- Going to church with bacon eaters, dead people, and superheroes -- Does this eschatology make my end look big? -- Epilogue: laughing with God during earthquakes.

"Jokes often touch on the biggest topics of our existence, but many Christians haven't taken humor seriously. This insightful yet delightful crash course from philosopher Steve Wilkens argues that viewing Scripture and theology through the lens of humor helps us understand the gospel and avoid the pitfalls of both naturalism and gnosticism, while facilitating a humble, honest, and appealing approach to faith"-- Provided by publisher.

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