Is religion funny?

[Graham]

Since the all seeing eye has now taken it upon himself to vanquish all humour from the Religion and Philosophy forum, I propose a serious discussion of the above topic - "Is religion funny?"

To state my position up front, I find religion funny. I find the basic premises - God or gods - funny, I find the institutions funny, I find the beliefs funny, I find the sefl-righteousness of many believers funny and the self-importance even more so, I particularly find the rituals funny and any religion that involves special clothing and/or hairstyles really cracks me up.

The whole thing is just so utterly ridiculous.

For instance, we are asked to seriously consider the propostion that a giant invisible fairy runs the entire universe and that he chooses to communicate with the only other intelligent beings in the cosmos (his own children mind you) by way of a 6,000 year-old book that no two people even interpret the same way.

We're asked to debate rationally with people who seriously believe that the only way an all-powerful being could forgive the sins of his own creations was by having a part of himself become human, get nailed to a stick, die and be resurrected in three days and leave a legacy of 2,000 of infighting and schism amongst his supposed flock.

There are people who believe in gods with elephant heads, people who believe in gods that are three-in-one like a celestial detergent, people who believe the earth is god, the moon is god and the sun is god and people who believe they are god.

There are nine billion people in the world (I think) and nine billion flavours of religion, each one different from the next.

Even people of nominally the same religion can't seem to agree on exactly what it is they agree on.

Even people with far bigger and better things to worry about waste their time worrying about their "souls".

We are a race of being that can perform miracles of technology and science and yet still argue with and kill each other over childish superstitions.

It is funny but only because if you didn't laugh you'd have to cry.

Graham

[Quester_X]

However, there are times when religion does serve a useful purpose, such as comforting desperate people. Many wonderful things have been accomplished in the name of a god or gods. There are also times when religion can be quite frightening, when one considers the number of wars that have been waged over the years in its name. It's a difficult subject to discuss, torn as I am by both the absurdity and the deadly seriousness of it. I also have no wish to hurt people who do believe, as long as they respect my freedom to believe what I want. In the end, though, I think that you are correct in that the best way to cope with religion is through gentle laughter, as long as we are tolerant of other's beliefs.

[geni]

I can think of some distintly non humuros relgions. The thugi for example.

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by geni
I can think of some distintly non humuros relgions. The thugi for example. Come on! They're hilarious! Haven't you seen "Temple of Doom"? And the Aztecs. All that wacky human sacrifice. What was up with that? Side-splitting!

[Graham]

Originally posted by geni
I can think of some distintly non humuros relgions. The thugi for example.

The line between humour and tragedy is blurry at times, indeed.

Graham

[Graham]

Originally posted by Quester_X
However, there are times when religion does serve a useful purpose, such as comforting desperate people. Many wonderful things have been accomplished in the name of a god or gods. There are also times when religion can be quite frightening, when one considers the number of wars that have been waged over the years in its name. It's a difficult subject to discuss, torn as I am by both the absurdity and the deadly seriousness of it. I also have no wish to hurt people who do believe, as long as they respect my freedom to believe what I want. In the end, though, I think that you are correct in that the best way to cope with religion is through gentle laughter, as long as we are tolerant of other's beliefs.

I have no problem being tolerent of people's beliefs as long as they are tolerent of my finding their beliefs funny.

A grown adult can behave as foolishly as they please, as far as I am concerned but they should expect to be ridiculed for it.

Graham

[frisian]

Originally posted by Graham


I have no problem being tolerent of people's beliefs as long as they are tolerent of my finding their beliefs funny.

A grown adult can behave as foolishly as they please, as far as I am concerned but they should expect to be ridiculed for it.

Graham

Thus an eye for an eye toleration credo?

Perhaps changing the forum to the James Randi Comedy Foundation would be more appropriate?

:D

[Skeptical Greg]

I have sent the following message to Linda

Linda,

It seems that LuxFerum has decided to move threads from R & P to the humor section just because the threads may involve making fun of religion..


I believe this violates the spirit of the forums..

If this policy is valid, it would be valid to move any thread from Politics, Para, Science & etc., just because a poster made humor part of their observations..


Your opinion on this would be appreciated...


I would appreciate the support of members who agree with my opinion..

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by Diogenes
I have sent the following message to Linda



I would appreciate the support of members who support my opinion.. You got it from me. If that happened in all of the forums, people would get p!ssed pretty darn quick.

[frisian]

Originally posted by Diogenes
I have sent the following message to Linda



I would appreciate the support of members who agree with my opinion..

I disagree, making humor "part" of your observation is far different than merely back slapping one another in an attempt at solely humor.

It's like having a debate as follows.

Christians are dumb

Heh. yeah they are

They are so dumb

Don't they have any logical leanings?

No, they are all stupid.

I believe in Santa Claus

Heh. I worship Zeus...heh

Prove it.

Heh. Nah, it is all dumb.


Why the need for 30 such straight threads?

[Graham]

Originally posted by Diogenes
I have sent the following message to Linda



I would appreciate the support of members who agree with my opinion..

Done.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
You got it from me. If that happened in all of the forums, people would get p!ssed pretty darn quick.

I think maybe we should deluge the moderators with requests to move all jokes, or attempts at humor to the ' Humor ' forum..

This would probably include upwards of 70% of all posts in these forums..

I could spend the next two hours in politics, doing just that..

Gosh I hate it when they make fun of Republicans. Particularly Atheist Republicans..:mad:


Not to mention, there seems to be a lot of religious crap over in politics also.. I've had it!!!!

[Graham]

Originally posted by frisian


I disagree, making humor "part" of your observation is far different than merely back slapping one another in an attempt at solely humor.

It's like having a debate as follows.

Christians are dumb

Heh. yeah they are

They are so dumb

Don't they have any logical leanings?

No, they are all stupid.

I believe in Santa Claus

Heh. I worship Zeus...heh

Prove it.

Heh. Nah, it is all dumb.


Why the need for 30 such straight threads?

If you don't like the way a thread is going, don't read it.

If you don't like a poster's style put him/her on ignore.

If something doesn't appeal to your particular sense of humour just don't laugh.

Is it really that hard?

Graham

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by frisian


I disagree, making humor "part" of your observation is far different than merely back slapping one another in an attempt at solely humor.

It's like having a debate as follows.I don't nessecarily disagree. But if that's going to happen in the religion forum, it would have to happen in all forums. I don't know if you ever go into the politics forum, but I might go insane if I see another Israel/Palestine thread. Same arguments over and over ad nauseum. Nothing you can do about this sort of thing on a message board without moderator overload.

[geni]

Originally posted by Diogenes
just because the threads may involve making fun of religion..


Nice strawman. (mind you I think there are a couple of threads in humor that should be moved the other way).

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by frisian






Why the need for 30 such straight threads?

None...

Ignore them and they wll dissappear.....

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by geni


Nice strawman. (mind you I think there are a couple of threads in humor that should be moved the other way).

Glad you liked it...:)

[frisian]

Originally posted by Graham


If you don't like the way a thread is going, don't read it.

If you don't like a poster's style put him/her on ignore.

If something doesn't appeal to your particular sense of humour just don't laugh.

Is it really that hard?

Graham

I don't put anyone on ignore.

And I am merely discussing, I understand that I am able to not read a thread, there is no inherent force.

[frisian]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
I don't nessecarily disagree. But if that's going to happen in the religion forum, it would have to happen in all forums. I don't know if you ever go into the politics forum, but I might go insane if I see another Israel/Palestine thread. Same arguments over and over ad nauseum. Nothing you can do about this sort of thing on a message board without moderator overload.

I would agree with that, if you are going to separate threads by subject (to some extent), if someone wants to peruse those that are merely orientated towards sarcasm and humor one can go "visit" the humor section. I also agree it is up to the board members to police themselves to an extent.

It isn't my board, so I am ok with whatever is decided.

[frisian]

Originally posted by Diogenes


None...

Ignore them and they wll dissappear.....

:) I am not upset by it. I do generally ignore them. Some I read, some I do not. Really it isn't that big of a deal to me. Seems it is to some though.

[shemp]

I suppose if I launch a vicious, humorless attack on religion, that's OK, but if I point out how silly religion is, it will get Shemped (remember that term?) to Humor.

I support you too Diogenes.

[frisian]

Originally posted by shemp
I suppose if I launch a vicious, humorless attack on religion, that's OK, but if I point out how silly religion is, it will get Shemped (remember that term?) to Humor.

I support you too Diogenes.

:biggrin:

I would agree that makes sense to me, humorless and vicious is more appropriate.

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by shemp
I suppose if I launch a vicious, humorless attack on religion, that's OK, but if I point out how silly religion is, it will get Shemped (remember that term?) to Humor.
If it was you, they'd probably Shemp it to Flame Wars without even looking at it.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by shemp
I suppose if I launch a vicious, humorless attack on religion, that's OK, but if I point out how silly religion is, it will get Shemped (remember that term?) to Humor.

Better to be Shemped, than to burn in hell for all eternity..


No , wait ! I think being Shemped is a good indicator that you will burn in hell forever..:(

[Denise]

I think it's funny that religion has spawned so many hilarious behaviors by people. I'm thinking especially of all the Mary sightings in windows, trees, all the weeping statues etc. If God wants to communicate why doesn't he just hold a news conference? I'm sure attendence would be huge...instead we get weeping icons, blood that turns from solid to liquid and some people who find religious meaning in everything from death and destruction to peanut butter sandwiches. I'm personally a little sick of getting religious emails. Here's one I got today.





GOD'S CAKE


Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve

this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here

is a wonderful explanation!



A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is

going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend

broke up with her and her best friend is moving

away.



Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks

her daughter if she would like a snack, and the

daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."


Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother

offers. "Yuck" says her daughter.


"How about a couple raw eggs?"



"Gross, Mom!"



"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking

soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"



To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those

things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are

put together in the right way, they make a

wonderfully delicious cake!



God works the same way. Many times we wonder why

He would let us go through such bad and difficult

times. But God knows that when He puts these things

all in His order, they always work for good! We just

have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all

make something wonderful!



God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers

every spring and a sunrise every morning.


Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can

live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your

heart.



If you like this, send this on to the people you

really care about. I did.



I hope your day is a "piece of cake!"



Gee, that made me feel better! Next time I'm at a funeral I'm going to tell the grieving relatives that it's good for their cake.

[scribble]

I find religion to be equal parts sad, frightening, and hilarious.

We can focus on the sad and frightening, or we can ocassionally lighten things up with some humor as well.

Personally, I think we're some *********** funny people and there are funny posts in *every single area* of this forum. And always will be.

Put simply: I like Lux, but I think he made a mistake this time.

[csense]

Originally posted by Diogenes

I have sent the following message to Linda...

...I would appreciate the support of members who agree with my opinion..

You definately have my support, since I am of the opinion that atheism is funny, and these threads provide so much evidence of the utterly ridiculous, self-important, self-rightgeous, irrational, and childish behavior of it's adherents, that it would be a crying shame to bury it.

We stand together my brother (or sister)

[evildave]

Go watch Monty Python's Life of Brian, Holy Grail and Meaning of Life, and then tell me religion isn't funny.

Then visit the 'Fundies say the Darndest Things' site, and tell me religion isn't funny.

It's a riot. Well, right up until someone gets all psycho for their god and starts killing people.

[csense]

Go watch Monty Python's Life of Brian, Holy Grail and Meaning of Life, and then tell me religion isn't funny.


By this logic I should think cocaine addiction is funny if I've seen Richard Pryor.

Just what is your point beside twisted logic?

[c4ts]

Of course religion is funny. Haven't you ever seen a Chick tract? Hi-larious!

[evildave]

Originally posted by csense
Go watch Monty Python's Life of Brian, Holy Grail and Meaning of Life, and then tell me religion isn't funny.

By this logic I should think cocaine addiction is funny if I've seen Richard Pryor.

Just what is your point beside twisted logic?

Exactly. Twisted logic is funny. Monty Python is full of it, but they had a lot material to draw on, and their delivery is well executed.

If you need a 'straight man', look no further than a fundy to provide you with tons of twisted material.

[Graham]

Originally posted by csense
Go watch Monty Python's Life of Brian, Holy Grail and Meaning of Life, and then tell me religion isn't funny.


By this logic I should think cocaine addiction is funny if I've seen Richard Pryor.

Just what is your point beside twisted logic?

Actually, you make a good point, religion is like cocaine.

Religious people keep telling me how much they get out of their religion, what a tremendous sense of well-being they get from it. They tell me it invigorates them and makes them feel full of joy.

Thanks, csense, you've really enlightened me to the true nature of religion - it's just a nasty little drug that gets in your brain and makes you high. It's addictive and, unless you're careful, can really screw up your life.

Graham

[LuxFerum]

Originally posted by scribble
Put simply: I like Lux, but I think he made a mistake this time.
Can you tell me exactly where is my mistake?

Originally posted by evildave
Go watch Monty Python's Life of Brian, Holy Grail and Meaning of Life, and then tell me religion isn't funny.
Excelent point, now tell me, in which section of a DVD store is this movie?
In the comedy or in documentary?

[LuxFerum]

Originally posted by Diogenes
I have sent the following message to Linda

...
It seems that LuxFerum has decided to move threads from R & P to the humor section just because the threads may involve making fun of religion..
...

To bad that that is completely unconnected to reality.
None of the threads were moved because they are making fun of religion, they were moved because they were 100% humor, and we have a place for those kind of threads.
I think that almost all of the threads here involve some humor in it, but that wasn't enough to move them.

[Denise]

Kind of snotty for a mod don't you think? I especially like the "unconnected from reality" quip. Maybe you should think about how to affirm your point of view without insulting others.

[LuxFerum]

Originally posted by Denise
Kind of snotty for a mod don't you think? I especially like the "unconnected from reality" quip. Maybe you should think about how to affirm your point of view without insulting others.
The fact that I explain all my motives don't seem enough to him, so I keep my statement that his opinion about my motives are unconect to reality.

[Denise]

Originally posted by LuxFerum

The fact that I explain all my motives don't seem enough to him, so I keep my statement that his opinion about my motives are unconect to reality.

But it's the way you say it. And maybe you do not see that. It looks very insulting to me at least. Mayhaps you don't see it that way, but I do. I think your mistake is in keeping up with the convo after you made, and explained you position. You seem to make it personal and lash out as such.

[Iacchus]

Man is a creature of belief, period. So no matter how you slice it, funny or not, you can't get away from the belief in something. ;)

[Denise]

Originally posted by LuxFerum

The fact that I explain all my motives don't seem enough to him, so I keep my statement that his opinion about my motives are unconect to reality.

Just also want to say that you seem to be a good mod, just disagree in this instance.

[LuxFerum]

Originally posted by Denise
Just also want to say that you seem to be a good mod, just disagree in this instance.
Thank you very much :)
The problem that I see, is that no one is complaining about my decision to move those threads, they are all making guess on some "hiden" motives behind it, or predicting another moderation disaster.
No one seem to deny that those threads belong to humor.
So I don't know why all the panic.

[Ladewig]

I believe it is inappriopriate to make fun of things people have no control over (height, age, skin color,etc) and appropriate to make fun of things that people choose to do (interpret scriptures a certain way, wear a bad toupee, join specific political parties, etc.).

So, yes, I think that despite the usefulness of aiding the grieving and helping the poor, there is something funny about the Pope believing that God wants him to wear a gold cape and a pointy hat split from side to side. I think Fred Phelps and his beliefs are funny enough to publicly laugh at. I think certain threads at Rapture Ready also fall into that category.

I find nothing funny about religious groups that adopt the attidue, "we are going to practice our religion over here and you all can do whatever you want." However, when a religious believers (or anyone else) start posting goofy things on the internet, I think it is OK to label those things as kooky.