A Time to Laugh: The Religion of Humor

(Paperback)

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Religion is impoverished when it fails to reveal and develop the humerous aspect of itself. Humor is a part of the tough tissue of religion that binds our hearts together in love, worship, or fellowship/community. Often, however, humor is negatively affected by religion, or religious people are allergic to humor. Capps, who is dean of studies in religion and psychology in the United States, tries in this book to show the ways in which humor can be recovered for religion. He argues that religion is diminished when it fails to understand and embrace its own historical connection much of it dating to biblical days to humor itself. His chapters deal with topics ranging from humor as an expression of intimacy to humor as the maintenance of the soul. "This is an exceptionally good-natured book, likely to persuade you that religion and humor have more affinity for one another than you'd imagined. The author's affable style carries a formidable learning which is never intrusive." Ted Cohen, Professor of Philosophy, University of Chicago, and author of Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters

Reviews

Reference & Research Book News, August 2006 -- mention
...He anchors his discussions in provocative analyses of humor and provides his own critical insights throughout the book, which are astute and informative. In addition, this is a very funny book... Rarely does one read a book in which one thinks and laughs so hard at the same time. It is clear that Don Capps appreciates humor...This book, well worth the time of pastors, chaplains, pastoral counselors, educated laity, and anyone who wants to think more deeply and laugh more loudly about ultimate concerns. -- Larry Kent Graham * Interpretation *

Author Bio

Donald Capps is Professor of Pastoral Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary. His books include Jesus: A Psychological Biography, Freud and Freudians on Religion, Men, Religion, and Melancholia, and Social Phobia: Alleviating Anxiety in an Age of Self-promotion. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey.