Redeeming Laughter, 2nd Edition

13 Interlude: On Grim Theologians

Some religions are more humorous than others. Some gods laugh more than others. In East Asia in particular: Zen monks and Taoist sages seem to be helplessly in the grip of mirth much of the time, and every souvenir store in Hong Kong or Taipei offers a variegated line of laughing Buddhas. The Greek gods laughed a lot, mostly unpleasantly. The so-called Abrahamic religions that emerged from the monotheistic experiences of western Asia–Judaism, Christianity, and Islam–are comparatively underprivileged in the department of mirth. Nietzsche made the renowned quip that he would find Christianity more believable if only the Christians looked more redeemed. He had the same observation in mind, no doubt, when he called ...