Humor in heaven??

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

will there be humor in heaven??

Most humor involves silly things that happen, or plays on words, or some other thing that usually involves the foibles of man and/or beast with which most us can relate.

Given that heaven is supposed to be "perfect," will heaven be a place where people can laugh? What could there possibly be to laugh about if everyone is going to be "perfect"? (and I'm not talking about the so-called "laugh of joy")

Will we all lose our funny bone?

[Gregory Matthews]

Why not. The God who created a monkey is a God of humor.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

interesting thought, Gregory.

Hmmm. Monkeys. Monkeys are known to be jealous of, and be mean to, other monkeys. I wonder if monkeys won't do that anymore....

but back to humor in heaven...so we might laugh at the antics of animals...but will other humans be able to be comical? If so, how?

(I know this is a totally useless topic. But it interested me...)

[Kevin H]

Don't confuse the Hebrew view of perfection with the Greek view of perfection. http://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Thought-Compared-Greek-Thorleif/dp/0393005348

Sorry for only an ad for the book (but it is one of the classics to understand the Bible better). But we are Greeks in thought and our view of perfection is what we read back into the Bible for perfection. The Biblical view if base on Hebrew perfection which is perfection in different stages and for the purpose it is use for and how we relate to something. A Heaven without humor would be far from perfect

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Agreed, heaven without humor would be extremely dull.

So what might be the fodder for humor in heaven?

- hit a wrong note on the harp? (no, unless we'll make mistakes in heaven)

- April Fools type of jokes? (I hope not - I detest April Fools gags)

- play a trick on someone, à la Candid Camera? (Joey wants to pick grapes on the vine, but someone strung olives in the vines)

- practical jokes, i.e., tie shut the arms of a saint's robe?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

it's very easy to say, "of course, there will be humor in heaven."

My point is WHAT SORT OF HUMOR might possibly be there????

(In a way, most of the responses I've gotten so far are sounding like the type of "pat answers" given to people who have questions, but nobody has really given any thought to their answers.... just giving whatever sounds like it would be the *right* answer in the Christian world..)

I give up....

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

(In a way, most of the responses I've gotten so far are sounding like the type of "pat answers" given to people who have questions, but nobody has really given any thought to their answers.... just giving whatever sounds like it would be the *right* answer in the Christian world..)

O.K., so maybe (?) you thought that my comment as to a God who created a monkey was pat and without thought?

Well, God has chosen to become known/revealed in God's creation. In this respect, the face of a monkey is speaking to us and a revelation of God--now, don't push me to far on this. There are limits to what I have said.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

O.K., so maybe (?) you thought that my comment as to a God who created a monkey was pat and without thought?

no, actually I didn't think that....that's why I wrote "most" instead of "all"...

Quote:

Well, God has chosen to become known/revealed in God's creation. In this respect, the face of a monkey is speaking to us and a revelation of God--now, don't push me to far on this. There are limits to what I have said.

God is revealed as a monkey. Now, *there's* a comedic thought!! LOL

[Tom Wetmore]

The Hindu god Hanuman for starters...

http://www.luminarium.org/mythology/monkeygods.htm

[CoAspen]

Maybe we could think of humor as a form of happiness!

[joeb]

interesting thought, Gregory.

Hmmm. Monkeys. Monkeys are known to be jealous of, and be mean to, other monkeys. I wonder if monkeys won't do that anymore....

but back to humor in heaven...so we might laugh at the antics of animals...but will other humans be able to be comical? If so, how?

(I know this is a totally useless topic. But it interested me...)

Aren't we created in the image of God? And, isn't humor an integral part of the human race? The ability to laugh is actually healing. Would it be thus if humor came from the devil?

[M. T. Cross]

ZERE VILL BE NO LAUGHING!

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

ZERE VILL BE NO LAUGHING!

Originally Posted By: joeb

Aren't we created in the image of God? And, isn't humor an integral part of the human race? The ability to laugh is actually healing. Would it be thus if humor came from the devil?

again, that's missing the point... what types of humor might there be in heaven?

Other than Gregory's suggestion that animals might be comical, what might be humorous?

will fruits and vegetables grow in funny shapes that resemble things? I don't think so, because everything in the New Earth will be "perfect".... and what's humorous about perfection?? Everyone's character will be "perfect." Everyone's physical attributes will be "perfect." There won't be any "problems" to overcome (where much of our humor stems). There won't be language barriers....probably no heavenly "puns"... Nobody will be clumsy. Nobody will do something silly - because they will be "perfect."

It just seems more and more to me that the heaven people talk about isn't going to have any comedy. It'll have things to do and things to learn, but other than that - nothing comical.. No heavenly candid camera. Frankly, I don't much like the idea of heaven when it gets right down to it - because I wouldn't "fit in"..... my sense of humor is too much a part of me..

[JoeMo]

I think God programmed all of us with a sense of humor and an enjoyment of laughter. Humor, laughter, and emotions are amoral - they are neither bad nor good in themselves; it's how we use them that is good or bad. I'm hoping that there are some funny-looking animals, veggies/fruits that look awful but taste great (and vice versa); slapstick humor; and general teasing and cajoling, laughing at saints that "break wind" in public or that trip over a crack in the solid gold pavement. The same things that amuse us now will amuse us for eternity; there just won't be any vicious, sacreligious, or twisted sexual humor - hopefully there will still be some healthy sexual humor.

[Kevin H]

Humor seems to fit into 3 categories: put down, lift up and to help with hard situations.

In heaven we will not be putting down, and the hard situations will be solved, but there is still up lifting humor.

On the humor thread Stan posted Canadian humor of the Red Green show. I've only seen the two threads Stan posted but loved them. Some of that humor, creative ways of trying to do a task, such as how to use a saw with the budgie chords and truck wheel, I can see similar forms of creativity in heaven.

[CoAspen]

I doubt that chrisitianity really knows what 'perfect' really means because we have been raised with perfectionism ideas where the definition varies greatly.

I agree, many peoples definition of heaven is definitely not an interesting place. Humor, fun, laughing, pranks,etc...in my view they are present!!!!

[JoeMo]

Quote:

I doubt that chrisitianity really knows what 'perfect' really means

So true! One thing that amazes me about the Kingdom - can you imagine a place where there will never be any disagreements? I can somewhat imagine humor in heaven; but I'm so used to tip-toeing through disagreements for the past 60 years, that it's difficult to visualize that never happening in the Kingdom.

[Sojourner]

I think there is humor in heaven, its in the Bible, how about the miracle that so many people miss where all the disciples were able to gather in one Honda Accord? Plenty of comedy shows have done that with compact cars over the years!

[Samie]

I believe there is ONLY ONE thing absent in heaven: sin.

Therefore, whatever that results from or results in sin, cannot be NOR will be found in heaven. In this connection, humor that does not result from nor results in sin, can be there.

Now, as to what humor does not result from nor results in sin, is another humorous game.

[nuff sed]

I like a good joke as much as anyone ( maybe more than some) BUT you must admit that most humour is based on a 'put-down' of someone else. Nuf Sed

[JoeMo]

Is the sin in telling the joke or someone taking offense at it? I think many people limit their conversation in the name of "political correctness". If anything violates their standards, they take offense. For example, I am a 2nd generation Italian; and very proud of my heritage. Nonetheless, we Italians have some eccentricities exclusive to us that others find humorous. I tell jokes about Italians all the time - I enjoy our eccentricities. Some people find it offensive that I would joke about someone's culture - especially my own. I have Hispanic friends that make jokes about their cultural eccentricities. Some people find it amusing; others find it offensive. Who is committing the sin - the joke tellers, those taking offense, both, or neither? None of the jokes are "nasty".

[joeb]

Originally Posted By: M. T. Cross

ZERE VILL BE NO LAUGHING!

Originally Posted By: joeb

Aren't we created in the image of God? And, isn't humor an integral part of the human race? The ability to laugh is actually healing. Would it be thus if humor came from the devil?

again, that's missing the point... what types of humor might there be in heaven?

Other than Gregory's suggestion that animals might be comical, what might be humorous?

will fruits and vegetables grow in funny shapes that resemble things? I don't think so, because everything in the New Earth will be "perfect".... and what's humorous about perfection?? Everyone's character will be "perfect." Everyone's physical attributes will be "perfect." There won't be any "problems" to overcome (where much of our humor stems). There won't be language barriers....probably no heavenly "puns"... Nobody will be clumsy. Nobody will do something silly - because they will be "perfect."

It just seems more and more to me that the heaven people talk about isn't going to have any comedy. It'll have things to do and things to learn, but other than that - nothing comical.. No heavenly candid camera. Frankly, I don't much like the idea of heaven when it gets right down to it - because I wouldn't "fit in"..... my sense of humor is too much a part of me..

Rudywoofs,

Would you be the same recognizable person in heaven if you were minus your sense of humor? I doubt it.

The other thing that makes me think there will be humor in heaven is what people on this earth are like if they don't have a sense of humor. Ever met anyone more difficult to get along with than the "perfect" person who has no sense of humor?

[Woody]

One of the best books I've read on this topic is:

"The Humor of Christ" by Elton Trueblood.

[Gerr]

Are you saying that just because we are in heaven that when I pick up a saxophone I'll be playing it perfectly the first time?

[Gerr]

I like a good joke as much as anyone ( maybe more than some) BUT you must admit that most humour is based on a 'put-down' of someone else. Nuf Sed

I told this joke when I preached the sermon today. Feel free to critique it whether it was a put down, offensive, or done at the expense of someone else.

"On the way home after my last sermon in May, my wife informed and castigated me for its length. So I promised her to make that sermon seem so much shorter by making this one so much longer."

(It seems everybody in the audience laughed.)