Laughter and the Grace of God
Restoring Laughter to its Central Role in Christian Spirituality and Theology
- Theology
- Christian Living
- Publisher: Cascade Books (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2019
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Publisher's Description
Laughter is important because we cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh, and this is true of our relationship with God. Having a sense of humor is essential for maturity in faith and holiness. Unfortunately, humor and the role that laughter plays in life and spirituality have often been neglected and the aim of Laughter and the Grace of God is to restore laughter to its central place in Christian spirituality and theology. It examines the role of laughter in Scripture and finds it in unexpected places including the story of Abraham and the formation of the covenant and the tragedy of Job. There is laughter in the incarnation, the resurrection, and even the crucifixion. Jesus is the great Laugh-maker. Thomas Aquinas spoke of the sin of having too little laughter as well as the danger of having too much, while Martin Luther said, "If you're not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there." Laughter is nothing less than a participation in the life and love of God.
Endorsements (2)
“Brian Edgar challenges us on the peril of ignoring humor in all its forms, as the beginning and end of reflection on theology and spirituality. He turns scorn, ridicule, and mockery on its head into a revelation of divine joy. The book is insightful and controversial, but deeply satisfying; we will, despite ourselves, experience the joy of being able to laugh all the way to heaven.”
“I read Edgar’s Laughter and the Grace of God as a follow-up to the award-winning The God Who Plays, and I think it just as compelling. Edgar appropriately differentiates between laughter as an expression of triviality or even flippant mockery, and laughter as the expression of joyful seriousness. Perhaps the honest person can admit existence is completely absurd if there is not a personal God, responding with a cynical smirk—but Edgar correctly asserts the physicality of joy known as laughter is one wonderful way the follower of Christ expresses trusting confidence.”
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