Course Description: What makes something funny? Although it is widely-acknowledged that humor, its perception, and the analysis of its nature and purpose is notoriously difficult to assess, the challenge is magnified in ancient texts that are not only vastly removed from the interpreter’s context and time, but are also overlaid with the solemn tones of “holy scriptures.” Humor is highly socially and linguistically conditioned. The aphorism that a joke is lost in translation is particularly apt in the case of biblical literature where the punchline often depends on word-play and puns. Nonetheless, postcolonial and feminist interpreters frequently point to the use of humor in biblical texts as a means of survival, resistance, and inspiring hope for audiences. These scholars insist that through humor, authors and audiences make use of a “hidden transcript,” one that permits multiple meanings for insider and outsider audiences. This course takes up humor as a critical lens for interpreting the Bible, with a view towards appreciating its ongoing relevance for theological reflection and ministry. Emphasis will be placed on primary reading of the biblical texts and class discussion. Students will learn how to read the Bible with an appreciation for different categories of humor present, and develop their own careful and considered opinions about its interpretation. Further, students will be invited to critically consider the use of humor in ministry contexts today: how might we employ laughter as a technology for theological imagination?
- Editing Teacher: Rosy Kandathil