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Religious Humor in Evangelical Christian and Mormon Culture

Publisher:
, 2018
ISBN: 9781350005495
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Incorporating perspectives from religious studies, humor studies, cultural and film studies, and theology, as well as original data from textual analysis and the voices of religious comedians, this book critically analyses the experiences of believers who appreciate that their faith is not necessarily a barrier to their laughter.

It is often thought that religion and humor are incompatible, but Religious Humor in Evangelical Christian and Mormon Culture shows that humor is not only a popular means of entertainment, but also a way in which an individual or community expresses their identity and values. Elisha McIntyre argues that believers embrace their sense of humor, actively producing and consciously consuming comic entertainment that reflects their own experiences.

This process is not however without conflict. The book argues that there are specific characteristics that indicate a unique kind of humor that may be called 'religious humor'. Through an examination of religious humor found in stand-up comedy, television sitcoms, comedy film and satirical cartoons, and drawing on interview data, the book outlines the main considerations that Christians take into account when choosing their comedy entertainment. These include questions about ideology, blasphemy, taboos around the body, and the motives behind the joke.

Drawing on original data, this book delves into evangelical Christian and Mormon comedy culture to examine how believers balance their laughter with their reverence.

Argues that the popular belief that religion and humour do not mix is mistaken and that there is in fact a rich relationship between believers and humour and laughter
Brings together a substantial number of examples from texts and data to provide a resource for future study in this new sub-field
Draws on methodologies from religious studies, humour studies, linguistics, and cultural and film studies to build a new approach and theory

List of illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Evangelicals, Mormons and Popular Culture
2. Introducing the Challenges of Humor
3. Appropriate Humor I: Blasphemy and Belief
4. Appropriate Humor II: Clean and Dirty Humor
5. Appropriate Humor III: Safe and Subversive Humor
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Religious Humor in Evangelical Christian and Mormon Culture makes a substantial contribution to the growing field of the study of humor (specifically the genre of comedy) and religion. The focus on producers of humorous religious media,
and on comedians in particular, in relation to religious audiences proves especially fruitful.

Finding similarities of core values among various Mormon and Evangelical Christian groups, Elisha McIntyre pinpoints another shared virtue: self-reflexive religious humor. Constructing a fresh apologetic for the place of laughter within these conservative communities, McIntyre expertly negotiates the tensions between their religious traditions (particularly those of LDS) and popular culture, merrily exploring areas of clean humor, sex, sin, and swearing, though not in that order.

Religious Humour in Evangelical Christian and Mormon Culture is a most welcome addition to the study of religion and humour. McIntyre focuses on two groups that can be seen as populated by humourless prudes, but in her very capable hands she shows us how they use strategies that make sense in their religious subcultures to make their co-religionists laugh. This book will expose people to a world of humour that is not normally available in HBO or Netflix specials, but which exposes the moral orders of American Evangelicals and Latter-Day Saints in new and insightful ways with a sophisticated theoretical framework. McIntyre has given us a work of insightful, accessible, and valuable scholarship.

What makes something funny to evangelicals and Mormons? This is the core concern of Religious Humor in Evangelical Christian and Mormon Culture. Through detailed analyses of stand-up performances, movies, web series, cartoons, and other instances of comedy, the book offers an important perspective on an understudied aspect of contemporary American Christianity. Using accessible language that preserves the lighthearted spirit-and even the humor-of its subject, the book situates evangelical and Mormon joking into robust theoretical frameworks..

Elisha McIntyre is Lecturer in the Department of Studies in Religion at the University of Sydney, Australia.

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