Laughter: A Theological Essay

by Karl-Josef Kuschel

Book Overview

In this volume, theologian Kuschel traces a fascinating story of laughter: from Sarah in the Hebrew Bible through Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Mozart, Kafka, and Umberto Eco in The Name of the Rose. Kuschel discusses the foundations of Christian laughter in the New Testament and, in contrast, the Christian condemnation of laughter among the church fathers and in the monastic tradition.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826406602
• ISBN13: 9780826406606
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Continuum
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Powerful book about humor

A powerful book in regard to humor analysis and where humor fits into life's plan. Since the author is a theologian, he views life's plan or purpose from that point of view...The book makes great mention of the writer Umberto Eco, who wrote a fictional book, called "The Name of the Rose." The real Aristotle wrote an essay on humor, but it was lost. No problem for Eco. He tells us what Aristotle said...Outside of the best seller "The Name of the Rose," Eco has written other works. His essays are satirically and sarcastically funny. As an Italian, he tells us what he thinks of transportation in New York City. Am I am sure people have written works on transportation where he is...Getting back to the book "Laughter," by Karl-Josef Kuschel, this reviewer would recommend that it be read by any performer, writer, or student of humor.

Readable theology with humor - that's literary too

Laughter: A Theological Essay may be questioned as an academic theory - the author too easily associates general cultural themes to the specific culture of the Gospel era - but the book is a wonderful catalyst to make one think about the place of laughter in religious experience. It forces one to consider the downplaying of humor and the emphasis on seriousness in the Christian tradition - for myself this brought up interesting issues with regards to the Holy Fools tradition and the Laughing Buddha tradition.The joy of reading this book is even greater - the reader gets a bonus in postmodern literary analysis in the book's interpretation of Eco's The Name of the Rose. Again, one may not ultimately agree with the book's conclusions but you will be nudged to think about issues rarely raised.