Theolog

Funny clergy

By John Dart

One night last month Jay Leno, acting as both performer and writer while the writers guild strike dragged on, recruited a priest, a rabbi and a minister, each to tell a favorite joke on stage. The clerics told their tales smoothly and got laughs.

It made me long for more exposure to clergy who routinely touch funny bones with great one-liners and funny-yet-wise stories. Comedy is a difficult art in any venue, no less in church settings. But it can work in certain situations, such as with a pastor known for wry humor and congregants who expect and react to the humor.

In search of folly

By David Heim

Why is it so rare to see religious humor in print? That’s a question we ponder from time to time at the Christian Century. We’d like to publish more of it. Is this a Protestant deficiency?

We know Christians have a sense of humor. In my experience, Protestant pastors are generally quick to see the humor that lurks in their serious work.

Christmas: how offended should you be?

By Dennis Colby

This is traditionally the time of year when we Christians expect to be offended by the creeping assault on all things Christian by an insidious secularist conspiracy led by such arch-Leftist organizations as the American Civil Liberties Union and Macy's. Our annual hypersensitivity to all things relating to winter holidays has become as joyous a part of the season as caroling, family gatherings, and passing on awful gifts to your distant relatives.