| dc.contributor.advisor | Allison, Gregg R. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Theobald, David Nathanael | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2010-01-07T18:09:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2010-01-07T18:09:57Z | |
| dc.date.created | 2007-11-28 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2007-11-28 | |
| dc.identifier.other | THESES Th.M. .T342h | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10392/438 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis explores the relationship between theology and laughter. It adopts the Superiority theory, confirmed through biblical and theological analyses. Chapter 1 discusses recent theologies of humor and outlines the occasion for the present one.
Chapter 2 begins with an historical review of the church's attitude towards laughter and discusses humor's relationship to major areas of theology.
Chapter 3 traces the development of the Superiority Theory and contends that much of our laughter is the ridiculing of a butt. Laughter performs a didactic function when it enforces a moral perspective by mocking deviants. Chapter 4 combs Scripture to confirm the theory.
Chapter 5 observes that because of competing perspectives, laughter must have an eschatological dimension. It concludes that Heaven will contain the sounds of joy and triumph, defeat and derision.
Chapter 6 discusses the implications for a postmodern context and makes application by affirming the role of humor in preaching. | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
| dc.subject | Laughter--Religious aspects--Christianity | en_US |
| dc.title | Humor and truth: Towards a Christian theology of laughter | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.publisher.institution | Southern Baptist Theological Seminary | en_US |
