America is the most religiously diverse nation in the world, and every faith tradition deserves to be treated with respect. That is why the Founders protected religious liberty in the Constitution. Ridiculing or mocking a faith tradition undermines that respect often in heartbreaking ways. Last month, when a Sikh teenager had his turban set on fire by a classmate, the school initially dismissed the action as a childish prank. Incidents like these do not just harm the individuals involved, they also threaten the sanctity of religion itself.
On the other hand, I think it is important to maintain a healthy sense of humor about religion. I am reminded of a story from the Book of Genesis when God tells Abraham that he and his wife, Sarah, (both in their nineties) will have their first child very soon. When Sarah overhears God’s promise, she laughs out loud. God hears Sarah’s laughter, but in the end the joke is on them - God tells them to name their son Isaac, which means “laughter” in Hebrew.
Human beings are imperfect creatures. Even the smartest theologians cannot fully comprehend how God works. When we are unable to understand, one natural reaction to disbelief is laughter. Even very faithful people like Sarah sometimes can’t help but chuckle at the God she worships.
If religion is taken too seriously without any laughter, people of faith can sometimes become too sure of themselves. This overconfidence runs the risk of turning faith into zealotry. If religion is to have any meaning, people of faith must continue to ask tough questions about it. In that sense, doubt and even disbelief can help strengthen faith, not destroy it. Laughter is an important part of that process, which probably explains why there are so many church jokes.
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