have religious insults become mere jokes? (warning!Offensive jokes may be found here)

[pokmin100]

When i look at it now, the title of this doesn't seem to portray what i really had in mind, but oh well. I'm a White 17 year old male in lakewood ohio. i'm not quite sure what my religion would be, but some people tell me it's along a Padan line. but back to the topic. i watch dave Chapelle, Carlos mencia, and George Carlin, and no religion is safe from any of there jokes, but is it a bad thing? on one view, hey've insulted somenes faith, but on the other hand, they've done it in such a way that people of that faith can laugh at it. take this joke from Dennis Learry: "I efuse to raise my kids catholic, because i refuse to have tem believe in a religion where he hierarky of command is decided by the size of your hat. priests have no hats, the cardinals have that red beany, and the pope has a nice selection of big hats. God must have some sort of huge sombrerro on up there. 'Look at me! i'm god! Look at my hat, who else would i be?' 'I don't know, the lead singer of louis lobos?'"
See, i know many catholics, and even hardcore catholics, that found that hilarious. and i think that it's a great way to combat religious hate. if we all think the insults are jokes, we won't be insulted by them, will we? i know it seems like its a form of desensitizing, but it's really for the best. the fact that we all almost coexist with one aother today is proof. Read and discuss, i'll be watching.

**MOD EDIT**
PLease note well: RF Rule #4 prohibits rude, offensive, and insulting language. Hence, jokes deemed rude, offensive and/or insulting will not be allowed in this thread.
Thank you!
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[Feathers in Hair]

I think I understand what you're saying, but I think that there's a very wide variety of jokes on the topic, and some varieties cross the line into insults. I can't see how those types do anything but hurt, just as ethnic jokes are meant to wound.

There's a difference, for example, between "Why did the Dianic Pagan chicken cross the road?" (To reclaim her Sacred Femine Hawk, or something like that.) and "Why did the Dianic Pagan chicken cross the road?" "Because she wanted to bash men and reverse some silly goddesses". The first one can have the worshipper laughing, and then help educate others on what her religion is. The second is fitted to a stereotype and does nothing more than fuel hatred and/ or ignorance.

And I imagine our forum members will remember, when posting jokes, the forum guidelines.

Edit: Whoops! I forgot to mention, welcome to the forum! Please feel free to introduce yourself in this thread so we can give you a proper greeting!

 

[Sunstone]

Humor should never intentionally be used to support or further prejudices, IMO. That goes for religious humor, of course.

Personally, I've always wondered why the Bible doesn't have intentional jokes in it?

 

[Katzpur]

I think I understand what you're saying, but I think that there's a very wide variety of jokes on the topic, and some varieties cross the line into insults. I can't see how those types do anything but hurt, just as ethnic jokes are meant to wound.

There's a difference, for example, between "Why did the Dianic Pagan chicken cross the road?" (To reclaim her Sacred Femine Hawk, or something like that.) and "Why did the Dianic Pagan chicken cross the road?" "Because she wanted to bash men and reverse some silly goddesses". The first one can have the worshipper laughing, and then help educate others on what her religion is. The second is fitted to a stereotype and does nothing more than fuel hatred and/ or ignorance.

And I imagine our forum members will remember, when posting jokes, the forum guidelines.

Edit: Whoops! I forgot to mention, welcome to the forum! Please feel free to introduce yourself in this thread so we can give you a proper greeting!

Great examples, Feathers! I love religious humor, whether it be about my religion or someone else's, but when the line is crossed and someone feels insulted, I get pretty testy. And personally, I don't think the line is all that fine. It's pretty easy to tell when offense is intended and when it's not.

 

[Bishka]

Welcome. Religious jokes can be funny, but we need to watch how offensive we get.

 

[Sunstone]

**MOD POST**

Rude, offensive, or insulting jokes will not be allowed in this thread. RF Rule #4 will be enforced despite the topic of this thread.
Thank you.
​

 

[Karl R]

on one view, hey've insulted somenes faith, but on the other hand, they've done it in such a way that people of that faith can laugh at it.

To me, this has little to do with religion, but a lot to do with cultural values.

Our culture places great value on humor. Being able to laugh at yourself is a cultural virtue. Presidential candidates boost their ratings by making appearances on Saturday Night Live.

I read an article (in a christian humor magazine) which stated that in our culture nothing is sacred, because nothing is profane. To me, this is true. Even the word "profanity" has devolved to where it decribes mere vulgarities. We no longer understand the concept.

Is this a good thing? Is this a bad thing? As a product of our culture, I'm not able to objectively see how things might be different. But what you're seeing with religious humor is a side effect of a larger phenomenon.

 

[MdmSzdWhtGuy]

When i look at it now, the title of this doesn't seem to portray what i really had in mind, but oh well. I'm a White 17 year old male in lakewood ohio. i'm not quite sure what my religion would be, but some people tell me it's along a Padan line. but back to the topic. i watch dave Chapelle, Carlos mencia, and George Carlin, and no religion is safe from any of there jokes, but is it a bad thing? on one view, hey've insulted somenes faith, but on the other hand, they've done it in such a way that people of that faith can laugh at it. take this joke from Dennis Learry: "I efuse to raise my kids catholic, because i refuse to have tem believe in a religion where he hierarky of command is decided by the size of your hat. priests have no hats, the cardinals have that red beany, and the pope has a nice selection of big hats. God must have some sort of huge sombrerro on up there. 'Look at me! i'm god! Look at my hat, who else would i be?' 'I don't know, the lead singer of louis lobos?'"
See, i know many catholics, and even hardcore catholics, that found that hilarious. and i think that it's a great way to combat religious hate. if we all think the insults are jokes, we won't be insulted by them, will we? i know it seems like its a form of desensitizing, but it's really for the best. the fact that we all almost coexist with one aother today is proof. Read and discuss, i'll be watching.

**MOD EDIT**

PLease note well: RF Rule #4 prohibits rude, offensive, and insulting language. Hence, jokes deemed rude, offensive and/or insulting will not be allowed in this thread.

Thank you!
​

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If you want to try the idea of combating religious hate through jokes, I suggest strongly that you look at the reaction to the Dutch cartoons representing the pictures of Muhammad before doing any joking about that particular religion. And I wouldn't sign my own name to any such jokes, if you care about the relationship between your head and the rest of your body.

Moderate religious people and non-religious people seem to value such jokes. Zealots will often do you extreme harm if you joke about something they hold sacred. Be very aware of this before attempting any religious humor in real life.

B.​

 

[joecrawford815]

In one of Paul's books he write, ...let there be no slander, gossip, harsh joking or swearing about you... I don't remeber the quote. I will admit to having laughed at and told some harsh religious/ethnic jokes, I am not proud of it, and have not been telling them anymore, and encouraging my friends not to either. They have never furthered prejudices with anyone I know, but I am sure they do, that is why I have chosen to stop telling them. I believe that while they are funny, comics such as Dave Chappell, Carlos Mencia, Freddie Soto, etc. are not as skilled in comedy as they may seem, they just have the guts to get up on stage (camera) and tell the jokes that everyone already knows, or thinks; stereotypes with situations is what they really are. But that is a whole nother topic, stereotypes.