Happy Friday

One of the best… about some of the worst… And anyone who says sarcasm is the lowest form of wit should take it up with the LORD.

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Comedy and Christianity [repost]

. Here’s the audio of my talk on the subject All this began here. Then I had some initial thoughts on the usefulness of comedy here There’s an excellent CS Lewis quote here Here is a very expanded early version of the talk: part one, part two, part three, part four. Then some follow up thoughts [...]

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The Importance of Not Being Too Earnest

. If there’s one thing Oscar Wilde teaches us about comedy it’s the vital importance of not being earnest.  If Earnest was earnest there’d be no Earnest – if you catch my drift. . Whatever you put at the centre of your comedy it cannot be earnestness or else it will pull all things down [...]

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Comedy and Christianity audio

Here tis Lots of other posts on the topic here. .

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Comedy leftovers – Self lightly, God seriously

  . Here’s the audio of my talk on the subject All this began here. Then I had some initial thoughts on the usefulness of comedy here There’s an excellent CS Lewis quote here Here is a very expanded early version of the talk: part one, part two, part three, part four. Then some follow up [...]

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One more thing on blasphemy…

… Interesting that the city clerk of Ephesus did not consider Paul to have blasphemed Artemis, their goddess. (Acts 19:37)  Along with strong and clear proclamation, Paul was obviously respectful in a way that gained the notice of the pagans. Just something to bear in mind as we speak about other religions. .

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Comedy leftovers – blasphemy

After my comedy and christianity talk I was asked a question on blasphemy.  I had a Romans 2 quote up my sleeve which a) wasn’t much of an answer and b) I forgot on the day.  So here are a few extra thoughts.  To be honest I don’t really know about blasphemy – any ideas [...]

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Comedy and Christianity – draft 4

…And so idolatry is not the way back to paradise, and neither is worldly success and neither even is biblical religion. All those ways are ridiculous. Here is the way back to paradise – it’s the LORD Jesus Himself.And this is the very deepest irony of the bible – the very deepest irony of the [...]

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Comedy and Christianity – draft 3

As I close let me highlight three ways the bible says we try to get back to paradise, all of which the bible ridicules. First is we redefine God. It happened as soon as Adam and Eve disbelieved the LORD. The devil said ‘Are you really going to let the LORD be God?’ And we [...]

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Comedy and Christianity – draft 2

Here’s my central contention: Comedy is serious. And Christianity is comedic. Now maybe that’s a shocking shift in perception for you – in some ways I hope it is. But that’s my contention: Comedy is serious. And Christianity is comedic. The bible is comedic. The Christian message is comedic: I mean that in two senses. [...]

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Comedy and Christianity – draft 1

I’m giving an evangelistic talk on the above subject on Thursday.  I have way too much material and I’m toying with tackling it from a totally different angle – but, well.  Here’s some stuff that I have at the moment and maybe you can help me.  I’ll lay out what I’ve got in installments and [...]

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CS Lewis on Comedy

On Thursday I’m going to speak about Comedy and Christianity (see here and here). The Screwtape Letters is itself a wonderful argument for the positive Christian use of comedy.  In fact I once heard John Cleese read the book on tape – hilarity itself!  Lewis’ book consists of the letters of Screwtape, a senior demon, [...]

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Some initial thoughts on Comedy and Christianity

This began as a response to Codepoke.  These are just thoughts off the top of my head.  Love to hear the thoughts of others.  Comedy does not necessarily equal ‘deride’ or ‘make light of’.  Often it does – and perhaps sitcoms and funniest home video shows could be brought in as evidence.  But even if [...]

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Comedy and Christianity

You thought the Busey Builder was disturbing.  What about this? I fear that anyone who comes expecting either Reverend Horse-Teeth or actual comedy will be sorely disappointed.  Nonetheless, the date and the title is set.  It’s an evangelistic gig.  The big question is – what on earth should I say? Help gratefully received. . .

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