Humor is a Key Tool in Atheists’ Arsenal, Says Sociologist

[rug]

August 18, 2014
by Hemant Mehta

In a presentation made at this weekend’s Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, sociologist Katja Guenther explained that humor is an especially useful tool in the “New Atheism Movement”:

For example, many New Atheist Movement events include presentations from former religious leaders. One Pentecostal minister-turned-atheist [Jerry DeWitt] exhorts audiences to yell “Darwin!” at moments when a minister might ask the congregation to yell “Amen!” in a sermon. Some atheists reference the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (which says its members believe that life was created by an intelligent creature made of spaghetti noodles) to ridicule all religious belief.
…
“The movement seeks to make a mockery of religious believers and religious institutions by highlighting the absurdity of religious belief and the outrageousness of the actions of some religious believers,” Guenther said. “Humor for this particular social movement may be especially advantageous because… it offers a relatively non-threatening challenge to religion, while simultaneously causing people some discomfort and forcing them to rethink their religious views.”

While I haven’t seen the actual paper yet (though I’ve requested it), I don’t doubt the conclusion at all. When you think about people known for their atheism, comedians like George Carlin and Bill Maher are inevitably on the list alongside Richard Dawkins and Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/08/18/humor-is-a-key-tool-in-atheists-arsenal-says-sociologist/

http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/24233

[xfundy]

1. Christianity doesn't allow for real humor.

Jews, though, at least the non-orthodox, revel in it.

Christian "humor" at its least offensive is usually about misspellings or other mistakes in church materials, handouts, etc.

"Christian" humor, such as that promoted by rightwing outlets, demonizes everyone but them and the rich, and still doesn't manage to be funny. The further they push it, the meaner it gets.

[rug]

2. Josey wasn't the best pupil at Sunday school.

She often fell asleep and one day while she was sleeping, the teacher asked her a question. "Who is the creator of the universe?" Joe was sitting next to Josey and decided to poke her with a pin to wake her up. Josey jumped and yelled, "God almighty!" The teacher congratulated her. A little later the teacher asked her another question, "Tell me who is our lord and savior?" Joe poked Josey again and she yelled out, "Jesus Christ!" The teacher congratulated her again. Later on the teacher asked, "What did Eve say to Adam after their 26th child?" Joe poked Josey again and she shouted, "If you stick that thing in me again, I'll snap it in half and stick it up your ass!"

[cbayer]

4. I have seen some great christian humor and grew up surrounded by it.

If you grew up fundamentalist then I can understand how you reached this conclusion, but you are wrong.

The christians I know are mostly huge fans of the religiously based monty python movies.

[cbayer]

3. Humor is good for all the reasons he lists, but

humor based on bigotry is not.

Racist jokes supply a collective identity, breaks the ice and provides identity when used among racists. Jokes about jews probably do the same thing. Bigots use humor to make their bigotry acceptable.

[No Vested Interest]

5. There are tons of Catholic jokes, but, not unlike other groups,

we prefer to tell them amongst ourselves, and may take umbrage at others' jokes re Catholics.

[MisterP]

6. given the New Ones' responses on everything from Robin Williams to Santa Claus? *runs*