Do you think God has a sense of humor?

[hrsmom]

Every so often I hear someone talking about God's sense of humor. I have to say that for the most part, I have never really noticed that God has a sense of humor! The reason I ask is that I have recently been reading spiritual books from various traditions, and I just had a sense of the playfulness of the universe, that I never experienced before! (It was pretty cool!!)

Do you think "God" (however you define that) has a sense of humor?

[saimeiyu]

Yes.

He invented the platypus. Also, mating rituals among animals. I know some of them are quite utilitarian. Others? Notsomuch. They're just amusing to watch.

There's another animal that my DH says illustrates God's sense of humor as well as the platypus, but I can't think of it right now.

[Vaske]

Yes. When the-man-who-is-now-my-husband was in college, he broke up with his internet girlfriend, and told his best friend, "That's it! I'm not going to date anyone else until I've known them for FIVE YEARS!"

Shortly after this, he met me, and we slowly became good acquaintances. Almost five years later, he got a nudge from God to start noticing me, and it took a few more months for me to catch on. We still can't believe that we married each other, of all people.

[Just My Opinion]

Yes, definitely. Source energy (I call it God, as I am a Christian) has a great sense of humor! Sometimes playful, sometimes wise, sometimes thought-provoking -- but yes, I have seen it in action.

[Ruthla]

No, I don't see it as "G-d having a sense of humor" in the same way that a person has a sense of humor. It's us who see the humor in things that G-d does.

[jimblejamble]

Originally Posted by saimeiyu

Yes. He invented the platypus.

OMG I was going to post the exact same thing!

[hrsmom]

Not to mention elephant seals! Those animals blow my mind and crack me up at the same time!

[~Boudicca~]

Well, he/she put my parents together (disaster) so if he does have a sense of humor it's pretty warped. Just kidding, kind of.

Honestly, I have no idea if god has a sense of humor. I really don't know what I believe in the realm of the Divine right now.

[genifer]

I do believe God has a sense of humor. I believe we were created in His image, so a lot of our qualites have obviously come from God, a sense of humor being one of them.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Originally Posted by saimeiyu

Yes.

He invented the platypus. Also, mating rituals among animals. I know some of them are quite utilitarian. Others? Notsomuch. They're just amusing to watch.

There's another animal that my DH says illustrates God's sense of humor as well as the platypus, but I can't think of it right now.

: That was what I was going to type.

[Sailor]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

No, I don't see it as "G-d having a sense of humor" in the same way that a person has a sense of humor. It's us who see the humor in things that G-d does.

I agree with this. I think humans see humor in the Universe, and by extension in whichever creator they believe in.

[orangebird]

Oh hell no.

[Bluegoat]

It seems to me that humour often involves seeing a kind of strange or surprising juxtaposition, or contradiction, and that is the substance of what we find funny.

From God's own point of view, I'm not sure if this would happen, since everything to God would be clear, make sense, and would not be suprising.

However, those religious or philosophical positions that say that God has knowledge of creation would, I suspect, allow God to see things not only from his own point of view, but from that of created beings like humans, who do appreciate humour.

So in that case, it may be that God can appreciate humour through taking on our humour. In the case of Christianity, humour would have been brought into the divine just like all other human qualities were.

[athansor]

If I remember right, the novel "The Name of the Rose" has the question of whether or not Jesus had a sense of humor as a major plot point. It's interesting, because it makes it sound as if this was a major question for Christians back in the middle ages.

I'm not sure how accurate the novel is, but it's an interesting read, as there is a lot of conflict between branches of the Church focused on question like the poverty of Christ and how the Church should behave with repsect to accumulating wealth, along with whether or not He ever laughed.

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by athansor

If I remember right, the novel "The Name of the Rose" has the question of whether or not Jesus had a sense of humor as a major plot point. It's interesting, because it makes it sound as if this was a major question for Christians back in the middle ages.

I'm not sure how accurate the novel is, but it's an interesting read, as there is a lot of conflict between branches of the Church focused on question like the poverty of Christ and how the Church should behave with repsect to accumulating wealth, along with whether or not He ever laughed.

Yes, one of my favorite books. The movie really doesn't capture it, alas.

[Just1More]

I think so. The Bible says that God finds certain things beautiful. It also says that we are created in His image. I think that includes our passions and pleasures. David was "a man after God's own heart" and he strikes me as quite an emotional man...which would have included finding humor in things.

But...the thing I've always thought about is the verse that talks about Peter and Andrew running to meet Jesus and it says...

"and Andrew did get there first."

That's funny.

[Chavelamomela]

There is a yiddish expression that translates as "Men make plans, and God laughs."

[ThomasL]

In my research into many near death experiences experenciers often report God as having a great sense of humor even when some of the experiencers worst sins were displayed during the life review. One preacher who was a fire and brimstone type of preacher had a very enlightening near death experience. Apparently he humuliated a few young peolpe publically in his church for some sort of sin and one of them tried to kill herself afterwards. I think he later had a heart attack and had a near death experience. During his encounter with the loving light of God he was taken on a life review in which he relived everything he ever said and done and also experienced it emotionally from the perpectice of everyone he ever effected. When the review got to the point of the girl who tried to kill herself he actuallly felt everything she felt and was truly sorry but during all this God did not rebuke or judge him but rather stated with humor "I know you won't doing that again". After he recovered and went back into preaching he preached a message of love and forgiveness and no more fire and brimstone.

[smeisnotapirate]

Absolutely. I think that G-d not only appreciates our sense of humor, but he has one himself. Now, that being said, this is us humans again trying to give G-d human qualities to understand G-d better, but I keep thinking how could he have created us "b'tzelem El-him" (In the image of G-d) if he himself didn't have a sense of humor?

[Leta]

Yes, absolutely.