PSI Annual Journal 2005-6

There are three things that are real: God, human folly, and laughter. Since the first two pass our comprehension, we must do what we can with the third. - Aubrey Menen

Proverbial wisdom (Prov. 17:22) also reminds us that a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. And modern science has now confirmed that healthy laughter increases blood flow and reduces stress. It has even been shown that regular exercise and several minutes of laughter on a daily basis is very good for helping us cope with spiritual and mental problems - such as the destructive instincts of mankind.

Evolutionary psychology claims to have discovered that human nature is selfish and wicked as confirmed in the Old Testament, history books, and the daily newspapers. It may be true, as Mark Twain wrote, that mankind is a nasty creature seemingly obsessed with murder, rape, war and savagery . But growing knowledge, literacy, public education and the instantaneous exchange of information and ideas through the internet and other media have gradually undermined ignorance, slavery and violence. We now know that humanity can change with learning and experience and that our instincts and motivations can lead to both good and evil behavior.

Cognitive science has recently explained people’s behavior by their beliefs and desires because people’s behavior is in fact largely caused by their beliefs and desires. We have also discovered that good humor and laughter is a major form of communication in all cultures where people tell tall stories, joke, laugh, tease, and dance - all of which helps reduce strife and tension and makes life worth living.

Humor is the enemy of pomp and decorum and the most inviting targets have been teachers, preachers, politicians and other members of the high-and-mighty. Much good humor is an effective anti-dominance weapon of self-depreciation and gentle teasing which most people enjoy. Next to a good example, humor stimulates thoughtful reflection and action.

Our great sage, Ralph Waldo Emerson, said that an important part of our success in life is being able to laugh often and much. And the great theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, preached that humor is the prelude to faith, and laughter is the beginning of prayer.

Good humor reduces tension and helps to establish open communication. It thereby also helps us to evolve and survive by stimulating our imagination, insightful thinking and enlightenment. Positive religious humor has been said to be our real saving grace as it can help us question our self-righteousness and pomposity - which may better enable
us to deal with moral and ethical issues that we may otherwise avoid. As a result, insightful religious humor can actually be lifesaving in times of great stress and difficulty. Now, recent scientific studies have actually confirmed many holistic health benefits of laughter and good humor. It is good to remember: “You can lose an arm, a leg, and even an eye and still live well. But if you lose your sense of humor, you’re on the way to hell!” (Anon.)

Religious humor abounds in stories of all kinds, poems, proverbial sayings, music , cartoons, television and films. Steve Allen and Robert Fulgram are well known Unitarians who have successfully used humor to help people confront dilemmas and preconceptions in their lives. And numerous other UU’s and ministers have presented sermons and workshops on the importance of humor in our lives.

As many of you may know, the internet and email are also loaded with religious humor of all kinds. Amazingly, if you do a Google search for “Religious Humor” you will find 24,500,000 hits; one of the best web sources for a daily chuckle is Beliefnet.com which will give you jokes and thought for the day. Religious humor can also be seen in the work of cartoonists such as Family Circus, B.C. and even Hagar the Horrible and in the satire of Doonsbury and others. I have found it personally helpful to collect some of these materials in humor scrapbooks which I frequently use. And thank goodness there are also numerous humorous books and poems for children of all ages. One of my favorites is God’s Wheel from A Light In the Attic by Shel Selverstein:

God says to me with a kind of a smile:
"Hey, how would you like to be God for awhile and steer the world?”
“Okay,” say I, “I’ll give it a try.
Where do I sit?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?”
“Gimmie back that wheel,” says God, “I don’t think you’re quite ready yet!”

Religious humor also contributes to our Unitarian Universalist free and responsible search for truth and meaning in our lives. For example it can help us to question how we determine the facts and truth about so-called religious revelations, dogma, and the nature of God and the universe. Most UU’s are probably Deists, in the sense of our founding fathers, who professed that our reason and belief can become happily united. Thomas Paine wrote that the wonderful structure of the universe, and everything we behold in the system of creation prove , far better than books can, the existence of God. Our real country is the planet Earth and our religion is basically to love and do good using reason to strive toward freedom and equality. Although we may need none of the tricks of religion, such as superstitous miracles and stories of resurrections, the power of cultural myths and legends still continue to shape our minds and how we live.

However, I strongly agree with our UU Rev. Forrest Church, that laughter is really the great sacrament in our lives. But we must also constantly remember the words of Mark Twain who said, it is important for us to get the facts first before we distort them with our assumptions, wishes and self-righteous beliefs. And as we know, the real facts of life are hard to come by and have been disputed since creation. Now let us consider some examples.

In Greek mythology, Jupiter, the king of the gods, made the first perfect woman, Pandora, and sent her to help man with a box of blessings (including beauty, music, persuasion and many plagues such as disease, envy, spite, and revenge). But because of her curiosity, she opened the box incautiously and the so-called blessings all escaped into the world - with the exception of HOPE. So it is said that woman, with all her faults, has still brought us HOPE in our darkest moments.

Over 2500 years ago Buddha taught that as we think so we become and that humankind was capable of reducing suffering and achieving happiness and contentment through compassionate acts, reducing personal greed and self-discipline. Buddha said that it is great compassion and gladness that makes everyone happy and contented with a mind of joy. The smiling and laughing Buddha statues portray this stage of enlightenment and encourage us to smile, laugh, be silly and relax our minds - because a smiling Buddha is healthy and has more fun. Today, some Buddhist programs even offers classes in “healthy laughing” and active meditation classes.

More recently, the great comedian Charlie Chaplin stared in 81 films that has helped millions of people recognize joy and laughter in even the pathetic and tragic stages of life. Chaplin also wrote the music for SMILE which is still being sung by stars such as Natalie Cole and many others. The Buddha would have enjoyed the lyrics in SMILE which remind us to -

Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though its breaking...

Smile and maybe tomorrow you’ll see the sun come shining through!

Modern scientific studies summarized by Norman Cousins and others have now confirmed the many health benefits of comic films, daily laughter and good humor.

The Bible has long been a target for skeptics of all kinds. According to many polls only half of the people now believe that the book of Genesis is true while 95% believe in god or a universal spirit. For example most people no longer take a literal interpretation of Genesis and believe that God created all living things on the sixth day, that Eve was made from one of Adam’s ribs (and women have ribbed men ever since). Some people have wondered how Methuselah lived to be the oldest and most fruitful man (without the help of Viagra) and then died at 960 years of age. But, when the popular stage comedian Bill Cosby acted as 600 year old Noah arguing with God about building the Ark he got many people laughing and thinking about the Bible. Maybe Mark Twain was right when he wrote that such is the human race that often it does seem a pity that Noah didn’t miss the boat.

But insightful religious humor and truth can be found in the Holy Bible. It is good to remember that, the ancient book of Ecclesiastes wisely admonishes us as follows:

3:4 There is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

3:12 There is nothing better than to be happy, to rejoice, and to do good in life.

Then in the book of Kings (11: 1-3) we find that the pursuit of happiness can be overdone. King Solomon loved many strange women, and he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and when he was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods . This questionable behavior has now resulted in a humorous poem about the wisdom of kings:
King David and King Solomon lived merry, merry lives,
With many, many lady friends, and many, many, wives.
But when old age crept up on them, with all its many qualms,
King Solomon wrote the Proverbs, and King David wrote the Psalms.

At this point it might be good to consider some of the many insightful jokes about Unitarian Universalists. One of the oldest is the religious stereotype that has long held that the Jews are God’s chosen people and that Unitarians are God’s frozen people. But more recently Unitarian-Universalists are widely recognized as God’s questioning people. The comedian, Mort Sahl, joked that bigots like the KKK enjoyed burning question marks on the lawns of Unitarian Universalists. And supposedly it is widely believed that there are no UU’s in heaven because they would rather join a discussion group about heaven than actually go there.

Many people have struggled with the question “How can you tell a Unitarian Universalist?” but then realized that “you can’t because they think they know it all.” However, that is not true. As the conservative columnist, George Will, wrote Unitarians do not claim to have all the truth, but they are sure they have all that is available at the moment. And surely, many UU’s agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson that what most people call sin is experiment for Unitarians.

But there is no doubt that Unitarian Universalists remain questioning idealistic social reformers like Thomas Jefferson who called for a social revolution about every twenty years. UU’s also agree with Jefferson that the words and actions of Jesus should be our real moral guidelines - and that most of the Bible must be doubted if not rejected. However, Jefferson also said that I believe that by the time I die most Americans will be Unitarians. We now know that even esteemed presidents can be misguided and very wrong!

Currently, many people have even doubted that President George W. Bush has talked with God to develop America’s Divine plan to win the war against terrorists and his so-called axis of evil . But it is good to see the president laugh at himself when his wife calls him “Mr. Excitement” who is asleep at 9:00 p.m. and leaves Laura complaining as a “desperate housewife”. But the president’s support for solving many of our social problems with fundamentalist faith based-initiatives and teaching “Intelligent Design” in the schools does seems ludicrous if not very funny. Of course it is hard not to laugh at the blatant hypocricy of famous televangelist preachers such as Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Falwell and others when they were brought to justice. It must be true that if God is really on our side he/she must have a strange sense of humor!

Accordingly, I think that it is good that modern UU’s are perceived as doubting Thomas’. And some UU’s have most likely repeated George B. Shaw’s famous prayer Dear God, if there is a God, if you can, save my soul, if I have a soul. Perhaps the comedian Lily Tomlin was also right when she said one thing I have no worry about is whether God exists, but it has occurred to me that God might have Alzheimer disease and
forgotten that we exist.

And some Unitarian Universalist Humanists may even agree with George Bernard Shaw’s famous statement I am an atheist, and I thank God for it. In fact, in times of trouble and despair almost everyone (including many Unitarians) hope that there is a God - or something very much like him - that may help them in their hour of need. Sometimes when we need help it may be good to pray as follows:

God, help me to take responsibility for my mistakes, even though they're usually not my fault.

Lord, help me to be less independent, but let me do it my way.

God, help me to take things more seriously, especially laughter, parties and dancing.
Lord, keep me open to others’ ideas, wrong though they may be! AMEN!

Recently (May 2005) , the San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll printed a communique from a new organization calling itself The Unitarian Jihad which proves that UU’s continue to laugh at themselves and the absurdities of our life. Part of this article reads as follows:

"Greetings from the Imprisoned Citizens of the United States. We are the Unitarian Jihad. There is only one God, unless there is more than one God. The vote of our God subcommittee is 10-8 in favor of one God, with two abstentions. Brother Flaming Sword of Moderation noted the possibility of there being no God at all, and his objection was noted with love by the secretary.....

We are Unitarian Jihad. We will appear in public places and require people to shake hands with each other ... and a regime of mandatory hugging. People of the United States! We are Unitarian Jihad! We can strike without warning. Pockets of reasonableness and harmony will appear as if from nowhere! Nice people will run the government again,"

I believe that this is current evidence that UU’s continue to affirm the ancient adage that blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused. Of course we also covenant to affirm and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, compassion in human relations, and the encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations - including the amazing grace of laughter! We might also consider some of the great mythical guiding passages from the Holy Bible that may give us further cause to smile and reflect on the meaning of our religious heritage. Some examples are:

From Genesis:

Ch.9:28 And Noah lived after the flood 350 years and all the days of his life were 950 years (and Noah replenished the Earth without the use of Viagra). Many generations later A’bram was born. When he was 70 years old he took Sarah as a wife. But Sarah was barren. So A’bram took Sarah’s servant Hagar as a concubine and when he was 86 years old he begat Ishmael. Then God changed his name to Abraham and made him fruitful and the father of many nations with Sarah.

17:17 Then Abraham fell on his knees and laughed, and said in his heart, shall a child be born unto him that is 100 years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, have a child?

18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed saying “After all, I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, Abraham being old also?” And the Lord was upset at Sarah who then denied laughing because she was afraid, but the Lord said “Nay, but thou did laugh.”

21:6 And Sarah conceived and bore Isaac and Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” And Sarah died when she was 127 years old.

25:7 Abraham had other concubines and wives and many children. Abraham then gave up the ghost after he lived 175 years and “died in a good old age.”

And from the New Testament (“The Good News”):

Luke 7:34 St. Luke wrote that Jesus said The son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, behold a gluttonous man, and a wine bibber, a friend of politicians and sinners.” Luke 5:39 : “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desires new, for says that old is better.”

John 2:1-4 And, at the marriage at Cana Jesus and his disciples wanted wine, but Mary said to him “they have no wine.” Jesus then said “Fill the six water pots with water. Draw (the wine) out now and bear it to the governor of the feast.”

“This was the beginning of Jesus’ miracles which revealed his glory and made his disciples believe in him.”

If these questions and examples have shaken your faith or upset you in any way, let us finally consider the words of some other famous theologians. Karl Barth wrote that “Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.” Although I have now been a Unitarian for more than 55 years I was baptized and raised in the Lutheran church and I still like to reflect on the surprising words of Martin Luther, who said, “It is pleasing to God whenever you rejoice or laugh from the bottom of your heart. And the Dali Lama has written that “through good times and bad times, we (Buddhist) Tibetans try to keep our spiritual health and our good humor, remembering that all people...are ultimately our friends.”

Finally, it may be best to just try to follow the simple words of Jesus (Matthew 18: 2-4) who advised us to let a man humble himself till he is like a child. For example, one young girl was asked by her teacher to list the “seven wonders of the world." After giving it some thought, she then replied:
1.To see 2.To hear 3.To touch 4.To taste 5. To feel 6. To laugh 7. To love.

In closing, I hope that all Unitarian Universalists will continue to laugh and to love and even to pray as follows:
Oh give me a sense of humor , Lord
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some pleasure out of life
And pass it on to other folk!
- Anon.

* (Adapted from the book "Spiritual Guides to Holistic Health and Happiness" by Robert Valett available from Barnes & Noble, etc.) Email: robertv@csufresno.edu

PSI Symposium Annual Journal 2005-6