I used to love to read the Bible, when I was, oh, five or six. (Only after I'd exhausted the library's supply of the Bobbsey Twins.) I especially liked staring at the maps on the end leaves. I bet I could find my way around Galilee, blindfolded, the map in my head my only guide.
These days my taste tends toward humorous fiction--not incompatible with Bible reading, it turns out. Yes, dear readers, the Gospels are full of humor, according to the Italians--and they should know. I wasn't invited to this conference on Laughter and Comedy in Ancient Christianity, but maybe next year.
"There is a prejudice that states that humour and Christianity are incompatible," says Clementina Mazzucco, the conference organiser.
"On the contrary, there are many episodes and dialogues in the scriptures where irony and sarcasm are being used."
She cites the example of a disciple who, referring to Jesus's home town, asked: "How could anything good ever come from Nazareth?"
Link: Scholars say Jesus was good for a laugh - news from ekklesia .
This no doubt comes as a surprise to certain religious groups, who are preoccupied with the harsh, unforgiving aspects of the Bible: stoning, an eye for an eye, dumping Social Security. Gays and their apostles, SpongeBob and Tinky Winky, are another favorite target of the religious right. It's been a while, but I don't remember Jesus mentioning "Blessed are the Intolerant" in the Sermon on the Mount. (Sorry, James Dobson, et. al., looks like the lake of fire for you!)
When I was really young I wanted to be a preacher--either that or a stand up comedian. Then I found out my church not only forbade girls from becoming ministers, but we weren't even allowed to speak in church. So now I blog instead. Fortunately the Church of the Blogosphere operates by the Golden Rule: Do Unto Others. Girl bloggers are even welcomed to the pulpit, potty-mouth and all.
If the Bible doesn't bust your gut, try Christopher Moore's "Lamb, the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal". Who knew the son of God was a chick magnet, whose first miracle was resurrecting a lizard? If you like irreverence with your philosophy, check it out.
What I wanna know is, who'll play Jesus in the movie? I envision a sort of campy, playful version, with Roberto Benigni as Christ and (who else?) SpongeBob Squarepants as John the Baptist. Billy Crystal would make a great Creator, and maybe William Shatner as Moses could command the Red Sea as well as he did the Enterprise.
But the ending will need a rewrite. There's just nothing funny about dissolving flesh, pestilence, and melting tongues.
