God, Jesus, and the Humor Complex

Perhaps this ought to be in the philosophy forum, perhaps it should not. This doesn't exactly involve anything like "Is God real?" or "Why did God let [random event in history] to happen?", so I'm putting it here.

It seems that today's humor involving religion avoids the mention of God and instead uses Jesus. People, for a reason that eludes me, think that Jesus is more humor-friendly than God.

Jesus: "Now, watch me turn water into FUNK!"

Why is this? I think that it stems from the seriousness of God. Whenever one uses the "G" word, one steps into an area that feels more constricted, almost as if there are signs that say "Watch your step...or be smited!" posted everywhere. We eschew the term God--and when we use it, we see the clichéd picture of an old guy with a white beard--and favor Jesus. But why?

Are we subconsciously afraid of the consequences of using God as an element of humor? Or is it because we all think that God is peering down at us from the clouds, lightning bolt in hand? (That's another thing--the use of God in humor often results in "smite-ish" jokes.)

I'd like your thoughts on this.

Err, no, I think that's entirely wrong. I think it is purely because most of the parabels etc. we hear from the established Christian canon are about Jesus doing this and that. Jesus appeared as a person and did a lot of stuff which the Bible specifically designs as relating more easily to humans than a distant and formless God. Hence, it is MUCH easier to get humour out of him.

If you want people to make jokes about God, they certainly won't be hesitant or worried about the 'seriousness' of it, consciously or unconsciously. They just won't be as funny because he is not accessible, and that is the reason we hear them less.

Ush has a point there.

Also, I've heard and read plenty of jokes that use God instead of Jesus.

I thought this was a thread about this aready?Anyway even through it is hard to believe that god is three people and is everywhere at once.I still believe that he is real.
JM

I thought this was a thread about this aready?Anyway even through it is hard to believe that god is three people and is everywhere at once.I still believe that he is real.

Thank you for the completely irrelevant post.

Thank you for the completely irrelevant post.

Thank you for the...oh, crap.

Ush is right, but you are wrong about people never joking about Jesus. Matt Groening has done at least three episodes of the Simpsons that involved jokes about god. Not Jesus.

There have also been a couple episodes of South Park like that--though they do make fun of Jesus more often.

Well, for one thing, the name "Jesus" just sounds funnier than "god" somehow.

Hmm It's probably because the God Father personality is the one with which people associate a giant firebolt striking them down if they say anything against him.
And the Jesus personality as the one who will turn the other cheek towards our transgressions against him.

Jesus's image seems to be funnier than god. He's portrayed as more of a laid back hippie type of guy while God is portrayed as the big guy who calls all the shots and delivers consequences to those who disobey him.

^true

Are we subconsciously afraid of the consequences of using God as an element of humor?

Originally posted by theReject
Hmm It's probably because the God Father personality is the one with which people associate a giant firebolt striking them down if they say anything against him.
And the Jesus personality as the one who will turn the other cheek towards our transgressions against him.

Err no, because people who believe in god usually don't make jokes about god or Jesus in the first place. I'm not afraid of god, since I don't believe in a god.

Yes well that's your opinion

What? I just said I didn't believe in god. I didn't say nobody believed in god.

And I just said that the above stated was your opinion. 😊
BTW Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.