The unquenchable laughter of the gods

Chapters in this book

1. Prelim pages i
2. Table of contents v
3. Preface vii
4. About the contributors ix
5. Part I. Humour as tool and topic (essays)
6. Humour, risk and religion 3
7. Religion and humour 11
8. The unquenchable laughter of the gods 17
9. Is the application of modern humour theories on historical cases a joke? 23
10. Part II. Christianity and Judaism in Late Antiquity
11. Derisive laughter and religious identity in ancient Christianity 33
12. Opponent or advocate? 47
13. “This joke has gone on for long enough” 63
14. The smile of the martyr 81
15. Divine mockery and laughing Rabbis 93
16. Converting comedians 107
17. Biblical fun 127
18. Part III. The Qur’an and early Arabic literature
19. Humour and its ethics 145
20. A laughing God, between Sunni approval and Shi’ite rejection 155
21. Poetic parodies of Islamic discourses by Abū Nuwās 183
22. Greek and Buddhist jokes and their corresponding versions in classical Arabic literature 207
23. Part IV. Buddhism
24. How is this sutra different from my ass? 221
25. Finicking monkeys 235
26. “Are you really serious?” 253
27. Part V. Conclusion
28. Humour in religion 273
29. Index 301