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Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Bible as Comedy

Somewhere over the years, I've encountered a statement to the effect that "All good comedies end in a marriage." I don't recall to whom it is attributed.

A few months ago, in that odd moment between sleep and wakefulness, the thought came to me, expanding on the above idea, that: "The Bible is a comedy. And like all good comedies, it ends with a marriage."

10 comments:

Nick said...

Maybe God is the Great Comedian?

Ilíon said...

I don't have a problem with that; for after all, comedy is not farce.

Ken Brown said...

Heh, I love it!

And SE, I've had the same thought, here:

"It is not just the imperfection that makes us laugh, but also our awareness of what the situation should be, but isn’t. In order to “get” the joke, you need knowledge – ignorance is only funny to those who know better.

This suggests that the closer one gets to the ideal, the better a position they are in to find comedy in even the worst tragedy. If that is true, then is God himself the ultimate humorist, the one who can truly bring good out of evil? Perhaps part of the joy of eternity will be to finally hear the punch-line to this whole cosmic joke?"

Ilíon said...

Thanks for the link, Mr Brown, and the thoughts expressed there.

Ilíon said...

What would really be funny is if you turn out to be a cousin to me (directly on my mother's side, or indirectly by marriage on my father's). Of course, Brown is a common name, so it's unlikely that there is a familial connection between us.

Ken Brown said...

Is Brown your last name as well? It's definitely a common name! I've been blogging for 2 years and I'm still not even on Google's front page for Ken Brown!

Ilíon said...

No. Brown in my mother's maiden name (and also my father's step-father's name).

My grandfather was Fred Brown (born in French Lick, IN, lived most of his life in Hoopeston, IL); his father was Sylvester; his was Reuben; his was Reuben. The two Reubens moved to French Lick from South(?) Carolina after the Civil War.

"I've been blogging for 2 years and I'm still not even on Google's front page for Ken Brown!"


*grin* I always figured my name ought to be unique in the US. It isn't.

Ken Brown said...

Compared to 32 million, 1490 hits is unique! ;)

Ilíon said...

There is that; and most of the hits seem to be about the basketball player.

Ilíon said...

Come to think of it, my father's sister, Clura, also married a Brown. I'm not used to thinking of her as other than "Aunt Clura," so I'd forgotten that.