How could someone read Paul’s rant against the super-apostles in 2 Cor. and doubt the Biblical use of scarcasm. Or how about Elijah ragging on the Priests of Baal when they tried bring the fire down from Heaven. (”Dance faster. Maybe your god’s busy going to the bathroom and can’t hear you.”)
"Where's Baal, huh? Maybe he's travelling. Maybe you need to wake him up! Yell louder, I can't heaaaaar you! Maybe he's taking a craaaaaaaap!"
And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
1 Kings 22:15-17 (KJV)
Good post. I especially like the last sentance.
Although I agree that satire or mockery is not inappropriate or wrong, as a generality, I also think that, in today’s climate, it’s more likely to miss the target than not. I think one is more likely to communicate a point by stating it clearly, in the most concrete possible terms, without flourishes, figures of speech, or hedges.
We’ve reached the point where reality is far more absurd than anything we can imagine as satire - that’s why satire or humor articles have to be flagged in big red letters, or people think it’s fact.
And it is this type of satire and sarcasm we see most often in this forum.
Satire and sarcasm are strong debating tools when used properly and sparingly, but when used often and loosely satire and sarcasm only make the one using them look to be a pious bully who wishes to ridicule and not to inform.
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I don't think we have to worry about that here.
I’m assuming I’m still okay to market
“The Purpose Driven Nap”
Forty Winks of Purpose
by
Rip Van Warren
The meme creeping into recent Religion Forum threads is that sarcasm and mockery is too mean and devoid of Christian niceness.
I say, "Hogwash!"
It is an after effect of several years of Oprah Christianity...
St Paul’s wish about those who would bring in circumcision is a classic.
Why cut a little bit, cut it all off!
Will reread it more closely and try and comment more at length maybe tomorrow.
Sounds like a good article with good Biblical points.
. . .
1. As with beauty in the eye of the beholder and one man's junk is another man's treasure . . . so, too, fitting satire and mockery are in the eye of the beholder. It depends on who's ox is gored.
2. Usually, the huge chips on shoulders and the super thin skins tend to decide such, more even, than the blackened glasses.
3. There are probably less than 5 people who post frequently on the Rel Forum threads who seem to have any remotely reliable capacity to take satire or mockery directed at them and their perspectives and roll with such, laughing at themselves or at least noting that the satire or mockery was well done or made some fitting points or some such.
4. I don't know of ANY rabid clique Roman Catholics et al who come remotely close to being the least bit able to laugh at themselves or openly confess that some satire or mockery made some fitting points about them or their perspectives.
5. Generally speaking, it seems that such cliques hereon are pretty much like my hyper liberal associates on various forums and at the univ. They are virtually one and all extremely brittle; with huge chips on their shoulders and super thin skinned--and extremely quick to be hostile, super bitterly defensive and the like.
6. For some reason, it seems that satire etc comprises some of my best writing.
7. I find satire and mockery are potent, pointed, condensed, humorous, concise ways of making some powerful points that might take many pages to make the same points much more poorly.
8. Personally, I don't think that folks for whom the satire or mockery do not apply, need have the least bit of an emotional response to it. Let it be water off a duck.
9. On the other hand, it seems to me that virtually always, WHEN THERE'S A FIERCE RESPONSE, it seems to be a VERY RELIABLE SIGN that the arrow of the satire has struck the bull's eye. And the gored ox can't stand the mirror.
10. Whooooop-T-Do! Grow up! Learn! Grow! Go on!
11. If folks are tooooo thin skinnes, brittle, insecure, with gargantuan chips on their shoulders and more than enough bitterness and bile to curdle water . . . they probably ought not read such posts by me or by anyone else. Their blood pressure might well be better off--along with their blood vessels, hearts, and other organs influenced by cortisol.
12. I usually get a kick out of it when some Roman Catholic et al folks in the rabid cliques try to manage some satire or mockery. Very occasionally, it's witty, humorous and at least a little above average enough to be entertaining. Sadly, most of the time, it just falls flat as a vain, failed effort. Then I tend to feel embarrassed for those of that perspective.
13. My own spiritual growth was immeasureably enhanced by very witty satire & mockery directed at me. Few things could cause me to think as deeply and productively as such presentations of and challenges to my own inherent absurdities. Yeah, some of such assaults left me hurt to furious. Yet, they "hurt good" and left a redemptive result--LARGELY BECAUSE I WAS DETERMINED TO GROW--REGARDLESS OF THE INPUT.
14. I think it is crucial for all Believers to offer up everything in their day and in their lives on the altar--put it all on the altar or The Cross and wait upon God for whatever He hands back as a lesson, reward or rebuke.
15. THEN we are dealing with GOD'S PERSPECTIVE on our stuff and have no business nor any need to be the least bit upset with the mortal(s) involved. God has merely used them as messengers or catalysts.
16. Anyway--I find satire and mockery to be quite efficient and effective ways to communicate in relatively brief ways great import as well as great quantities of points that would require pages or chapters otherwise.
17. And, I love the wit and humor of such--often as much when I'm on the receiving end as when I'm the sender.
Cheers.
Also indicative of this sarcastic spirit are the references in the Psalms to laughing at your enemies and having them in derision.
The image of Christianity presented in the Psalms is one both of praise to God for preserving the lives of His saints and of prayers to God to cut off evildoers and judge the wicked.
Take Psalm 52:6-9:
The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
I know you are but what am I?