DISCOVERING HUMOR IN THE BIBLE

Some folks are surprised to find humor in the Bible, they dont think it has any. Others are embarrassed, they worry about being sacrilegious. Some laugh and dont tell anyone, others laugh out loud and share it with those around. However people respond, the Bible does, in fact, use humor. This book examines why its there, why it matters, what it looks like, how to look for it, and what to do with it when you find it. The authors goal is to help people become better Bible readers, growing in both skill and insight. So the book doesnt just display a collection of museum pieces, showing the treasures of other explorers. Instead, it offers readers tools and field guides to become explorers discovering on their own. Its a fun how-to manual, dealing with what is routinely overlooked in teaching about biblical interpretation. Individuals will enjoy reading it, but its also a rich resource for reading groups, Bible study groups, and classes. Howard Macy is wise, warm, and witty. His new book, Discovering Humor in the Bible, is all of those things as well. As Leo Rosten once wrote, Humor is the affectionate communication of insight. Howards book is a wonderful example of that truth--as you read it youll laugh, youll learn, youll gain fresh insights, and youll come away deeply enriched for having spent time with it. --J. Brent Bill, Life Lessons from a Bad Quake rand Holy Silence