The Prostitute in the Family Tree: Discovering Humor and Irony in the Bible

by Doug Adams

The Bible is funny! Very funny, according to Douglas Adams. In this book, Adams demonstrates how readers can discover this often-neglected humor looking at the Bible as a whole and seeing biblical stories with all their rough edges--the unethical and ambiguous characters, the unsolved problems, and the surprising endings. Adams argues that by missing the humor and irony of the Bible, readers often miss intended meanings as well.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Religion

136 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

About the author

Adams was an international scholar in religion and the arts, worship, dance and humor. He brought an enormous amount of energy and enterprise to establish religion combined with art and performance art on Holy Hill.

Reviews

[Oliver Baer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally wanted to buy this because I made the mistake it seems many others did. I thought it was the scifi author Douglas Adams and was intrigued since he was a staunch atheist. Turns out, this Douglas Adams is a professor of Christianity and the arts at a religious institution in Berkeley. While not a Christian, I am interested in comparative religion so I thought I'd give it a try. I was not disappointed.
The book is more a primer for Biblical study groups, clergy and professors of religion on how to see the humor in the teachings of Jesus with a chapter devoted to, as he refers to it, the Hebrew Scriptures. I would have liked him to have devoted as much time in talking about the Old Testament as he did the New. Instead, the chapter starts by referring the readers to books written on the subject and then proceed with examples as in the rest of the book. Despite this short shrift of the Old Testament, I really liked the general message of the book, that perhaps the Bible's teachings are meant to teach us to be the best human being we can be. That all our missteps are part of our humanity and are not necessarily bad or good but lessons to help us be better. He also points out that it is important to look at the teachings in their totality as well as in context of the time period. Things get misinterpreted too easily when one picks apart the stories or just cites the verse that will make people feel better. Adams' gets these ideas across using the medium designed for this, humor, theatrical improvisation and stories of his own life both professionally and personally.
The theatrical improvisational examples are the other reason I enjoyed the book. Being a theater lover, I applaud Adams' use of improvisation as a tool to help people understand the absurdity of situations. His improvisational scenarios really help to humanize Jesus, the disciples, the forefathers and prophets of Judaism and even, God. Kudos also for referencing Archibald MacLeish. Clifford Odets and Paddy Chayevsky as well as others who've used theater for just such a purpose.
All in all, a good read that was informative and kept me interested despite my misgivings. It probably helped that it isn't very long. Pick it up for an enjoyable read.

[Rabid Readers Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

THAT Douglas Adams is a well-known atheist. The Douglas Adams that wrote “The Prostitute in the Family Tree” is a Biblical scholar. If you go into this read expecting Mike Warnke (the only Christian comedian that springs to mind), you will be sorely disappointed. What Adams gives readers is a smart and entertaining theological resource that while not fully polished manages to get the point across.

Rather than blasphemy, the goal of the author of this short read appears to be a humanization of iconography. Even Jesus had a prostitute in his family tree. Rather than cover it up as religion in wont to do, what if it’s a lesson? What if it’s meant to bring empathy to the devotee? What if the real purpose of the Bible and religion is that no one is perfect but that we all do the best we can?

“The Prostitute in the Family Tree” is a light read landing at a 136-page count. If you’re looking for a fun, fast and informative read, pick this one up today.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5...would be great for a leader looking for ideas to teach. Bot as clever as the title makes it out to be for individual reading.

[Lexi Pain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mistook this Douglas Adams for the sci-fi author. Book is not bad in and of itself. It would be very useful for a religious leader.

[Brett Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. He brings a lot of the humor of Scripture to light. Especially by looking at the context of popular passages rather than just looking at them by themselves. Some of his points are a bit of a stretch from the text, but a good read.

[Joe Vigil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was by Douglas Adams, the author of the HG2G series, but this guy is Professor of Christianity and the Arts at a religious institution in Berkeley. I love pleasant surprises! Discovering Humor and Irony in the Bible is easy (only 115 pgs), easier still in the Book of Mormon.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7275613@...

[Forrest Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confused by the author's name. Read it anyway. Was vaguely interesting.

[Jacob Raymond · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book would be like Cory O'Brien's Zeus Grants Stupid wishes; actually discussing how funny stories in the bible are.

Unfortunately, unless Adam's (which is not the author of the Hitchhiker's Guide, by the way) humour is completely out of my reach, I never once laugh. This is more of a book meant for bible study groups. But as someone who is not a Christian, I just don't care.