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God Mocks: A History of Religious Satire from the Hebrew Prophets to Stephen Colbert
In God Mocks, Terry Lindvall ventures into the muddy and dangerous realm of religious satire, chronicling its evolution from the biblical wit and humor of the Hebrew prophets through the Roman Era and the Middle Ages all the way up to the present. He takes the reader on a journey through the work of Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales, Cervantes, Jonathan Swift, and Mark Twain, and ending with the mediated entertainment of modern wags like Stephen Colbert.
Lindvall finds that there is a method to the madness of these mockers: true satire, he argues, is at its heart moral outrage expressed in laughter. But there are remarkable differences in how these religious satirists express their outrage. The changing costumes of religious satirists fit their times. The earthy coarse language of Martin Luther and Sir Thomas More during the carnival spirit of the late medieval period was refined with the enlightened wit of Alexander Pope. The sacrilege of Monty Python does not translate well to the ironic voices of Soren Kierkegaard. The religious satirist does not even need to be part of the community of faith. All he needs is an eye and ear for the folly and chicanery of religious poseurs.
To follow the paths of the satirist, writes Lindvall, is to encounter the odd and peculiar treasures who are God's mouthpieces. In God Mocks, he offers an engaging look at their religious use of humor toward moral ends."
Lindvall finds that there is a method to the madness of these mockers: true satire, he argues, is at its heart moral outrage expressed in laughter. But there are remarkable differences in how these religious satirists express their outrage. The changing costumes of religious satirists fit their times. The earthy coarse language of Martin Luther and Sir Thomas More during the carnival spirit of the late medieval period was refined with the enlightened wit of Alexander Pope. The sacrilege of Monty Python does not translate well to the ironic voices of Soren Kierkegaard. The religious satirist does not even need to be part of the community of faith. All he needs is an eye and ear for the folly and chicanery of religious poseurs.
To follow the paths of the satirist, writes Lindvall, is to encounter the odd and peculiar treasures who are God's mouthpieces. In God Mocks, he offers an engaging look at their religious use of humor toward moral ends."
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 21, 2015
Very fine history of religious satire, and I enjoyed it immensely. Really helpful for someone in my line of work. Clearly sympathetic to believers who punctured the follies of hypocrites, but there are places where he unfortunately blurs them in with unbelievers who did their own puncturing, whether there was any hypocrisy or not. Nevertheless, a valuable book.
May 12, 2016
An interesting book that has some flaws. First of all it suffers from what I call the first rule of humor, "Discussing humor is inherently unfunny." And while satire isn't always or even mostly laugh-out-loud funny, it should lead one from a smile to a nod to thinking about the deeper underlying point. The author seems to recognize that his presentation gets a little dry and attempts a joke or two at what could most charitably be called a "dad joke" level. (As an expert on dad jokes, I know them when I see them.) A lot of the early satires that the author quotes verbatim are almost unreadable, which means we are then reading an explanation of some one else's satire, and it is a little tiring and not all that enlightening.
I appreciate the author's quadrant way of defining the different satirists.
I also thought the book would be better if it just had had believers doing the satire-ing. It is almost trivial for people who don't believe in something to mock or satirize it. But they don't have the fundamental desire for improvement to result, many times their goal is elimination which isn't in the spirit of true satire.
Finally the last part of the book is a love song to Steven Colbert. Possibly well deserved, but seemed a little over the top.
Worth the read, but it was a slog.
I appreciate the author's quadrant way of defining the different satirists.
I also thought the book would be better if it just had had believers doing the satire-ing. It is almost trivial for people who don't believe in something to mock or satirize it. But they don't have the fundamental desire for improvement to result, many times their goal is elimination which isn't in the spirit of true satire.
Finally the last part of the book is a love song to Steven Colbert. Possibly well deserved, but seemed a little over the top.
Worth the read, but it was a slog.
April 30, 2016
“Satire evolved into a literary form that seeks to censure and correct human vice and folly wherever it might be found, hoping to bring about improvement.”
loc 317
When I first looked at this title, I wasn’t sure whether it was mocks of God or mocks by God. The latter - often directly by God through his prophets, or on behalf of God by his proponents. It was a very interesting journey that Mr. Lindvall took us through in time, from ancient to modern. This is not a light, fast read. This is more a scholarly presentation. There were a couple of times I found myself going to the dictionary to expand my vocabulary. I always love it when an author is able to provide that treat for me.
A complimentary advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of review at Netgalley.com .
loc 317
When I first looked at this title, I wasn’t sure whether it was mocks of God or mocks by God. The latter - often directly by God through his prophets, or on behalf of God by his proponents. It was a very interesting journey that Mr. Lindvall took us through in time, from ancient to modern. This is not a light, fast read. This is more a scholarly presentation. There were a couple of times I found myself going to the dictionary to expand my vocabulary. I always love it when an author is able to provide that treat for me.
A complimentary advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of review at Netgalley.com .
February 12, 2022
It’s not in this book’s favour that in my reading order it comes on the heels of two far superior publications. I’m no academic, but I do remember writing essays in school, and one thing English teachers hated was a straightforward plot recap. (Perhaps they should tell that to people on YouTube.)
This book is a list of satire and satirists from the Bible and the Ancient Romans on down to Stephen Colbert. It deals with religious satire only in that for most of history, satirists aimed at it, and in doing so hit politics and gender, because they were all so inextricably entwined. Lindvall doesn’t do much in the way of analysis, especially compared to Phiddian and Hodgart. In the introduction he describes a ‘Quad of Satire’, and then intermittently throughout the book remembers he made it and tries to graph a particular satirist on it. It doesn’t work either thematically or visually – I suppose he’s after one of those political quads on Tumblr on which people graph blorbos from their shows, but he doesn’t get there. The best part of the book were the quotes from other people. It certainly helped to contextualise some aspects, but it really is a whirlwind tour – two thousand plus years of pitstops.
Lindvall’s definition of satire:
“I argue that the heart of true satire is recognition of a moral discrepancy between what is proclaimed and what is practiced, often with an attempt to remedy it. […] Second, satire employs wit and humor; it entertains. It is not always funny, but it appeals to a recognition of the ridiculous.”
“Stupid people just don’t get satire.”
Wow.
Other people on satire:
““Thus,” concluded St. John, “the mind and soul needs the ludicrous and jocular to loosen them lest they become too taut and break as well; the small and brief recreations of our minds should not offend.””
Other people’s funny/good quotes:
“[…] sermon on hellfire, hearing that there will be horrible wailing, weeping, grinding, and, worst of all, gnashing of teeth.But, she mutters, “Pastor, I don’t got no teeth.” To which she receives the disconcerting reply, “Teeth will be provided.””
Luther:
“Three flames from the burning bush on Mount Sinai
A whole pound of wind that roared by Elijah in the cave on Mount Horeb
Five nice strings from the harp of David.
Three beautiful locks of Absalom’s hair, which got caught in the oak and left him hanging.
A morsel of bread from the Last Supper Two feathers and an egg from the Holy Spirit”
“If you are not allowed to laugh in Heaven, I don’t want to go there.”
Pope:
“A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.”
Pablo Casals who, at the age of ninety, still practiced his cello four or five hours each day. When he was asked why he did this, Casals answered, “Because I have the impression I am making progress.”
Franklin:
“Like the cover of an old book
Its contents torn out
And stripped of its lettering
And gilding,
Lies here, food for worms.
But the works shall not be wholly lost;
For it will, as he believed,
Appear once more,
In a new and more perfected edition
Corrected and amended.
by the Author.”
Crane:
“In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, “Is it good, friend?”
“It is bitter—bitter,” he answered, “But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart.”
Twain:
“Humor must not professedly teach and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever. By forever, I mean thirty years. . . . I have always preached. That is the reason that I have lasted thirty years.”
“It’s not the things in the Bible that I don’t understand that bother me; it’s the things I do understand.”
Ambrose Bierce’s definition of a “Christian” as “one who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.”
C.S. Lewis:
“I do not perceive that dogs see anything funny about being dogs. I suppose that angels see nothing funny about being angels.”
There were two inaccuracies that I picked up by comparing this to the other two books, which isn’t to say they’re wrong so much as that two other scholars disagree. One is the origin of the word ‘satire’ deriving from ‘satyr’ – Hodgart says not. Also Voltaire didn’t invent the word ‘pessimism’, at least according to my copy of Candide. It was coined in 1794 by Coleridge.
This book is a list of satire and satirists from the Bible and the Ancient Romans on down to Stephen Colbert. It deals with religious satire only in that for most of history, satirists aimed at it, and in doing so hit politics and gender, because they were all so inextricably entwined. Lindvall doesn’t do much in the way of analysis, especially compared to Phiddian and Hodgart. In the introduction he describes a ‘Quad of Satire’, and then intermittently throughout the book remembers he made it and tries to graph a particular satirist on it. It doesn’t work either thematically or visually – I suppose he’s after one of those political quads on Tumblr on which people graph blorbos from their shows, but he doesn’t get there. The best part of the book were the quotes from other people. It certainly helped to contextualise some aspects, but it really is a whirlwind tour – two thousand plus years of pitstops.
Lindvall’s definition of satire:
“I argue that the heart of true satire is recognition of a moral discrepancy between what is proclaimed and what is practiced, often with an attempt to remedy it. […] Second, satire employs wit and humor; it entertains. It is not always funny, but it appeals to a recognition of the ridiculous.”
“Stupid people just don’t get satire.”
Wow.
Other people on satire:
““Thus,” concluded St. John, “the mind and soul needs the ludicrous and jocular to loosen them lest they become too taut and break as well; the small and brief recreations of our minds should not offend.””
Other people’s funny/good quotes:
“[…] sermon on hellfire, hearing that there will be horrible wailing, weeping, grinding, and, worst of all, gnashing of teeth.But, she mutters, “Pastor, I don’t got no teeth.” To which she receives the disconcerting reply, “Teeth will be provided.””
Luther:
“Three flames from the burning bush on Mount Sinai
A whole pound of wind that roared by Elijah in the cave on Mount Horeb
Five nice strings from the harp of David.
Three beautiful locks of Absalom’s hair, which got caught in the oak and left him hanging.
A morsel of bread from the Last Supper Two feathers and an egg from the Holy Spirit”
“If you are not allowed to laugh in Heaven, I don’t want to go there.”
Pope:
“A person who is too nice an observer of the business of the crowd, like one who is too curious in observing the labor of bees, will often be stung for his curiosity.”
Pablo Casals who, at the age of ninety, still practiced his cello four or five hours each day. When he was asked why he did this, Casals answered, “Because I have the impression I am making progress.”
Franklin:
“Like the cover of an old book
Its contents torn out
And stripped of its lettering
And gilding,
Lies here, food for worms.
But the works shall not be wholly lost;
For it will, as he believed,
Appear once more,
In a new and more perfected edition
Corrected and amended.
by the Author.”
Crane:
“In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, “Is it good, friend?”
“It is bitter—bitter,” he answered, “But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart.”
Twain:
“Humor must not professedly teach and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever. By forever, I mean thirty years. . . . I have always preached. That is the reason that I have lasted thirty years.”
“It’s not the things in the Bible that I don’t understand that bother me; it’s the things I do understand.”
Ambrose Bierce’s definition of a “Christian” as “one who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.”
C.S. Lewis:
“I do not perceive that dogs see anything funny about being dogs. I suppose that angels see nothing funny about being angels.”
There were two inaccuracies that I picked up by comparing this to the other two books, which isn’t to say they’re wrong so much as that two other scholars disagree. One is the origin of the word ‘satire’ deriving from ‘satyr’ – Hodgart says not. Also Voltaire didn’t invent the word ‘pessimism’, at least according to my copy of Candide. It was coined in 1794 by Coleridge.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2017
I've always enjoyed satire, and especially nowadays I find myself watching a lot of political satire, trying to somehow make sense of this world. And in the middle of watching The Daily Show I realised that God Mocks was still patiently waiting on my Kindle bookshelf for me. So naturally I rushed to my Kindle and started reading Lindvall's fascinating history of religious satire, which spans from the Old Testament to Stephen Colbert, another favourite of mine. Thanks to NYU Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have always considered myself Christian, partially because I grew up within Christianity but also because much of it rings true with me. But for me religion and faith are nothing without continuous questioning and self-examination, and I think satire is one of the key ways to do so. As such, it is not surprising that the Bible itself also engages in satire, something that I only truly became aware of while reading God Mocks. The Old Testament is full of prophets who low-key satirise their kings, ridiculing them to make them see their faults and flaws. God, according to Lindvall, is king at this kind of satire, hence the title of his book. And after reading God Mocks I could see exactly what he meant.
What I truly enjoyed was how Lindvall emphasises that the key aspect of satire is that the satirist cares. It is why I believe political satire has been thriving lately, on TV, in printing and on social media. People are starting to care more and more about politics again, recognising their role in it, satirising the political system to effect a change. Whether it's the British bemoaning Brexit, aware that their future is irrevocably tied to it, or Americans trumping Trump on Twitter, knowing his political ignorance affects their lives deeply, all of those who satirise care. Occasionally Lindvall himself seems to lose track of this, however, discussing the satire of non-believers. I see both the benefits and negatives of this, but Lindvall does try to find a balance between the two.
Lindvall is clearly interested in his own topic, which sounds like a given but is actually quite rare. I have read a lot of text books that not only bored me to death but also seemed to have bored the authors to distraction. So reading God Mocks was interesting and often entertaining. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to write about humour and not become aware of just how unfunny writing about humour really is. That is why explaining a joke makes everyone feel sad, it ruins the magic and leaves everyone a little bit disillusioned. However, Limdvall does his best and his wit often saves God Mocks from potentially becoming too dry. I especially enjoyed his last chapter on "modern day" religious satire, starting with Monty Python's Life of Brian, touching on The Onion and praising Colbert. Lindvall clearly researched his book well and writes with an ease that makes his subject seem far from drear. Nonetheless, this is probably not a book for everyone. Coming up to almost 400 pages, a prior interest in both religion and satire is pretty much a must.
Well-researched and cleverly written, God Mocks is a great look at religious satire, both old and new. Lindvall manages to make the topic consistently interesting, moving easily through history from one key period to another, tracing satire and religion side by side.
I have always considered myself Christian, partially because I grew up within Christianity but also because much of it rings true with me. But for me religion and faith are nothing without continuous questioning and self-examination, and I think satire is one of the key ways to do so. As such, it is not surprising that the Bible itself also engages in satire, something that I only truly became aware of while reading God Mocks. The Old Testament is full of prophets who low-key satirise their kings, ridiculing them to make them see their faults and flaws. God, according to Lindvall, is king at this kind of satire, hence the title of his book. And after reading God Mocks I could see exactly what he meant.
What I truly enjoyed was how Lindvall emphasises that the key aspect of satire is that the satirist cares. It is why I believe political satire has been thriving lately, on TV, in printing and on social media. People are starting to care more and more about politics again, recognising their role in it, satirising the political system to effect a change. Whether it's the British bemoaning Brexit, aware that their future is irrevocably tied to it, or Americans trumping Trump on Twitter, knowing his political ignorance affects their lives deeply, all of those who satirise care. Occasionally Lindvall himself seems to lose track of this, however, discussing the satire of non-believers. I see both the benefits and negatives of this, but Lindvall does try to find a balance between the two.
Lindvall is clearly interested in his own topic, which sounds like a given but is actually quite rare. I have read a lot of text books that not only bored me to death but also seemed to have bored the authors to distraction. So reading God Mocks was interesting and often entertaining. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to write about humour and not become aware of just how unfunny writing about humour really is. That is why explaining a joke makes everyone feel sad, it ruins the magic and leaves everyone a little bit disillusioned. However, Limdvall does his best and his wit often saves God Mocks from potentially becoming too dry. I especially enjoyed his last chapter on "modern day" religious satire, starting with Monty Python's Life of Brian, touching on The Onion and praising Colbert. Lindvall clearly researched his book well and writes with an ease that makes his subject seem far from drear. Nonetheless, this is probably not a book for everyone. Coming up to almost 400 pages, a prior interest in both religion and satire is pretty much a must.
Well-researched and cleverly written, God Mocks is a great look at religious satire, both old and new. Lindvall manages to make the topic consistently interesting, moving easily through history from one key period to another, tracing satire and religion side by side.
May 11, 2024
If you’re religious, especially a Christian: can you take a joke?
Even better, are you willing to see the important critique which can often only be made through humor?
In God Mocks: A History of Religious Satire from the Hebrew Prophets to Stephen Colbert (galley received as part of early review program), Terry Lindvall explores the history of satire in the Classical world and in Christendom.
The work is thorough: the ways the Hebrew prophets and many Classical commentators used satire to make often biting social and political commentary becomes a template which would be imitated throughout the medieval, early modern, and modern periods in Europe and America.
The author certainly explores the popular and common examples: Elijah; Isaiah; Ezekiel; Juvenal; Chaucer; Pope; Swift; Muggeridge; Chesterton; Twain; Mencken; Monty Python; Colbert; and so forth. The author also considers many examples throughout Christendom which are not nearly as commonly remembered or popularized but whose commentary was prescient.
Some of the satire is ribald, but then again a lot of the conduct of Christians and clergy proved quite ribald throughout time. But it need not all be sexually titillating; there was plenty of opportunity to make satire of religious predilections, hypocrisies, fundamentalisms, and whatnot. And many times the only way to be able to really make such points without being driven out of town was through satire and humor.
The book dates from 2015, which influences the way the author speaks of Stephen Colbert; I’d be interested in his take now that he no longer has to maintain a character as he did on The Colbert Report, but Colbert’s takes are well informed by his faith, and he does remain one of the most significant purveyors of religious satire today.
The author proves not a little loquacious. I recognize the hypocrisy in pointing something like that out, but the level of detail and what seems to be the never ending prose does absolutely take away from the experience of the book and distracts from the quality of the subject matter. The conclusion especially would have benefited from significant cutting to get to the main point and not introduce a bunch more examples.
Nevertheless, for those who are willing to hear it, religious satire can prove an important part of critiquing those with power and standing and to expose what often proves ridiculous and hypocritical, and this work proves to be a significant contribution to understanding its history and development in Christendom.
Even better, are you willing to see the important critique which can often only be made through humor?
In God Mocks: A History of Religious Satire from the Hebrew Prophets to Stephen Colbert (galley received as part of early review program), Terry Lindvall explores the history of satire in the Classical world and in Christendom.
The work is thorough: the ways the Hebrew prophets and many Classical commentators used satire to make often biting social and political commentary becomes a template which would be imitated throughout the medieval, early modern, and modern periods in Europe and America.
The author certainly explores the popular and common examples: Elijah; Isaiah; Ezekiel; Juvenal; Chaucer; Pope; Swift; Muggeridge; Chesterton; Twain; Mencken; Monty Python; Colbert; and so forth. The author also considers many examples throughout Christendom which are not nearly as commonly remembered or popularized but whose commentary was prescient.
Some of the satire is ribald, but then again a lot of the conduct of Christians and clergy proved quite ribald throughout time. But it need not all be sexually titillating; there was plenty of opportunity to make satire of religious predilections, hypocrisies, fundamentalisms, and whatnot. And many times the only way to be able to really make such points without being driven out of town was through satire and humor.
The book dates from 2015, which influences the way the author speaks of Stephen Colbert; I’d be interested in his take now that he no longer has to maintain a character as he did on The Colbert Report, but Colbert’s takes are well informed by his faith, and he does remain one of the most significant purveyors of religious satire today.
The author proves not a little loquacious. I recognize the hypocrisy in pointing something like that out, but the level of detail and what seems to be the never ending prose does absolutely take away from the experience of the book and distracts from the quality of the subject matter. The conclusion especially would have benefited from significant cutting to get to the main point and not introduce a bunch more examples.
Nevertheless, for those who are willing to hear it, religious satire can prove an important part of critiquing those with power and standing and to expose what often proves ridiculous and hypocritical, and this work proves to be a significant contribution to understanding its history and development in Christendom.
October 12, 2020
Reading this book reminds me of reading one of those collected tales of chivalry books that you see on kids' book shelves. It was full of stories of unorthodox combatants, wrestling against and amidst unorthodox foes, using what today is seen by many as grossly unorthodox methods. "Not all heroes wear capes" ... some shoot barbs our from between their teeth. The history of the relationship between the Christian faith and satire is a rich and raucous affair. In between all the scat and innuendo stand a few gallant figures able to fell giants with choice chestnuts. Wit and wisdom should seldom be parted if one intends any good to come from this kind of warfare. But if the proportions are handled with care you find a potent cocktail for fire, fun, and fury.
June 6, 2019
The funniest thing about this book was how many times he used the word "panache".
Very detailed and informative. I probably could have just read the introduction and the conclusion and gained all I needed to.
Very detailed and informative. I probably could have just read the introduction and the conclusion and gained all I needed to.
September 18, 2020
Good overview of satire through the ages. The intro and final chapter I found the most helpful where Lindvall sets out biblical principals of satire. The fat middle seemed tedious as he went on through history. I feel like the historical survey could have used a lighter and more engaging touch.
Want to read
April 16, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 3, 2017
I enjoy books like this - books that focus on a narrow slice of history. In this case, I think the author should have chosen an even narrower slice. He states that "true satire requires both wit and moral purpose." But many of his examples of satire came from people who had no moral aims at all (and no foundation to make them if they wanted to). Of course, the sections on Lewis, Chesterton, Swift, and others were very entertaining. I found myself wishing that one of them had written this book. But in fairness to Lindvall, I think I would say that about almost any book I read.
December 10, 2015
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Reading the synopsis of this book, I thought it was either likely to be full of religious jokes or was a dry scholarly treatise on the bible. I decided to take a chance anyway – and quickly discovered that I was completely wrong. What this book is, is a very witty and interesting, well-researched text about the meaning and purpose of humour and satire in a religious context.
The book starts with the bible and the ancient Hebrew prophets (the “circumcised satirists”), and moves up through the entirety of Western literature and art. Everybody who is anybody in Western literature seems to have had at least a little something to say about the way that Christian religion is practised. Some, like Swift, Pope, Voltaire, Fielding and Chaucer made a career out of it.
Reading through this book, has given me a list longer than my arm of authors and titles that I really need to read more of. And then there are the great works of art by Duerer, Cranach, Bosch and Hogarth that also fit into purvey of this book, that I really must see. Thankfully, a number of the art works mentioned are reproduced in colour in the book.
The mocking of the title is not a blasphemous mocking of God or Christ. Most of the writers, artists etc. are committed Christians (“There are methods to the madness of mockers whose motley garb is often clerical vestments”). The author argues “that the heart of true satire is recognition of a moral discrepancy between what is proclaimed and what is practiced, often with an attempt to remedy it.” And that “a true satirist sits in the dock with those who are guilty and identifies as an integral member of the satirized community”. He states that “Satire offends. Satire is meant to disturb the universe, or at least one person.” But Swift points out that “SATIRE is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.” and that is “why very few are offended with it.”
Along with the academic analysis of the religious satire, there are also some very funny passages, where the satire breaks into unashamed humour. Then just near the end of the book is a whole section on Monty Python – how could there not be a mention of “The Life of Brian” and the “Spanish Inquisition”?
The whole book is very well written and fascinating, and deserves to be read more than once, so you can really savour the writing. There is so much to take in and learn, and so many new directions to go off in after reading this book. It takes a while to read through, but it is really, really worth the effort.
Reading the synopsis of this book, I thought it was either likely to be full of religious jokes or was a dry scholarly treatise on the bible. I decided to take a chance anyway – and quickly discovered that I was completely wrong. What this book is, is a very witty and interesting, well-researched text about the meaning and purpose of humour and satire in a religious context.
The book starts with the bible and the ancient Hebrew prophets (the “circumcised satirists”), and moves up through the entirety of Western literature and art. Everybody who is anybody in Western literature seems to have had at least a little something to say about the way that Christian religion is practised. Some, like Swift, Pope, Voltaire, Fielding and Chaucer made a career out of it.
Reading through this book, has given me a list longer than my arm of authors and titles that I really need to read more of. And then there are the great works of art by Duerer, Cranach, Bosch and Hogarth that also fit into purvey of this book, that I really must see. Thankfully, a number of the art works mentioned are reproduced in colour in the book.
The mocking of the title is not a blasphemous mocking of God or Christ. Most of the writers, artists etc. are committed Christians (“There are methods to the madness of mockers whose motley garb is often clerical vestments”). The author argues “that the heart of true satire is recognition of a moral discrepancy between what is proclaimed and what is practiced, often with an attempt to remedy it.” And that “a true satirist sits in the dock with those who are guilty and identifies as an integral member of the satirized community”. He states that “Satire offends. Satire is meant to disturb the universe, or at least one person.” But Swift points out that “SATIRE is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own.” and that is “why very few are offended with it.”
Along with the academic analysis of the religious satire, there are also some very funny passages, where the satire breaks into unashamed humour. Then just near the end of the book is a whole section on Monty Python – how could there not be a mention of “The Life of Brian” and the “Spanish Inquisition”?
The whole book is very well written and fascinating, and deserves to be read more than once, so you can really savour the writing. There is so much to take in and learn, and so many new directions to go off in after reading this book. It takes a while to read through, but it is really, really worth the effort.
August 20, 2016
Terry Lindvall’s God Mocks, “chronicles the evolution of religious satirical discourse from the biblical satire of the Hebrew prophets through the mediated entertainment of modern wits such as Stephen Colbert.” Lindvall defines satire as aiming “not just to slice and dice, but to correct and reform.” And he grounds this mode of wit in the character and nature of the God of the scriptures, exemplified in Psalm 2. Lindvall illustrates satire as a standard weapon choice in the scriptures from the prophets in the Old Testament to Jesus who wielded the weapon of satire to destroy enemies in order that they may repent and turn from their hypocrisy. The rest of the book chronicles how the church, and some outside of it, fared in imitating their God, the Prophets, and the Apostles.
Lindvall makes it clear that the weapon of satire is a distinctly Christian one. It presupposes a moral standard as well as hope. For satire is a weapon that cuts to kill vices in hope that through repentance, virtues will bloom. Without the moral standard, and without hope, satire quickly descends into nihilistic mockery. With the doctrine of total depravity in the background and the hope of the resurrection on the horizon, there is nothing off-limits. A key point from the doctrine of total depravity in relation to satire is the fact that the satirist is not above the muck and mire. Thus another characteristic of successful satire is the satirists ability to achieve perspective on their own wicked hearts. Lindvall champions the likes of Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, and G.K. Chesterton for their satire rooted in humble hearts.
On the whole, this book’s benefit allows the church to see how faithful (and some unfaithful) brothers and sisters have wielded wit with levity and laughter in their bones against the enemies of God throughout history.
Lindvall makes it clear that the weapon of satire is a distinctly Christian one. It presupposes a moral standard as well as hope. For satire is a weapon that cuts to kill vices in hope that through repentance, virtues will bloom. Without the moral standard, and without hope, satire quickly descends into nihilistic mockery. With the doctrine of total depravity in the background and the hope of the resurrection on the horizon, there is nothing off-limits. A key point from the doctrine of total depravity in relation to satire is the fact that the satirist is not above the muck and mire. Thus another characteristic of successful satire is the satirists ability to achieve perspective on their own wicked hearts. Lindvall champions the likes of Martin Luther, C.S. Lewis, and G.K. Chesterton for their satire rooted in humble hearts.
On the whole, this book’s benefit allows the church to see how faithful (and some unfaithful) brothers and sisters have wielded wit with levity and laughter in their bones against the enemies of God throughout history.
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