Kierkegaard’s View of Humor

Faith and Philosophy 4 (2):176-186 (1987)
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Abstract

Many people view humor and a serious religious life as antithetical. This paper attempts to elucidate Kierkegaard’s view of humor, and thereby to explain his claims that humor is essentially linked to a religious life, and that the capacity for humor resides in a deep structure of human existence. A distinction is drawn between humor as a general element in life, and a special sense of humor as a “boundary zone” of the religious life. The latter kind of “humorist” embodies a religious perspective which is not Christian, but is closely related to Christianity. Humor itself is a fundamental aspect of Christian faith.

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C. Stephen Evans
Baylor University

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Kierkegaard’s View of Humor.C. Stephen Evans - 1987 - Faith and Philosophy 4 (2):176-186.

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