Laughter Is the Sound of God Enjoying Itself
A funny thing happened on my way to hell
One thing nearly forty years as the author and artist of the syndicated cartoon Bizarro has taught me is that there are plenty of people who think humor can damn you to hell.
Gag cartoonists (as opposed to strip cartoonists) often have a stable of subjects they return to regularly: the psychiatrist’s couch, a desert island, and the Grim Reaper are some of the most common.
One of my frequent topics has been the mythological versions of heaven and hell. What better way to satirize the human condition than to portray us just after we’ve died, when the mysteries of life have been revealed? Those jokes often include a light-hearted jab at religion or a humorous version of the creator. When they do, I am often scolded with reprimands such as,
“God is not a laughing matter, and when you are burning in hell, you will be sorry!”
I am fully aware that this is not the attitude of most religious folks, but neither is it uncommon.
