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 The authors note that Jesus jokes have become popular just since the 1970s.
November 10th, 2012
10:00 PM ET
My Take: What all those Jesus jokes tell us
By Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey, Special to CNN Did you ever hear the one about Jesus being Mexican? Well, he was bilingual; he was constantly harassed by the government; and his first name was Jesus. Or, perhaps Jesus was Irish? He loved a good story; he never kept a steady job; and his last request was for a drink. Or maybe it’s possible that Jesus was Californian? He never cut his hair; he was always walking around barefoot; and he started a new religion. You may not have heard these Jesus jokes, but you’ve heard others. They represent a comedic trend that has animated the United States since the 1970s. More and more comedy gimmicks hit on Jesus, his ethnicity and his relationship to politics. Laughing with (and at) the Lord is now fodder for major motion pictures, barroom comedy tours, graphic novels, t-shirts and bumper stickers.
How is it that a figure sacred to so many Americans has become the punch line of so many jokes? And why is it acceptable to poke fun at Jesus when other sacred figures are deemed off limits or there is hell to pay for mocking them? The explanations are as numerous as the laughs. Immigration shifts from the 1960s changed the ethnic and religious faces of the country so no tradition dominates today. The Christian right made such a moral spectacle of itself that it practically begged to be mocked. The emergence of “spiritual, but not religious” sensibilities left many Americans willing to denounce or laugh about traditional faith. The public rise of agnosticism, atheism, and secularism led to aggressive mockery as a form of persuasion. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter If we pause to consider why we’re laughing, we find that the comic bits delve into some of our thorniest and unresolved problems. The jokes reveal much more about us than they do Jesus. They speak to how our society has changed, how it hasn’t, and what we’re obsessed with. The first public jokes about Jesus were heard in the 1970s. There had been religious jokes before this, but none about Jesus had become widely popular because organized Christianity held such authority. As the economic recession and problems of urban decay collided with civil rights exhaustion and new immigration, however, some Jesus jokes emerged. Archie Bunker on “All in the Family” was the white racist and misogynist you loved to hate and hated to love. On one occasion, his son-in-law challenged Bunker’s rampant anti-Semitism with the claim, "Jesus was Jewish." Archie shot back immediately: "Only on his mother's side." The “All in the Family” spin off “Good Times” featured a black family that lives in an inner-city housing project, probably Chicago's infamous Cabrini Green. On the show's second episode, the oldest son J. J. astounded everyone by painting Jesus as black. The younger son loves it, and says he learned all about Christ’s blackness from the local Nation of Islam. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories As the family debates whether this black Jesus should be hung on the wall in place of their white Jesus, they “miraculously” receive $140 from the Internal Revenue Service. Feeling blessed, the family placed the painting on its living room wall, and the elated J. J. shouted his tagline, "Dyno-mite!” From the 1980s to the present, the number of prominent Jesus jokes has multiplied like loaves and fishes: • In “Talladega Nights,” Ricky Bobby and his family debated which Jesus to pray to (“baby Jesus in golden fleece diapers,” “grown-up Jesus,” “ninja Jesus”). Their overall hope is that Jesus will help them continue their extravagant lifestyle. • “South Park” featured Jesus as a weak-kneed host of a local talk show who boxes the devil. • “Family Guy” had Jesus perform magic tricks that wowed his ancient audience. • “The Colbert Report” placed a gun in Christ’s hand and had him defend conservatives against the liberal “War on Easter.” • “Saturday Night Live” let Jesus chastise Tim Tebow for using the Lord’s name in vain and ended the bit by declaring that the Mormons have it right. One unforgettable scene in the rather forgettable recent film “21 Jump Street” may explain why Jesus has become such a joke. Before Jonah Hill’s character returns to high school as an undercover cop, he prays to a small, crucified “Korean Jesus.” Down on his knees, he says: “Hey Korean Jesus, I don’t know if you only cater to Korean Christians or if you even exist, no offense. I’m just really freaked out about going back to high school. It was just so f***ing hard the first time. … I just really don’t want to f*** this up. Sorry for swearing so much. The end? I don’t really know how to end the prayer.” The hilarity of the moment only makes sense in our time. Hill's character is unchurched and agnostic, but wants spiritual power to guide him. We can laugh at how agnosticism and being “spiritual, but not religious,” leave him uncertain of what to say, how to say it, and even how to end. We can also laugh at how ethnic factors color his approach. By wondering if Korean Jesus cares only about Korean problems, Hill pokes fun at the issue which was made a media spectacle in 2008, when the Rev. Jeremiah Wright could be heard preaching that “Jesus was a poor black man” as part of his support for Barack Obama. What good is a God who only cares for those who look like him? The Jesus jokes not only reveal how tangled our religious, racial, economic and political positions have become, but also how many outlets there are for the jokes. In these tense times, when presidential hopefuls point fingers at one another and families unfriend one another over political and cultural differences, laughing may be one way to talk about the problems without killing one another. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey. soundoff (5,746 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 Next »Post a comment
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Editor’s note: 
If god isnt gay why did he give men bung holes
FOR THE PLEASURE OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS?
JJ nails the punchline.
yeah like why are we even able to feel pleasure from the prostate
nature is set up perfectly for Same s3x relationships
Yah~ did not create the universe
Gaia on the other had get another point
I thought religion was BS when i was under 6 and i come from a overly religious family. I remember watching the priest and alter-boys carrying a cross down isle and singing and i thought "This is medieval crazy", Now i think how can adults believe this rubbish.
These adults are the equivelant of adult children who believe fairy tales.
so Jesus walks into a bar and says och! i thought i prayed you away.
Human, my father, Taliban grand master mullah, used to tell us many Zessus jokes in our mosque, when I was growing up, my favorite.
What did Jesus say as he was being crucified?
"oh prophet Muhammad, come HELP ME... SAVE ME..... from these corrupt goons, deniers of truth Allah ...!"
And we laugh, and laugh, and laugh.
Mommy, I am feeling sick and need to throw up.
Johnny the sermon is not over yet. If you must, slip outside and throw up behind a bush.
A few moments later Johnny returned and his mother said did you go outside like I told you?
'I didn't have to go out of the church, Mummy. They have a box next to the front door that says, "For the Sick" '.
Its quite simple where there are jokes about Jesus and not other religious leaders – make jokes about Islam or Mohammad and you may lose your career in the West or worse, get killed or beaten up. Make jokes about Buddha and know one really knows much about the guy nyways, plus he is a darling of the leftist crowd. Make jokes about Vishnu, and it looks like bad taste and no one makes fun of the Jews or Moses becos that might look anti-semitic.....with Jesus, everyone, even those of other faith traditions accept Jesus in some way or the other, and in the end, you ain't going to get killed or risk your career for making fun of Jesus
there all the explanation you will need
I find it difficult to fathom that Yahweh imprenated unknowing Jewish teenager, so Yahweh could be born in the form a Jesus, so he could be tortured to death for humanity's sins?
If you were never exposed to Christianity as a child, and heard this as an adult, you'd laugh at its stupidity. The only reason why people are willing to put up with this nonsense if because they were exposed to these farcical ideas as children, and therefore, the don't seem so weird.
Personally, it boggles my mind that fellow humans could believe this, I consider them child-like creatures who still believe in fairy tales as adults.
And its down right scary to think some leaders of this world think the old man in the sky is guiding them.
The blue horseshoe loves CRC
So the whole population of the entire human race.. about 12(?) or billion people born into existence.. can keep hell burning for all of eternity.
Fascinating science. XD
I love the part about Adam and Eves kids doing the nasty to populate the earth. I guess the people who made up bible didnt know about genes.
We had the same problem on the Ark, only 2 animals of each race, and can you imagine how 8 people fed 6 million animals, even if we worked non stop it was impossible. And i know what your going to ask next what did we feed the meat eating animals ? thats my secret
iv always like the tower story
look humans working together can do any thing no I'm Mad and jealous of their strength i know lets decide the language causing misunderstandings and war
Yahweh= 6 year old school girl that couldn't take a play on the swing because it nap time
I can't imagine that there are many intelligent people who worship a bronze-age, middle-eastern deity named Yahweh (of the old testament) and his illiterate son Jesus.
A priest got lost on the way to the funeral and arrived late.
When he finally arrived the spade was next to the open hole, and the workmen were sitting under a tree eating lunch.
Feeling guilty because of his lateness, he preached an impassioned and lengthy service.
As the good Father returned to his car, he overheard one of the workman say to the other, ' Do you know, fancy that, I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty five years and I ain't never seen anything like that.'
Jesus was gay, and I worship him, and I want Jesus inside me, so I must be gay too, like most priests.
Jokes about Jesus only show that we have no respect for anyone anymore, we are disrespectful and arrogant to all, even the creator of the universe. Saving faith in Christ is our only hope.
Obi Won Kenobi is my only hope
Yes!
An illiterate carpenter born 2000 years ago created the universe.
Makes perfect sense to me.
And bible thumpers have no respect for anyone outside their cult
And why should I accept your assertion that Jesus is the creator of the universe?
The Creator of the Cosmos made multi-universes CRC,
Imagine that !
Ya, the creator of the Cosmo s, denier of truth absolute Allah, Jesus, corruption of humanity, secu lar ism!! only in your wildest dreams, goon, Old, skunk, Dreamer.
I was rich and had a good job, then the church convinced me praying works. So i stopped going to work and paying bills and instead i prayed for money and bills to be paid, then when my wife got sick i prayed for her health. now she is dead and im homeless
That's why you should listen to the Holy Spirit and read God's word, especially when what they tell you at church is out of line with scripture as is true in your case. Frankly, I know you are just spouting bs.
Your god said 'take no thought for tomorrow".
CRC JJ whatever your name is now, what you do not understand, to smart people your like a kid trying to prove Santa exists to his parents. ( hint its not going to work ) the more bible quotes you post the more you affirm you are crazy and how ridiculous religion is
Wow...You've been reading Job.
Now that all worldly things have been stripped away, you can really hear God words and receive your inheritance.
The reason why Christians don't get bent out of shape when people tell 'Jesus jokes' is because Jesus...well...JESUS REALLY IS GOD.
He is a big boy and can fight His own fights.
That is why the adherents to Islam have to kill those who insult Islam or Mohammed: their god "Allah" doesn't exist and can't defend himself and Mohammed never was a prophet.
Wait when this started to happen? I've been watching CNN and Jesus hasn't been doing a damn thing, same as the last few thousands of years, do you mind calling him to ask what's going on maybe he's taking a million year nap or something.
Did you hear the one about Mohammed? Of course not, those "peaceful" Muslims killed the joke-teller before he could get to the punchline.
I wonder why god didnt tell JJ, how not to be trollbait
One beautiful Sunday morning, Reverend Barnard announces to his congregation, 'My good people, I have here in my hands three sermons......
A $100 sermon that lasts five minutes
A $50 sermon that lasts fifteen minutes
And a $20 sermon that lasts a full hour.
Now, we'll take the collection and see which one I'll deliver.'
Hey this is for all religious people, are you guys sure you are doing it right? it's been thousands of years and it seems all your prayers are not doing a damn thing. Just look at the elections, did you guys took off that week or what?
Hey Martin – I haven't seen "Atheist disaster relief trucks" up in the Northeast trying to help real people with real problems – but the Northeast is loaded with "religious" groups traveling and sacrificing to help their neighbor. Right or wrong AT LEAST THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING. Where are the "Non-religious AID groups" the only ones that exist are government run and funded because the non-religious are generally too selfish to organize and give to help people who need it. Red CROSS, Samaritans Purse, Baptist, Methodist and the list goes on and on.
None religious aid organizations:
FEMA
Gates Foundation
The goverment
FEMA = government run and funded
Government = government run and funded
Haven't seen the Gates foundation in the Northeast... have you?
David,
The Red Cross is a wholly secular organization.
http://www.redcross.org/about-us/mission
666
et al,
A scattering is upon us in these trying days and Age. Leave your wantings behind and never take wind of one's longings for the weightiness of one's longings will smite even the most influential. Carry away nothing and leave. Head to the places inside one's being and do not keep ajar your door for many will want to enter in and should not. Your loving this Life is for the world to have and you should not heed the rumors from others as to just what is truly right. It is therefore best for mankind to simmer in their juvenile pottages never rationalizingly 'assaying' one's diffuse detriments, the very smallest of life's grains. As smitten breeds, our splendors reveal one's characters to be traitorous to one's analogous fold. Where then does Life end and living begin?
Who before this day's Age is found worthy of Goodly praises? Who after us will find peace set before them? Who in today;s timeline is this "son of man" that many should fear him for his worthiness stance? Who above can see the below? Who that is below can see what be above? From the very smallest crevice to the most high chasms, the Sea of Nothingness is the Holy Spirit. May the elemental Gods find favor in this found son of man that he may not be afflicted with this world's power but rather he should carry upon him the angst from his manhood till his natural death.