Your opinion on low-brow humor?

Do you think the Bible says anything against low-brow humor? You know, raunchy humor, usually involving jokes about body parts and bodily functions?

Me, I don't go for it. It's just not funny to me.

So then I was wondering if I don't find it funny because of my cultural upbringing or because I think it's not Christian. I know there are passages in the Bible, like the one in Philippians, that say to think about things that are noble, admirable, praiseworthy, excellent, true, right. But does that apply to humor?

What do you guys think?

I guess it really depends on the joke. If it's outlandishly innapropriate and goes against the Torah then I think it shouldn't be said. Things like 'gay' jokes and sleeping with someone elses married mother fits in that category (which I'm guilty of, but remember I shouldn't say them). I'm really torn at the moment, I don't know whether to post a thread or not. I think it'll be really funny, there's no nudity or swearing but I think a lot of people might think pretty low of me lol. I'll probably cave in soon and post it anyway.

Ephesians 5:3-4 -- 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

I don't really think this goes as far as saying: "Don't you dare talk about poo-poo and pee-pee because they're sinful!" But I think it means don't be out there telling dirty, sexually-themed jokes, sexist jokes, racist jokes, etc., etc.

I don't think that any topic at all is necessarily sinful. There are, however, jokes within any topic which are intended to offend and blaspheme - I think that's what the Bible condemns. So for me, it depends on the audience and on the intent of the person speaking. I wish that nobody held sex and body functions as taboo, but since they do I tend to be very careful about discussing them.

Riot Riot Riot said:

Ephesians 5:3-4 -- 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

I don't really think this goes as far as saying: "Don't you dare talk about poo-poo and pee-pee because they're sinful!" But I think it means don't be out there telling dirty, sexually-themed jokes, sexist jokes, racist jokes, etc., etc.

Click to expand...

^ This!

Jenster said:

Do you think the Bible says anything against low-brow humor? You know, raunchy humor, usually involving jokes about body parts and bodily functions?

Click to expand...

No. I think there are some raunchy jokes in the Bible.

When Elijah was mocking the prophets of Ba'al, he made a toilet joke. And I think, but can't recall specifically atm, that there are a couple other examples of prophets and/or God using a raunchy reference or two in sarcasm.

I believe the passage in Ephesians that talks about crude joking, isn't really talking about bodily function jokes.

Crude or course joking is, IMHO, the type that is sexually insinuating or the kind that is aimed at tearing another person down. (E.g. those kind of jokes where guys comment about having slept with one anothers' mothers/sisters, or call one another gay, or gals make crude and ruthless suggestions about the size of a man's genitals).

Fart jokes, poop jokes and menstruation jokes I personally don't classify as the type Paul had in mind. I could be wrong, but I do think that there's a difference in intent and heart/mind condition between a fart joke and a joke that suggests someone's mother is a hooker.

Personally, I don't generally find those types of jokes funny. Sometimes I do, though. Sometimes, a fart joke is just hilarious. For the most part, I put them in the "kinda immature but harmless" category.


It's funny the timing of this thread. I spent most of yesterday with my cousins, one of them was getting married. A couple of them - okay, most of them - have a tendency toward course jesting and toilet humor. My siblings and I have always been less so inclined (our parents taught us what Scripture said about such things, theirs probably did not). I love my cousins and do enjoy it when we all get together, but after a while with some of them, I feel drained and kinda dirty. That kind of humor is evidence of a different mind-set than mine. I don't even get some of their jokes - I have to think of them for a while if I want to understand them (mostly, I don't). They use words I've never heard and only vaguely have an idea of their meaning. I was appalled yesterday when my cousin's two preteen daughters were making crude jokes along with her, calling one another words that I don't know but that are clearly crude. It was sad and disturbing. (These are professing Christians).

Lowbrow humor covers a lot of territory. It isn't all like what you're describing. Comics, for example, are often considered lowbrow even when they're intelligently written and squeaky clean. Other lowbrow humor is mindlessly inoffensive pop cultural randomness, some of which can be quite entertaining. That said, I'm not a fan of fart jokes or crudeness. It isn't about taboos. I'd simply rather focus on more edifying things.

I thought it was funny when I was 12...

I'm not 12 anymore.

Riot Riot Riot said:

Ephesians 5:3-4 -- 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

I don't really think this goes as far as saying: "Don't you dare talk about poo-poo and pee-pee because they're sinful!" But I think it means don't be out there telling dirty, sexually-themed jokes, sexist jokes, racist jokes, etc., etc.

Click to expand...

This, exactly.

Yea, no coarse talking as Paul said..and I think peter said something like "remove perverse talking"

Miles said:

Lowbrow humor covers a lot of territory. It isn't all like what you're describing. Comics, for example, are often considered lowbrow even when they're intelligently written and squeaky clean. Other lowbrow humor is mindlessly inoffensive pop cultural randomness, some of which can be quite entertaining. That said, I'm not a fan of fart jokes or crudeness. It isn't about taboos. I'd simply rather focus on more edifying things.

Click to expand...

+1 to all points in this post.

eh, body function jokes are only funny to a point and for many that point was reached at 12. If it's crude; then I don't think it's that hysterical. It might be funny b/c it's stupid but that's about it. There is just much funnier material to be had out there.

I typically like...anything that makes me laugh. My favorite humor though is sarcastic, cynical, crude, crass humor...black comedy(not meaning humor that is stereotypical of african americans, which some of that is funny as well but it is not in my favorites). George Carlin, Dennis Leary, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, ...a few standups come to mind. Dr. Strangelove is a movie that portrays it brilliantly. Even the beloved Monty Python is part of this. Metalocalypse, South Park, Family Guy(even though I prefer King of the Hill over Family Guy) etc.

I also don't mind what is called blue humor...the sexual perverse, bodily actions etc.

Point being...I like to laugh and I don't employ ethics over this. Sure I may not laugh like I used to with the fart jokes and such. As Tamara said, sometimes those jokes are just flat out funny. I am also myself very sarcastic and cynical so I will by default gravitate towards that but sometimes I catch myself laughing at things that socially, people say, "Shouldn't be laughed at."

More times humor is all that we have to deal with what we go through while we are alive. People don't like it...not my problem.

I also like clean humor.

I just like laughing.

Sometimes they can be hilarious:

(warning: very descriptive low brow humour ahead)

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-28-2011/louis-c-k-

I like "low brow humor" doesn't mean it can't be intelligent too, it's also fun to make these jokes around others who think they are too high and mighty for such things.

Im_A said:

I typically like...anything that makes me laugh. My favorite humor though is sarcastic, cynical, crude, crass humor...black comedy(not meaning humor that is stereotypical of african americans, which some of that is funny as well but it is not in my favorites). George Carlin, Dennis Leary, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, ...a few standups come to mind. Dr. Strangelove is a movie that portrays it brilliantly. Even the beloved Monty Python is part of this. Metalocalypse, South Park, Family Guy(even though I prefer King of the Hill over Family Guy) etc.

I also don't mind what is called blue humor...the sexual perverse, bodily actions etc.

Point being...I like to laugh and I don't employ ethics over this. Sure I may not laugh like I used to with the fart jokes and such. As Tamara said, sometimes those jokes are just flat out funny. I am also myself very sarcastic and cynical so I will by default gravitate towards that but sometimes I catch myself laughing at things that socially, people say, "Shouldn't be laughed at."

More times humor is all that we have to deal with what we go through while we are alive. People don't like it...not my problem.

I also like clean humor.

I just like laughing.

Click to expand...

I hear where you're coming from. A lot of those crack me up. The thing is, they can also make me squirm when certain people are around. I do what I can to be a good influence, and coexist with all sorts of personalities. That includes those who have a low threshold for certain types of humor. My own humor tends to be clean if dry, and my mind is usually focused elsewhere, but I laugh at all sorts of things. Sometimes, the idea that a subject "shouldn't be laughed at" makes it even funnier.

I thought George Carlin was funny until I heard some bits he did on abortion. After that, I can't listen to him anymore.