Humor can be seen as a universal medium, despite differences in language and culture every society has their own set of rules and expectations about what constitutes comedy. A sense of humor is something that is common among all human beings; regardless of their comedic preferences. Culturally, there are many different ways for someone to express themselves and humor can manifest itself in numerous ways in different communities.

 

      Religion is a diverse subject, with so many different iterations and organizations it is a very complex area of study. It can also be a very emotional subject to touch upon, faith is very central to the lives of millions of people across the world belonging to many different denominations. There is a wide range in the importance of religion in people's lives. In some cases it is the driving force behind someone's choices and identity and in others it can play a very small role in their actions.

 

      Though these two systems are generally seen to be entirely different, they are actually very linked together. A major overlap between them is that they ultimately have very similar goals in mind. Comedy often aims to help people escape what they may be experiencing by offering the experiences and stories of others in a comedic context. Religion also often serves as a way for people to escape from their lives when needed, it offers both support from a community as well as a chance for purpose both during and after life.

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      In my own experience, religion had a large impact on my upbringing though I have since removed myself from the community. Growing up, Christianity had a large influence on the media I consumed and the ways I approached nearly everything in my life. This of course, includes the consumption of comedy, so I was at first exposed to comedy of a very particular genre. My tastes have since changed to different genres and forms of comedy, but it is hard to forget what I was initially exposed to. It has been interesting to analyze how my initial experience with comedy is so different from my current, and I'm sure my situation is one that is fairly common.

 

      In terms of comedy, I've found a passion for it over the last two years through improv. I've always been the class clown type in my friend groups, growing up I was always the person trying to lighten the mood and riff on whatever was going on. It has always been a way for me to process what was happening in my life, whether it be good or bad. So naturally, I wondered what these two aspects of my life meant when they were smashed together. What are the rules that go along with expressing yourself in a comedic way, in a religious context? To answer this question, we are going to take a look at the statistics explaining how many people in the world are religious and where; as well as take a dive into the cultural and social aspects of the meaning of religious comedy. 

 

Let's get into it!      

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