Laughing Gods, Weeping Virgins - Laughter in the History of Religion (Hardcover, New)

This work analyses how laughter has been used as a symbol in myths, rituals and festivals of Western religions, and has thus been inscribed in religious discourse. The author argues that laughter is a central human phenomenon. Humans use laughter as a means to experience the world, categorize its forms and judge its values. But, laughter also transcends language, and is frequently used as a characteristic of the divine. The Mesopotamian Anu, the Israelite Jahweh, the Greek Dionysos, the Gnostic Christ and the late modern Jesus were all laughing gods. Through their laughter, gods prove both their superiority and their proximity to humans. In this study, Professor Gilhus examines the relationship between corporeal human laughter and spiritual divine laughter from Classical antiquity, to the Christian West and the modern era. The book combines the study of the history of religion with social-scientific approaches, to provide an exploration of a universal human phenomenon, and its significance for the development of religions.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	September 1997
First published:	1997
Authors:	Ingvild Saelid Gilhus
Dimensions:	216 x 138 x 14mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	184
Edition:	New
ISBN-13:	978-0-415-16197-8
Categories:	Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Interdisciplinary studies > Cultural studies > History of ideas, intellectual history Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > General > General Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Worship > General Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious experience > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious experience > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Worship > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > General > General Promotions
LSN:	0-415-16197-5
Barcode:	9780415161978

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