351 Varieties of Religious Humor

351 Varieties of Religious Humor

Philosophy & Religion | Available (Membership Required)

701 Briarcliff Avenue Oak Ridge, TN 37830 United States
F-112
Monday, June 29, 2026-Monday, July 20, 2026
9:30 AM-10:30 AM EDT on Mon

351 Varieties of Religious Humor

Philosophy & Religion | Available (Membership Required)

William James’ classic The Varieties of Religious Experience suggested the title for this class. (Wonder if he thinks that’s funny!) We will explore and enjoy varieties of religious humor such as the sermon parody, humor in rural and small-town churches, mis-speaks and bulletin bloopers, denomination-related humor, children’s variety, preacher-putdowns, meeting St. Peter, etc. We will invite ministers, priests, rabbis, and members of those faith communities to share their favorite humor, especially the denomination/interfaith humor. Everyone is invited to share any related religious humor you choose, trusting you to be “religiously” funny!

Lee Morris

Lee Morris first learned the power of faith and fun times on sharecropper farms in west Tennessee. Union University in Jackson, TN and Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, along with pastorates in TN and KY, informed and refined his faith. His students in Seminary Extension courses, Carson Newman College Extension courses (while serving with local Robertsville Baptist Church), and Berea College (Chaplain and assistant professor) stretched and enriched his theological quest, as well as added to this storehouse of humor, as only students can do. Lee got hooked on religious humor with a college classmate’s raucous sermon parody, “The Proggigal Son” (his version to be shared), and with seminary classmate Grady Nutt’s uniquely Southern Baptist humor, culminating on TV’s Hee Haw (DVD forthcoming).