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I have seen “South Park’s” newest episode, which shows the prophet Muhammad in a bear suit. I admit it: I laughed. I wasn’t laughing because bears look funny; I was laughing because the show once again crossed the line no one is supposed to cross.
Then I started reading news reports that the creators of the show, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, were warned of violent retribution for their sins against Allah. It left me wondering something: When will the faithful learn to laugh?
I am not a Muslim. I have learned a little about the religion, but I know far less than adherents of the faith. However, I am a Christian and could perhaps understand to a certain degree what some believers feel when comedians poke fun at their faith.
It’s a phenomenon every believer — Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, etc. — has to put up with. We’ll always be criticized for our faith. It’s part of the package. You cannot browse the Internet or watch TV for too long before someone’s religion is made fun of. Sometimes it’s just a little prod, but other times it can be downright cruel.
American culture is built on the principles of free speech, something we believers are especially thankful to have. But it also allows for faith to be brought into the spotlight and laughed about.
I first learned faith can be funny in Monty Python’s “Life of Brian.” Brian’s life is remarkably similar to that of Jesus Christ, and the film uses satire and symbolism to make fun of the Christian community. To this day, it remains one of my favorite movies.
It taught me that sometimes you have to laugh at yourself. Having faith in God doesn’t take away your ability to do that. I realize what I must look like when I bless my food before I eat, or when I talk about traditions my faith has. Sometimes I must seem odd, and comedy uses that.
“South Park” took an extra step or two to make this point. When Islamic law forbids displaying images of Muhammad, you can’t get much worse than the prophet in a bear suit on a late night animated comedy show. This is far worse than making fun of my prayers. I agree this was insulting, but as faithful people, Muslim and Christian alike, we can handle insult much better than what the world sometimes sees.
The trick is simply to laugh. When Jesus is called a zombie, how can you not smirk? It is funny. You can’t deny the similarity, so why get so upset over it? Search the scriptures: Believers were laughed at all the time.
In return, they didn’t scorn the scoffers or threaten them with violence. We don’t have to insult our own faith to get along with the skeptics, but we shouldn’t be afraid to laugh at a Jesus joke or a Muhammad wisecrack if it is just plain fun.
There will always be those radicals who refuse to let it go and will arduously defend every aspect of their belief, even if it comes to violence. I would argue these people are not religious nuts, they are simply nuts. Their fear of unbelief is worse than unbelief itself. Religion is peaceful in its most basic tenets. Believers should handle jokes in this manner.
I don’t pretend to know what God/Allah/Yahweh thinks of the comedy acts, but I do know this: Believers are called to be good people, and as good people, we can laugh at ourselves.
We may think the comedians are looking at faith in the wrong way, and sometimes the jokes may actually be more insulting than funny. But personally, I will keep laughing because Mary knows abstinence really is only 99.9 percent effective.
Conner McFarland is a sophomore international affairs student.
