Jokes and Justice (Part 1)

Laugh and fear not, creatures. Now that you are no longer dumb and witless, you need not always be grave. For jokes as well as justice come in with speech.
(The Magician's Nephew)

Too often the homo religiosus is assumed to live a life of seriousness and gravity. After all, what could be funny when standing before God knowing that any wrongdoing may condemn a person to eternal punishment? Lewis dismisses this perspective immediately upon the creation of Narnia. 

It is the dumb and witless who must always be grave, for they lack the capabilities of making (or understanding) jokes. Dignity and austerity must never be compromised in Hell (Screwtape Letters Chapter 11), but on the path to heaven laughter and jokes help pave the way.

The Talmud itself hammers home with point by recording the following story. Rabbi Beroka of Bei Hoza'i frequented the market of Bei Lefet. Many time he was joined by Elijah the Prophet. One day as they're walking through the market, R' Beroka asks Elijah if there is anyone in the market worthy of eternal life in the World-to-Come? Elijah looks around at all the people and points out an individual with whom R' Beroka is not familiar and does not dress in the garbs of a Jew, let alone a religious leader. Later, however, R' Beroka learns of all the heroic acts this man performs on behalf of the Jewish people. In the meantime, two brothers walk into the marketplace and Elijah points them out as well. R' Beroka goes over to them and they says they are jesters who cheer up people who are depressed. 

Of course, as Lewis explains in The Screwtape Letters, there are different types of jokes and laughter may be provoked from both positive and negative catalysts. In the beginning of Narnia the joke is the Jackdaw. In assuring Aslan that they will not return to the ways of the Dumb Beasts, the Talking Beasts assure, "No, Aslan, we won't, we won't." The Jackdaw alone continues (in a loud voice), "No fear!" 

Surely, all of us have been in similar situations and of course the Jackdaw is rather embarrassed and hides his head in shame as the other Talking Beasts attempt to stifle their laughter. Aslan, however, encourages them to let loose and thorough the mirth that follows, the Jackdaw happily realizes that he will forever be remembered as the First Joke. 

Now one might counter that this is somewhat cruel. It's one thing to laugh at a made-up story or a clever turn of phrase. It is quite another to laugh at someone else's embarrassment. Why did Aslan give his stamp of approval for this laughter and this type of joke?

I think the answer gets to the heart of why a religious person must laugh, while the minions of Hell cannot laugh. We'll get to it in our next post.