Saint Irenaeus, master of mockery

[dimbear]

I would regret to see the fine art of mockery fall in any way into disrepute. Mockery has always had an honored position in religious disputation. The unchallenged example in Christendom will always be, I think, the book contra haereses by Saint Irenaeus. It will verify my assertion that we have at hand a master mocker if you will read just the chapter headings of his first volume, I of V if you will, here:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/irenaeus-book1.html

As you see, he is unsparing and unfair, and of course considered one of the greatest church fathers of all.

When the topic of mockery comes to mind, one immediately thinks of Jesus, who unmercifully mocked the Pharisees, the Romans, and the mores of His day. Compared to Irenaeus, He was kind.

[ManyShadesOf]

1. and that loaves and fishes thing was a hoot

Thank you for this very interesting perspective! i love hearing different takes on familiar old passages. Jesus must have had tongue in cheek many a time Even "forgive them Father, they know not what they do" is ironic.

[backscatter712]

3. Some of the snark comes through

Part of the problem is that the books of the bible have been translated and rewritten and mangled so many times that the humor of the original writing (wherever it came from) doesn't come through. But there are traces.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye"
(Matthew 7.1-5)

[ManyShadesOf]

4. no longer "mote"?

one my faves

[Leontius]

6. Exactly how many times has the Bible been" translated and rewritten and mangled"?

This canard is so often repeated it's getting quite old and worn out. Do you have any new facts to present to us ?

[WCGreen]

2. OMG, thank you for introducing me to this wonderful asset, all those early church writings...

I have been getting more and more into the intricacies of Christianity and how it came to be what it is.

I read this book a few years ago called the History of Christianity and it was a stunning collection of minutia and battles that remind me of some of the arguments on the internet....

But is is so fascinating to see how this all evolved.

[skepticscott]

5. And don't forget

Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The Bible is rife with mockery.

Sometimes irony, sarcasm, satire and mockery are great ways to get a point across, especially to people who may be watching, but not participating. It lets them know that in no way should they take seriously what's being mocked or satired.