Jesus was a Funny Guy: Satire in a Christian Community This presentation will examine the historical roots of satire and distinguish it from other kinds of humor, such as invective, lampoon, and sarcasm. It will argue that one cannot ‘satrinize” a specific community without being intimately connected to that community and honestly desiring its improvement. With this framework in mind, it will present Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as an example of effective community satire. The presentation will also analyze the rhetoric, themes, and social environment of Mormon-centric “news flashes” as satire, and discuss the possible intent behind them, their readership, and audience reactions.

Michael Austin, Bruce Hayes