Christian Humour: not just a ship of fools.

I used to think "Christian humour" was an oxymoron. Nothing worse than a bunch of stuffed shirts telling each other boring jokes about Athaliah the daughter of King Ahab, right? Well, this newfangled thing called the interweb is just filled to the brim with entertainment, and because of that, it's getting easier and easier to find good clean fun amongst the usual drivel. Now, I understand not everyone's idea of funny is identical, especially when it comes to matters of religion: however, below I've listed some of what I think to be the best of Christian entertainment/humour available online. Enjoy!

The Wittenburg Door/The Door Magazine

wittenburgdoor.com

It's sometimes referred to as the Mad Magazine of religion, and where else could you find headlines like "Anglican Steel Cage Death Match Might Be Postponed" or "Virgin Mary found on Back of Grand Theft Auto," yet still find a serious interview with theological heavyweight N.T. Write? Go to The Door for news, book and movie reviews, and stay for the satire. Oh, and did I mention that they sell The Best of God stuff: a massive collection of the craziest stuff to ever happen in televangelism. Trust me; it's funnier than it sounds! Hint: Make sure not to miss Noah's Blog. Here's a little excerpt from Day 6: "So I was loading up the last of the animals last week when I walk past my neighbour Roger, the Molech-worshipper. He looks up and says 'Hey, looks like rain.' True story."

Lark News

larknews.com

A satire of evangelicalism from the perspective of an evangelical? That is just what Lark News is all about. Some of its better articles include "Church measures attendance by weight" and "Mega-Church downsizes, cuts nonessential members." Read Lark's phony report on first-class options for Sunday schools like fine dining and VIP entrances, but whatever you do don't leave without visiting the store. How could I ever have lived without my "Homeschooled & Wild" t-shirt?

The Holy Observer

holyobservet.com

The Holy Observer jokes that its website is sponsored by Pilate Antibacterial Soap: the soap that "removes dirt, grease, bacteria, blood, guilt and more!"--but they should probably be using that soap. From its top 10 list of non-swear words you still shouldn't say to its article titles like "Millions More Damned For Harry Potter-Related Sins" to its contest to vote for the "cheesiest Christian pat answer," the Holy Observer is one great place to find a few relaxing minutes of humour. The only drawback is its lack of recent updates. Nevertheless, you'll have plenty of fun perusing the archives and gawking at past choices for church "sign of the month."

Ship of Fools

ship-of-fools.com

By far my favourite, Ship of Fools is filled to the brim with great stuff. You can read the articles, join a discussion forum (after you read their version of the 10 Commandments), and look in on the Mystery Worshipper (a real live visitor to churches around the world who rates the comfort of the pews and length of the service). You can check out the craziest kitsch in Gadgets for God (including the Armour of God pajamas and the Jesus-chair you have to see to believe) or wander through the video collection of hilarious blunders and preaching babies. If you're the kind of person who has ever seen a piece of religious ridiculousness and found it both overtly tacky yet simultaneously alluring, this is the perfect site for you.

FOR KIDS

wonderzone

wonderzone.com

For younger children, a great site to visit would be Wonderzone. Make avatars, watch videos, play games, chat with friends, or even do family devotions. Wonderzone is a great place for you and your kids to visit together.

Praise Kidz

praize.com/kidz

Praise Kidz is another good site for your kids. It has colouring pages, a Christian question and answer section, clubs, music, games, quizzes/polls, and movie reviews. It's safe, fun, and fit for the whole family.

Brad Childs is pastoral associate at Dayspring, Edmonton.