Posted on 01/16/2018 4:50:39 PM PST by mairdie
It's a tossup who is funnier, Tom Lehrer or Weird Al. I'm going to say Tom Lehrer.
I was raised Catholic so I’m probably a better judge than you are in general, though of course you have an absolute right to not like something. I find it funny and not at all offensive. I would suggest that you not watch it as Tom Lehrer is an acquired taste.
We’ll see what other practicing Catholics have to say....
Tell me what humor you find in religion. Not the nasty kind, but isn’t there anything that makes you laugh WITH the concept of religion and not AT it? Not because you have anything AGAINST religion, but because everything should be open to gentle laughter because that’s what makes it joyful.
PC here (practicing catholic), not offended.
Unlike some religions where the slightest hint of a slight sends the faithful into a murderous rage, some Catholics are able to laugh it off.
If you find that one offensive check out Lehrer’s “Hanukkah in Santa Monica”. For my money “National Brotherhood Week” is Lehrer’s best. The line about “Cassius Clan and Mrs. Wallace dancing cheek to cheek...” is the second funniest line in ‘60s comedy recording for those of us old enough to remember the context. Right after Bill Cosby’s God saying to Noah says “Right...”
I liked Folk Song Army a lot better, which I think is his best work.
When I was an Atheist I thought Vatican rag was funny but now I think it is offensive, especially the sarcastic references to the Eucharist. But I am for free speech, and so if he wants to write garbage like that then so be it.
I’ve never understood Muslims not laughing at Mohammad and I’ve never understood people who think it’s funny to put crucifixes in urine. That’s pure disgusting and meant to offend. But there’s a reason we enjoy jokes where the pope goes into a bar and says...
We laughed our heads off at the rule about hats for church and how it was all okay if we bobbypinned toilet paper on our heads.
I love laughing, but I draw lines, too. It’s just everyone draws them in different places. What I love about Trump is that he just might turn political correctness on its head. Not because he’s nasty, but because of the pride we do take in free speech. The problem comes when, like the Muslims, people believe that their lines are the right lines for everyone.
Favorite pope?
Mine was Pius XII, which tells my age.
Daniel Radcliffe sings “The Elements” was wonderful!
Does this mean NurdlyPeon should consider going into acting?
I had an album way back when. Funny stuff.
Lehrer was very talented.
‘ First you get down on your knees, fiddle with.........’
He went after everyone.
And the whole point of the song is to make fun of the commercialization of worship anyways.
I have an mp3 with the before and after commentary.
Funny thing is that the intent of the song is to poke fun at changing the order of worship in order to be more ‘mainstream’, and taking it to the illogical conclusion of going the whole way to having a Mass to a ragtime rhythm.
Maybe, but I'm more inclined to think it means that Tom Lehrer has timeless appeal.
I managed to barely miss attending one of Lehrer's post-retirement semi-public performances, and have regretted it since.
I was going to mention that clip. My respect for him went way up when I saw that he too had declared his undying allegiance to Tom Lehrer (as I myself have done). He’s not as smooth as I am, but I’ve had more practice.
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