I am sure if i should be laughing in the midst of a debate on a solemn subject of debate, and your candidness is not helping!
Lemme splain for the peanut gallery. "Periphrasis" is "talking around." So when somebody says "Heavens above" what they are really doing is either cussing or engaging in a "pious ejaculation." (I don't make this stuff up) BECAUSE what they mean is "God Ahmighty!"
There's a lot of reverential periphrasis in the Bible because of the sacredness of God's name. But it's a natural thing. How many times have you heard someone refer to "the man upstairs?"
Well, I believe in reverential flippancy. What we DARE to discuss really ought to burn our mouths right off our faces. And we know it. How dare I presume for a minute to limn the ways of God? And yet, being an allegedly rational animal and all, it's what I do. So to sort of blow off the pious terror, I make nervous jokes. -> Reverential flippancy.
Besides, laughing together brings people closer to each other. That's rarely a bad thing.