Overview

Do you ever feel as if your passion for pop culture and faith might be at odds? Do you ever wonder how your desire to be a part of present-day culture and your longing to grow spiritually can be reconciled? Thirty-something Jake Martin, a professional comedian who also just happens to be a Jesuit, believes that contemporary culture and spirituality do go hand in hand and that our faith can grow through the medium of humor and laughter. What's So Funny about Faith? is Martin's wry, heartfelt memoir detailing his attempts to successfully navigate a world steeped in irony while staying true to his calling to love and serve God. Martin explores the oftentimes complicated relationship between faith and humor as he examines the contemporary landscape of humor in film, television, and the Internet while communicating timeless truths about the redemptive value of humor. Martin's humorous anecdotes span his relatively young life--from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to becoming a stand-up comedian to joining the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Whether he's reminiscing about his female-dominated, Irish-Catholic family (he affectionately recalls the howls of laughter when more than one woman would convene) or recollecting his movie-inspired greeting to the Jesuits (""You know how the priests in The Exorcist were Jesuits?""), Martin continually validates not only the role humor played in developing his spiritual life, but the role it can play in developing ours as well.

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9780829437393

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Reviews

What's So Funny about Faith? is a very enjoyable read, especially for those of us who might not be willing to admit just how much of our identity we gained through movies and television. It is a refreshing apologia for popular entertainment - and is itself both encouraging and entertaining. <br>-- Cole Mateson, Transpositions

Jake Martin is very frank in discussing the challenges of being a comedian and the challenges of the priesthood, but he also shows the joy that comes from both. If you've never thought of comedy as anything other than comedy, this book will make you see the spirituality behind it. A great read. <br>-- Ginny Kubitz Moyer, Random Acts of Momness

Author Information

Jake Martin, SJ, author of What's So Funny About Faith, is a Jesuit comedian and writer from Chicago. He is a regular contributor to America magazine and Busted Halo and recently performed a one-man show at the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He lives in Berkeley, California, and has just completed his first year of Jesuit Theology Studies.

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