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Forum: Dr. Rebecca Hancock, "A Time to Laugh: Humor in the Bible"

The Old Testament has God laughing, both in enjoyment and in mockery. The New Testament describes Jesus' use of irony, paradox, and banter. In this forum, we will examine together the Bible's use of humor, with special attention to the book of Jonah. We will consider the question of how and why humor is used, by whom, and how recognizing humor in the Bible helps us, as contemporary persons of faith, to become more faithful in our Christian living. Dr. Rebecca Hancock teaches Old Testament at St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute, and she also works as the Coordinator of Communications and Student Services. She received her Ph.D. from Harvard University's Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations in Hebrew Bible. Rebecca teaches a variety of classes related to the field of Old Testament, including biblical Hebrew, Psalms, Prophets, and a course on the Decalogue. Her research interests are related to gender, ethnicity, and social constructions in the ancient world.