Jobar

I'm aware that in several places in the OT, God is said to laugh in scorn at those He has cursed. AFAIK though, there's not a single place where God is said to laugh happily. Is this correct? I'd also like to know how often God is said to be happy, as compared to how often He's angry.

Anat

See the Achnai oven story for a case where the rabbis of the Mishna describe God as having a belly laugh when he is outwitted by the rabbis.

Dargo

Deities in general don't seem to have much of a sense of humor other than that of the bully laughing at the poor kid he shoved into the mud. Strongly religious people usually do a good job of emulating this aspect of their god's personality. I've heard there are a few gods with a healthy sense of humor, but Abrahmic deities are clearly not in this category.

David B

There's no question but that the god of the bible is an asshole.

If I'm going to have a god, I want bacchus.

David B

lee_merrill

Would joy do?

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Maybe not laughter, but singing!

Deuteronomy 30:9 Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers...

Isaiah 65:19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

Jeremiah 32:41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.

These are the verses I found, I expect there are more...

Well, I don't believe God is really in time, so then counting like this (which would also be a lot of bookwork!) would not describe whether God is basically happy or basically angry. This verse might indicate which aspect is essential, though:

1 John 4:16 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

And Bacchus is, well, lust, and that's different, and Bacchus' laughter is shallow, and fleeting, and I want what lasts, and doesn't give the headache afterwards...

John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Blessings,
Lee

Spanky

I think g-d will laugh at your calamity!

Or something like that.