Holy laughter
Encyclopedia
Holy laughter is a term used within charismatic Christianity
that describes a religious behaviour in which individuals spontaneously laugh during church meetings. It began in the early 1990s in Neo-charismatic churches
and the Third Wave of the Holy Spirit
.
encountered uncontrollable laughter in his
meetings, but viewed it as an act of the devil. It also occurred in Signs and Wonders
meetings run by John Wimber
in the 1980s. The practice came to prominence in meetings led by the South African evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne
in 1993 at the Carpenter's Home Church
in Lakeland, Florida
and was often accompanied by the "Slain in the Spirit
" phenomena. The laughter ranges from very quiet to loud convulsive hysterics, which are said to be accompanied by temporary dissociation. It was also observed in meetings held at Oral Roberts University
. The phenomena was then popularized by Charisma
and the Trinity Broadcasting Network
, and became controversial within charismatic Christianity.
Though primarily found in protestant churches, it was observed in some parts of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
, as well. The practice spread to the Association of Vineyard Churches
, most notably to the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
in 1994. Religious revival meetings at the church became very popular, drawing 75,000 visitors that year. Many attendees at the meetings spent time laughing loudly while lying on the floor.
has described the events of the services as a ritual facilitation of catharsis
. Philip Richter of STETS
has drawn a parallel betwen holy laughter and Laughter Yoga
.
embraced the movement, groups such as the Christian Research Institute
, and the Southern Baptist Convention
condemned what was occurring. Critics charged that the practice was the result of Psychological manipulation
, or Demonic possession
.
Charismatic Christianity
Charismatic Christianity is a Christian doctrine that maintains that modern-day believers experience miracles, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and other spiritual gifts as described in of the Bible...
that describes a religious behaviour in which individuals spontaneously laugh during church meetings. It began in the early 1990s in Neo-charismatic churches
Neo-charismatic churches
Neo-charismatic churches are a category of churches in the Christian Renewal movement. The Christian renewal movement incorporates Pentecostal, Charismatic and neo-charismatic churches...
and the Third Wave of the Holy Spirit
Third Wave of the Holy Spirit
The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit is a Christian theological theory first introduced by C. Peter Wagner to describe what he believed to be three historical periods of the activity of the Holy Spirit in the 20th century and beyond...
.
History
Practices similar to holy laughter were observed in the 1800s in Holiness Christian meetings on the American West. John WesleyJohn Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
encountered uncontrollable laughter in his
meetings, but viewed it as an act of the devil. It also occurred in Signs and Wonders
Signs and Wonders
Signs and Wonders was a phrase used often by leaders of the Charismatic movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is closely associated with the ministry of John Wimber and the Vineyard Movement...
meetings run by John Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
in the 1980s. The practice came to prominence in meetings led by the South African evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne
Rodney Howard-Browne
Rodney Howard-Browne is a charismatic Christian preacher and evangelist. He is pastor of The River at Tampa Bay, a church which he and his wife founded in 1996, and heads Revival Ministries International...
in 1993 at the Carpenter's Home Church
Carpenter's Home Church
Carpenter's Home Church was a prominent Assemblies of God megachurch in Lakeland, Florida. At its peak, the charismatic church claimed 5,000 attendees. The church closed amidst financial scandal and dwindling membership...
in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
and was often accompanied by the "Slain in the Spirit
Slain in the Spirit
Being "slain in the Spirit" is a term used within charismatic Christianity. It describes a religious behaviour in which an individual falls to the floor...
" phenomena. The laughter ranges from very quiet to loud convulsive hysterics, which are said to be accompanied by temporary dissociation. It was also observed in meetings held at Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries...
. The phenomena was then popularized by Charisma
Charisma (magazine)
Charisma is a monthly Christian magazine based in Lake Mary, Florida, aimed at Pentecostals and charismatics...
and the Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
, and became controversial within charismatic Christianity.
Though primarily found in protestant churches, it was observed in some parts of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
Catholic Charismatic Renewal
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church. Worship is characterized by vibrant Masses, as well as prayer meetings featuring prophecy, healing and "praying in tongues." This movement is based on the belief that certain charismata , bestowed by the Holy Spirit, such as...
, as well. The practice spread to the Association of Vineyard Churches
Association of Vineyard Churches
The Association of Vineyard Churches, also known as the Vineyard Movement, is a neocharismatic evangelical Christian denomination with over 1,500 affiliated churches worldwide....
, most notably to the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational neocharismatic Christian church in Toronto, Canada. It is affiliated with Catch The Fire and with Partners in Harvest group of churches...
in 1994. Religious revival meetings at the church became very popular, drawing 75,000 visitors that year. Many attendees at the meetings spent time laughing loudly while lying on the floor.
Analysis
Leaders who have promoted holy laughter claimed that the laughter was a result of joy that was supernaturally being given to people in the meetings. They claimed that the joy was often accompanied by miraculous healing and the cessation of depression. Margaret Poloma of the University of AkronUniversity of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
has described the events of the services as a ritual facilitation of catharsis
Catharsis
Catharsis or katharsis is a Greek word meaning "cleansing" or "purging". It is derived from the verb καθαίρειν, kathairein, "to purify, purge," and it is related to the adjective καθαρός, katharos, "pure or clean."-Dramatic uses:...
. Philip Richter of STETS
STETS
STETS delivers initial ministerial training and some lay training for the Church of England, Methodist Church and the Baptist Church in the southern region of the England...
has drawn a parallel betwen holy laughter and Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga
Laughter Yoga is a form of yoga employing self-triggered laughter. The "laughter" is physical in nature, and does not necessarily involve humor or comedy. Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with pranayama...
.
Reception
Many of the activities at these meetings, particularly the laughter, were controversial within evangelical Christianity. Though some leaders, such as Pat RobertsonPat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
embraced the movement, groups such as the Christian Research Institute
Christian Research Institute
The Christian Research Institute is an Evangelical Christian apologetics ministry. It was established in October 1960 in the state of New Jersey by Walter Martin . In 1974 Martin relocated the ministry to San Juan Capistrano, California. The ministry's office was relocated in the 1990s near Rancho...
, and the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
condemned what was occurring. Critics charged that the practice was the result of Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
, or Demonic possession
Demonic possession
Demonic possession is held by many belief systems to be the control of an individual by a malevolent supernatural being. Descriptions of demonic possessions often include erased memories or personalities, convulsions, “fits” and fainting as if one were dying...
.