It’s not easy gleaming much in the way of fun from vast religious texts. As Hunter S. Thompson said, ‘there’s not a scintilla of mercy or humour in the Holy Bible. None.’ While reading up on grace and sacrifice in the Acts – looking for life-giving holy victuals – I came across Ananias and Sapphira. Mercy – no; but humour? Well, it made me chuckle. The story is:
St. Peter was demanding that the new followers of the Church offer their possessions into the common ownership of all. One chap named Ananias, after selling his property, skimmed a little of the profits for himself. Peter was not impressed, for divine knowledge told him of Ananias’ deeds. He was told off, and then he fell down and died. Maybe it was a coincidence? When his wife Sapphira arrived a few hours later, she was said to be guilty by association – in a rather North Korean turn of events – and she also mysteriously died. The onlookers were stunned into morbid fear, forever committed never to err from the Church’s wishes.
Like I say, it’s not an easy task, but once you look hard enough you find out that the Good Book is full of laffs!
– Adam
jammatology 