The Laughter of the Oppressed : Ethical and Theological Resistance in Wiesel, Morrison, and Endo (Paperback)

Chapter 1: Laughter 'from below' A. Contemporary case study B. Project Origins, Questions, and Objectives C. Methodological Questions and Answers Chapter 2: Authoritative Voices Speak: Philosophers and Theologians Weigh-In on Laughter A. Laughter and Philosophical Inquiry B. Laughter: A Theological Tableau C. Laughter and Modern Fiction: The 'Hidden Transcript' Chapter 3: 'God's Mistake:' Laughter in Elie Wiesel's Gates of the Forest A. Linguistic Rupture and Laughter as Ethical Resistance B. Resources for Resistance within Hasidism C. Laughter and the Paradox of Faith D. Scriptural and Midrashic Laughter Chapter 4: Believing Apostates: Laughter in Shusaku Endo's Silence A. Narratives in Conflict B. Laughter as Kenosis C. Laughter's Relationship to a Theology of the Cross Chapter 5: Flowers in the Dark: African American Consciousness, Laughter, and Resistance in Toni Morrison's Beloved A. Baby Suggs: The 'Unchurched Preacher' B. Sixo: Laughing to Death C. Paul D: The Last of the Sweet Home Men Chapter 6: Toward a Theology of Laughter A. Faith and Hope as Paradoxical and Propleptic B. The Inadequacy of Either/Or C. Theological Honesty and the Problem of Finitude D. The Problematic of a Theology of Suffering E. The Limits of Theodicy