The Power of Laughter: Screwtape’s Strategy and the Danger of Flippancy
Laughter is one of the most natural things we do as humans. It bubbles up when we hear a funny joke, share a moment with friends, or experience deep joy. But what if not all laughter is the same? What if some forms of laughter bring us closer to God while others subtly pull us away from him? In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis offers a striking perspective on the different kinds of laughter and how the forces of darkness manipulate humor to their advantage.
Four Kinds of Laughter
In the eleventh letter, Screwtape writes to Wormwood about the new company the patient is keeping. His new friends are not outright villains or criminals, but they are, as Screwtape describes, “steady, consistent scoffers” who are moving ever so quietly toward Hell. And, interestingly, they laugh a lot. This prompts Screwtape to analyze human laughter, breaking it down into four categories:
- Laughter from Joy: The first and purest form of laughter comes from genuine joy, the kind you experience when reuniting with loved ones or celebrating something meaningful. It is spontaneous, deep, and life-giving. Screwtape despises this kind of laughter, calling it an “insult to the realism, dignity, and austerity of Hell.” In other words, joy-filled laughter reflects the reality of heaven and is a direct affront to Satan’s purposes.
- Laughter from Fun: Closely related to joy is the laughter that comes from fun. This is the playful enjoyment we experience in games, recreation, or simply being with others. According to Screwtape, fun can sometimes be used to distract people from serious matters, but on the whole, it is not particularly useful for Hell’s purposes. It tends to promote virtues like friendship, courage, and contentment, all things the demons want to avoid.
- Laughter from Jokes: This is where humor starts to become more complicated. Screwtape acknowledges that jokes can serve a purpose for the demonic cause, but not in the way people might expect. Surprisingly, he doesn’t see much long-term value in indecent or crude humor. While these jokes might appeal to our baser instincts, they are often harmless unless they fuel deeper sin. Some people tell dirty jokes simply because they find them amusing, while others use them as an excuse to indulge in lustful thoughts. The latter is what Hell finds more useful. However, the most dangerous way jokes can be weaponized is in the justification of sin. Screwtape explains that humor can excuse moral failings. A person who boasts about being stingy with money or cruel to others can escape condemnation by simply framing their behavior as a joke. “Oh, I was just kidding,” becomes an easy way to avoid accountability. As Screwtape puts it, “A thousand bawdy or even blasphemous jokes do not help towards a man’s damnation so much as his discovery that almost anything he wants to do… can get itself treated as a joke.”
- Laughter from Flippancy—the Most Dangerous of All: The worst kind of laughter, according to Screwtape, is flippancy. Unlike the clever wit required to tell a joke, flippancy requires no intelligence, only an attitude. A flippant person doesn’t tell jokes but instead assumes that everything is already a joke. Serious matters are never truly discussed because they are dismissed with a smirk or a sarcastic remark. Flippancy is particularly destructive because it mocks what is good, true, and sacred. It doesn’t argue against virtue or faith, it just makes them seem ridiculous. This kind of dismissive attitude insulates a person from conviction or genuine thought. Screwtape calls it “the finest armor-plating against the Enemy.” A flippant person is hardened to truth without even realizing it. Many of us have witnessed or participated in this kind of behavior. Maybe it was making fun of people who took their faith seriously or rolling our eyes at someone’s sincerity. This is what Psalm 1 refers to as “sitting in the seat of scoffers.” It deadens the heart, dulls the intellect, and creates a barrier between people and God.
Redeeming Laughter
Screwtape’s analysis of laughter reveals an important truth: humor is powerful. It can bring people together, express joy, and deepen friendships. But it can also be twisted into a tool for deception, justification of sin, or mockery of what is sacred.
As believers, we should take this insight to heart. Instead of engaging in flippant or mocking humor, we should seek out laughter that builds up rather than tears down. We should cultivate the kind of joy-filled laughter that Hell despises, the laughter of true delight, shared in love and innocence.
In the end, the best defense against Screwtape’s strategies is a heart that delights in the goodness of God. Joy is one of the most powerful weapons we have, and when we laugh with genuine gladness, we remind the forces of darkness that they have already lost.
Interesting