 Though over 1,000 people came to both talks today, the highlight for me when I spoke at Unity Church of the Hills in Austin was seeing art called The Laughing Jesus.
I’ve never seen this version of Jesus before, though Bruce Barton, the man I wrote about in my book, The Seven Lost Secrets of Success, must have.
He wrote a book called The Man Nobody Knows, spelling out how human Jesus had been.
I like thinking Jesus may have enjoyed a good joke along with his glass or two of wine.
Sure beats all the bloody, dying, sad, miserable images of him I had in my head before today.
Ao Akua,
Joe
www.mrfire.com
PS – For more information see www.jesuslaughing.com And smile already. 
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you’ve hit the nail right on the head there Joe.
Why DO all portrayals of ‘Jesus’ show him as a miserable old so-and-so?
By all accounts he was a genius. Have YOU ever met a genius yet who DIDN’T have a GREAT sense of humour. (Include yourself there of course)lol.
I think it’s no wonder so many people have drifted away from ‘Christianity’.
plus of course all the ‘hypocricy’ and the ‘cow-tailing’ to public opinion.
(Never a good tactic in any war).
Keep the ‘nudges’ coming Joe.
Pete moring.
Finally, a view of JC I like. This is my idea of him, joyous, fun, wise. None of that suffering stuff. Thanks for showing this photo, Joe.
Heidi
what I meant to say to you, Joe, when I met you sunday, was “I love you”. Thank you. I’m buying more books…
Wow! Jesus looks so ebullient! What great veneers he had too!
Much Love,
Amy
ps. I love you!
Jesus is the God of Humor just look around.
But Jesus is also the God of the divine, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness,
Goodness, Gentleness and Self Contol.
You know what it doesnt matter what the church or anybody else says or does about Jesus.
I myself can always use some Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self Control.
I don’t know who the artist is…but I remeber seeing this picture in a copy of Playboy Magazine sometime in the mid to late 70’s. I wish I had clipped it out.
how do you view Lester Roloff & his teachings?
I don’t know the artist either, but it was in Playboy–I’m guessing in the early to mid seventies. It accompanied one of their famed interviews (isn’t that the reason we gave our mothers and girlfriends as to why we bought Playboy!). The celebrity interviewed was Harvey Cox, a Harvard theology professor who’d written a bestseller called “The Secular City” in which he’d written a chapter on the Playboy culture.
I aways admired this rendition of Christ. Back in the late 60’s I remember asking my father, what he thought of Christ being a joyous, smiling, laughing, man, would it be disrepectful. No, he replied, he might of been a person with a sense of humor. Nothing wrong with that. The name of the artist Fred Berger “The Laughing Christ” Hope it’s helpful . In memory of my dad: Pablo Alfonso 09/13/1918 – 07/31/2003
I would really love to have this poster of Jesus laughing. The one I owned I gave to my youngest son and he still has it but now my oldest son wants the picture too. If anyone knows how I could buy one of these posters of the “laughing Jesus” please contact me at cfendert@woh.rr.com. Thank you!
I am a collector of art and historical artifacts from around the world and hoping shortly to open a museum. I have this item in my collection and carry answers to all your questions. The image Dr. Joe Vitale has posted is a quality remake to the original of that titled: “The Laughing Christ.” The original artist’s name for Fred Berger. Yes, this creation spins from an article posted in Playboy magazine. It was from their Dec 1969 holiday edition titled “For Christ’s Sake” and with article opinion written by Harvey Cox. Please note many people are redrawing this image and placing their own name to it for artist creation but the original is Fred Berger’s work. Also the dates posted for this Playboy article are all over the place for error online. One wrongfully even saying 1989. It was again back in Dec of 1969 for this Playboy article’s posting, giving intro to a joyous and “free” Jesus. In grand salute to those fabulous “live, love, and be free 60’s, the actual front page of this Dec 1969 to Jan 1970 Playboy holiday edition, given with Jesus depiction, may now be viewed at:
http://www.retinaproject.be/gallery2.6/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=26724
The URL of the playboy page is:
http://www.retinaproject.be/gallery/v/Drawing/Illustrators/Art_LaughingJesus_PB1989.jpg.html
I just wanted to say that I have this print framed and hanging in my living room. Almost everyone that comes into my living room has a very dramatic reaction to the print. I like to think that the way that you view your Messiah is the way that you view the print. If you think that Yeshua was a very laid back kinda guy that was a good o’le boy and laughed a lot then you love this picture. I know that I do love it, it goes with me where ever I go.
Joanna Cloutier