Being a person of faith does not mean you have to be serious and solemn every day. In a world where there are few reasons to laugh, people might easily fall into collective depression. That’s why it’s a good idea to create moments of laughter and find humor in everyday life. After all, there’s even such a thing as laughter therapy!

1. When a Fight Breaks Out at School

Each teacher reacts differently:

• Math teacher: "Know your limits!"

• Korean language teacher: "Student, know your topic!"

• Biology teacher: "You’re worse than insects."

• English teacher: "Oh, no. Stop!"

• Physics teacher: "Strength isn’t everything."

• Music teacher: "Instead of stopping them, are you keeping up with their rhythm?"

• Art teacher: "What a sight to behold."

• Religion teacher: "God is watching."

• School nurse: "Did you get hurt again? Sigh."

• History teacher: "Aren’t you ashamed in front of your ancestors?"

• Social studies teacher: "What is to become of our nation?"

• Chinese classics teacher: "Write ‘lifelong friendship’ 100 times."

• Homeroom teacher: "Bring your parents!"

2. If the World Were Ending Tomorrow

Reactions from different people:

• Mayfly: "Doesn’t matter."

• TV producer: "Get ready for a special live broadcast!"

• Department store owner: "Time for a 99% end-of-the-world sale!"

• Homeless person: "At least there’ll still be food, right?"

• Pregnant woman: "What about my baby?!"

• Weather forecaster: "Luckily, there’s no rain expected."

• Martian: "Let’s go back to Mars."

• Escaped prisoner: "I knew this would happen, so I let myself get caught."

• Nostradamus: "See? I told you so!"

• Recent ex-smoker: "I quit for nothing!"

3. A Good Wife vs. A Bad Wife

• A good wife treats her husband the same inside and outside the home. A bad wife is harsh at home but an angel in public.

• A good wife takes care of her husband when he is sick. A bad wife tells him to suffer in silence.

• A good wife doesn’t make a fuss when her husband farts. A bad wife farts in the car but refuses to open the window because it’s too cold.

• A good wife strives to be an angel. A bad wife thinks she already is one.

4. Change Your Course

One foggy night, a ship captain noticed a strange light ahead. Sensing a collision, he sent a signal: "Change your course 20 degrees to the right."

• A signal came back: "You change your course."

• Annoyed, the captain signaled: "I am the captain!"

• A response followed: "I am a second officer."

• Furious, the captain signaled again: "This is a battleship! Change your course immediately!"

• The final reply: "This is a lighthouse."

5. Dental Braces

Suni, a middle school girl, was bullied for her crooked teeth. Frustrated, she begged her mother for braces. However, her mother hesitated because it would cost over two million won. Angry, Suni snapped, "What do you expect? You gave birth to me like this!"

Her mother firmly replied, "I gave birth to you without teeth. The ones you have now are your own doing."

6. The Forgotten Lock Code

One day, a church assistant pastor was trying to open a cabinet but forgot the combination. He knew the sequence—turn left twice, right twice, then left—but couldn't remember the numbers. Frustrated, he asked the senior pastor, "Pastor, do you remember the cabinet code?"

The pastor thought for a moment, looked up at the ceiling, muttered to himself, then walked over and entered the correct combination. The assistant, amazed, asked, "Pastor, did God reveal the numbers to you?"

The pastor chuckled and replied, "No, they’re written on the ceiling."

Laughter Belongs in Faith

Laughter has a place even among people of faith. Being a believer does not mean you have to be serious and grim all the time. Jokes, humor, and lighthearted conversation help refresh the mind and bring joy to social gatherings.

Just as a good short story delivers an unexpected twist at the end, faith communities can also use lighthearted, slightly silly humor to bring people together. In the West, "a sense of humor" is even considered an essential leadership trait.

By Dr. Kim Hyung-tae (Former President of Hannam University, 14th-15th term)

*This article is a translated version of Christian Today.