Clowning and Religion

[milo]

I keep coming across posts with religious reference – Is clowning closely linked to religion in America? I would just be interested to know how this link came about and perhaps a little on the history of religion in clowning.

Is there a specific clown religion? What’s clown church about? Is there a clown mosque for Muslim clowns? Do Christian clowns do bar mitzvah gigs?

I’m all for the basic principals of every religion as they all preach the same fundamental values, but despite having been Christened, baptised and Holy Communioned (or is that confirmed) as a child I don’t really subscribe to any particular religion. At the end of the day, if any one of the religions in existence were “the right one” I would be judged on the way I had conducted myself throughout life i.e. if I have been good throughout my life, helped others, acted selflessly and not “sinned” I would surely be guarantied passage through the pearly gates of all heavens would I not?

I’m basically wondering if there might be a group of religious clowns who got into clowning to please their god by spreading happiness? Is clowning for these people the same as going to church? Is this a way of spreading the love of god? Are these the disciples of the twenty first century?

On many occasion I have longed to be part of my local church because I believe in their values, putting something back into the community and the general teachings of the Bible, but mostly I jut want something to belong to!

Unfortunately, the scientist in me won’t let me put aside logic and commit myself to accepting the unexplained as miracle. Besides, it baffles me to know that so many Millions of lives have been lost throughout history due to the misinterpretation of religious literature, how is this possible when every religion preaches peace?

I guess I’ll just have to plod through my life doing the best I can to be a good person and hope that that’s good enough. I suppose it’s better not to believe in any religion at all than to believe in the wrong one?

Anyway, I’m intrigued, what relationship does clowning and religion have and how did this come about?

P.S. Please don’t take this as facetious or vindictive – I have no prejudices, I’m just curious, despite what it did to the cat!

[Scruffy]

No, there is no specific clowning "Religion." Many of us are active in our own churches as clowns. Some of us are Christians who also clown. Some members of the board consider themselves pagans, and we still consider them clowns.
You have brought up many other questions that are worth of answers too. I infer from your answers you were raised in the Church of England? Here in the states, The church of England in America (Anglicans Or as called here in the states, Episcopalians) are a small portion of the greater protestant portion of the "Pie". As a result, Each of us will give you a slightly different answer.
To make it easy: You are welcome here. Regardless of Race, Creed, Color, Orientation, Feelings on the metric system, the EEC, the French, and/or Football... Both versions.

Btw, Curiosity may have killed the cat. But, think of all of the mice who benefited.....

Welcome.
Cheers,
Scruffy

[pixcoco]

Well, that is a lot to try to answer. I will give you my thoughts but I don't pretend to speak for every one or know what occures in other peoples lives.

Not alll clowns do clown ministry. Just like not all clowns are nice. But I do believe clowning attracts a nicer sort of people. I think this is because of the giving nature needed to be a clown.
In the UK I do know there are also clowns who work in ministry. One who comes to mind if Rolly Baine. I hope I spelled his name right. I think there is a high percentage of clowns in the US as opposed to the UK so you see a lot of us doing ministry work. And in a forum such as this where the goals are to share ideas and help each other you might again be sifting out more ministry minded people.
I came from the south where there is a more relaxed form of religion. Clowning in church is not uncommon. I moved to the north east where they think clowns in church is sort of odd. Maybe it is because in the south there are a lot of Baptist and Methodist. Religions which have less ceramony and traditions than Catholic. That is not to say there are any rules about it that I know of.

As I ramble on I wish I could refer to your post to address as many of your questions as I can.

Lets see...yes this christian clown does bar mitzvah's. The goal there is to entertain not convay a message. And yes I would (and have) clown at a varioty of different religous facilities. I do my best to be respectful of thier views. But I have not been to a muslim facility.

As to if that is why I clown...I did get my start a my church when asked to face paint. But I have a large varioty of reasons and goals in my life and clown. I try to be mindful of what God wants me to do. As do many christians in many proffesions.

I am sure you will get better answers from smarter people but that is my little thoughts from a very little brain.

[milo]

I was raised as a Roman Catholic – Don’t tell my mother you called me a protestant! Lol

I have heard people talking about Clown Church and although there is no requirement for a clown to subscribe to a religion, there does seem to be a strong link? I currently work in Insurance and I don’t work with anyone who attends church, yet I get the impression a high percentage of clowns are regular church goers. So I’m still curious as to how the link came about? I saw a program with a church filled to the rafters with just clowns and there was even a clown taking the service.

I think it’s great, I just don’t quite get how this came to be?

[tim]

In a certain sense, I think that the link between clowns, historically, and religion can be made to a certain extent as clowns were often the jokers taking the fall for teaching an uncomfortable truth. Roly Bain relates Jesus Christ to a certain type of clown figure, for instance.

But the larger strain of "clown ministry" is something which began in the United States in recent decades. Basically, (and I forget the name of the person who is credited with being it's primary instigator, unfortunately) the concept is that a clown (or children's entertainer) can sometimes help to communicate a message and offer instruction in a way that an average teacher might not be able to do. For the clown breaks down barriers and invites one into a certain foolishness of play.

There are many people nowadays, especially in the US, who have either gotten into clowning through this outlet of expression or who are sincere and devout Christians that wish to express something of their faith through clowning. It is said that, in clowning, one needs to be almost grotesquely honest, exposing yourself for who you are in all your messiness and positive factors. Your clown is, plainly, an extension - a charicature - of yourself. So if someone's life is significantly based around their faith, it is only natural for this to make it, too, into some expression of their clowning.

It does seem, sometimes, that there are a disproportionate number of clowns who are religious or in Church based ministry. But, I suppose that this is really more a matter of "likes attracting." If you look in some areas of clowning, you may find people who have no faith affiliation, whatsoever, and find it odd that anyone in clowning would.

But, yes, I do think that there is on some greater level an almost spiritual sense which the clown has to offer. For it is, ultimately, both an outsider yet everyman; taking on humanity's burden and pointing us to something higher than our fallen selves. It takes a special kind of person to do that; someone who has a sensibility of greater things, one who is empathetic, self sacrificing, loves people at the core, and is very giving.

If nothing else, it is an inately human endeavor. And, since Christianity is a belief system where the human and divine intersect, it is understandable why there would be so many Christian faith based clowns.

[pixcoco]

Wow, you bring tears to my eyes. can I forward that to a couple of friend of mine?

I knew there would be a more intelignet response than mine. My muse was out of ordeer today.

[milo]

Great reply Tim – Thanks.

[Kiddy Clown]

Hmmmmmmm. I never thought of it that way.

[Fitzwilly]

Originally Posted by tim

But the larger strain of "clown ministry" is something which began in the United States in recent decades. Basically, (and I forget the name of the person who is credited with being it's primary instigator, unfortunately)

Is Floyd Shaefer the name you were looking for Tim? He is one of the very early pioneers in this area.

the concept is that a clown (or children's entertainer) can sometimes help to communicate a message and offer instruction in a way that an average teacher might not be able to do. For the clown breaks down barriers and invites one into a certain foolishness of play.

But, yes, I do think that there is on some greater level an almost spiritual sense which the clown has to offer. For it is, ultimately, both an outsider yet everyman; taking on humanity's burden and pointing us to something higher than our fallen selves. It takes a special kind of person to do that; someone who has a sensibility of greater things, one who is empathetic, self sacrificing, loves people at the core, and is very giving.

If nothing else, it is an inately human endeavor. And, since Christianity is a belief system where the human and divine intersect, it is understandable why there would be so many Christian faith based clowns.

In the United States the practice of religion seems to be quite different than in the UK. So with that and the far larger number of clowns it makes sense that you would see more information on Christian clowning coming from the US.

There are many clowns that like kids, they want to play and have fun, but to really make clowning a full time professional is something very few people can do or want to do, so they volunteer. One of the easiest places to volunteer is in their churches.

[tim]

Originally Posted by pixcoco

Wow, you bring tears to my eyes. can I forward that to a couple of friend of mine?

I knew there would be a more intelignet response than mine. My muse was out of ordeer today.

I've liked ALL of the responses on this thread. They each offer unique insight from slightly different perspectives.

Share with whoever you like. Love needs to be given away, not kept only for oneself.

That might be him, Dan. It sounds familiar. I have to ask a particular friend of mine who has mentioned the some man in the past who he had in mind, as that might either confirm or inform me otherwise.