"Please could we get married again in heaven?"
"I don't know about that, let me have a think" says St Peter
A day goes by, and Peter agrees. He says, "I won't be long, let me just go and find a priest and let him know about what you want."
A month and a half go by, before Peter arrives back at the pearly gates. The couple say "well actually Peter, because you've took so long, we have thought to ask you, if we don't want to stay married forever or if it doesn't go well, will we be able to get a divorce too?"
"Are you being serious? It took me 6 weeks to find a priest up here, do you have any idea how long it will take me to find a lawyer?!"
Joke Poo: The Galactic Breakup
A Klingon warrior and his mate die honorably in battle and arrive at the gates of Sto-Vo-Kor, greeted by Kahless himself.
“Great Kahless,” the Klingon booms, “we fought valiantly side-by-side. We wish to bind our spirits forever and be wed again in Sto-Vo-Kor!”
Kahless strokes his beard. “Such a request requires contemplation. Honor demands I consider all aspects.”
A week of simulated battles and fermented rokeg blood wine later, Kahless returns. “Very well, warriors. I have located a Klingon High Priest to perform the ceremony. Prepare yourselves.”
After what seems like an eternity (in Klingon time), approximately three earth months, the couple see Kahless return again. They immediately ask, “Kahless, Son of Kahless, because this task has taken so long, we thought to ask, if this ‘eternal bond’ does not suit us, or if we grow weary of the other, can we secure a dishonorable separation?”
Kahless roars, his eyes flashing with warrior fire. “Are you challenging my honor?! It took me a lunar cycle just to convince a High Priest to perform this sentimental mating ritual! Do you have any idea how long it will take to find a marriage counselor in Sto-Vo-Kor?!”
Alright, let’s break down this celestial comedy bit and then cook up some new humor inspired by it.
Joke Dissection:
- Core Concept: A married couple, having died, wants to remarry in heaven. The punchline hinges on the practical difficulty St. Peter foresees in finding a divorce lawyer in heaven, implying that divorce might be a possibility there, even though heaven is generally considered a place of eternal happiness.
- Humor Source: The humor stems from:
- Juxtaposition: The contrast between the idealized notion of heaven (eternal bliss, no earthly problems) and the very earthly problem of marital discord and divorce.
- Exaggeration: The excessive amount of time it takes St. Peter to find a priest, followed by the implied even longer (and more impossible) task of finding a lawyer.
- Assumptions: The joke relies on our understanding of marriage, divorce, and the perceived characteristics of heaven.
Key Elements:
- Heaven: The setting, representing eternal paradise and the afterlife.
- St. Peter: Gatekeeper of heaven, representing bureaucracy and divine authority.
- Marriage: The institution representing commitment and love.
- Divorce: The ending of marriage, representing conflict and unhappiness.
- Priest: Religious figure who can perform marriage ceremonies.
- Lawyer: Legal professional who handles divorces.
- Time: A major factor, representing the complexities of finding professionals even in heaven.
Comedic Enrichment & New Humor:
Let’s leverage some of those key elements. Here’s a “Did you know?” observation building on the joke:
Original Joke Inspiration:
“Did you know that while this couple was pondering their heavenly remarriage, some theologians have debated whether pets go to heaven? Imagine the legal complexities that would introduce! ‘My client, Fido, believes he was promised joint custody of Mr. Snuggles, the deceased goldfish! He has paw-entage rights!'”