The use of humor in preaching and its relationship with ethos, relational solidarity, and affective learning

The purpose of this dissertation was to help preachers increase the affective learning of their congregations. The constructs of the study---the preachers' perceived humor orientation, the preachers' perceived ethos, the relational solidarity between the preachers and the listeners, and the listeners' affective learning---are all discussed in the review of literature and measured in the research project. Specific attention is given to humor. The review of literature discusses how the effective use of sacred humor can be used to build ethos, relational solidarity, and affective learning. The research project demonstrated what the review of literature suggests: Humor is potentially a very effective way to build a comfortable and unrestrained relationship of mutual confidence between preachers and congregations. The effective use of sacred humor also enables preachers to build ethos with their congregations and move the congregations to deeper levels of affective learning. Although the perceived humor orientation of the preachers and relational solidarity between the preachers and the listeners were important, the perceived ethos of the preachers demonstrated to be the highest predictor of affective learning. No substitute exists for the character, competence, caring, and compassion of the speaker.