a buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor

it's no laughing matter that religious tension seems to be at an all time high. yet last week, the united nations organized a conference in barcelona, spain where jews, muslims and christians openly cracked religious jokes.

details are sketchy, but, clerics were poking fun of their themselves and their religions to a packed house. from the sufi who kicked off the gig to the catholic who had the last set, they had the audience laughing with them not at them.

what if this kind of humor continues? if they hit the road with their schtick and start playing larger venues? what if others stand-up and join them with their relentless spinning yarns until the audiences sides ache and tears run down their faces? if this keeps up? something more than laughter may break out. that's right, religious tolerance might just be the warm up act to world peace.

i'm not pulling your leg! check out gerry hadden's coverage of the summit for the world.