Conrad Hyers has served as Professor of the History of Religion and Chair of the Department of Religion at both Beloit College and at Gustavus Adolphus College. He is also an ordained Presbyterian minister, and author of 'Zen and the Comic Spirit', 'The Meaning of Creation', 'Once-Born,Twice-Born Zen,' 'And God Created Laughter', and editor of 'Holy Laughter: Essays on Religion in the Comic Perspective'.