The Passion of Christ (Guess who hates it)

Oregon Magazine ^ | March 1, 2004 | Larry Leonard

[WaterDragon]

(from the Hollywood Reporter, February 23, 2004) -- In depicting the last dozen hours in the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth, Mel Gibson, who directs a script he wrote with Benedict Fitzgerald, takes the gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as literal truth. There is no allowance for metaphor or myth, no hint of contemporary interpretation. This is not "The Last Temptation of Christ," Martin Scorsese's adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis' novel that speculates on the torments and self-doubts of Jesus. This movie is an act of faith.

And that is a two-edged sword. People will see what they want to see in a movie shorn of any point of view not in literal accord with the gospels. True believers will bear witness to holy writ. Others -- nonbelievers or even less literal-minded Christians -- will be troubled by the film's staunch adherence to a story line and characters that have been used by bigots to fuel hatred for centuries.

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Poster's comments:

The Reuters reporter who wrote the above crap would do well in the company of those in Hollywood who make films containing gratuitous sex and violence.

Hollywood is a cesspool of no-talent slugs with delusions of artistic grandeur and Leftist agendas, crying out in their films for socialist fairness while they rake in millions for creating and distributing trash.

Gibson is a devout Catholic, by his own words saved by his faith, and they think he has no right to express his artistic vision.

We all know the reason why. Hollywood is at present not going his way.

It is an old story. Civilizations embracing decadence fill the most ancient of texts.....(Snip)

Click Here For Complete Article.

[EdReform]

Hollywood is a cesspool of no-talent slugs with delusions of artistic grandeur and Leftist agendas, crying out in their films for socialist fairness while they rake in millions for creating and distributing trash.

Well said

[TigersEye]

There is no allowance for metaphor or myth, no hint of contemporary interpretation.

I wonder if that's why it's making phenomenal money at the box office?

[Paleo Conservative]

Please put your comments in the comment area of the post not mixed in with the article.

[TMD]

Those who hate the movie probably hated the book, as well.

[Rockitz]

Others ...... will be troubled by the film's staunch adherence to a story line and characters that have been used by bigots to fuel hatred for centuries.

Some people have no concept of literal truth of the gospels that was attested to by other contemporary authors of the day. See, for example, Strobel, "The Case for Christ."

He doesn't get it now, but he will some day.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

[Liz]

Others ...... will be troubled by the film's staunch adherence to a story line and characters that have been used by bigots to fuel hatred for centuries.

If they don't like the story line they need to take it up with the authors......Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

[eface]

bump!

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

[mountaineer]

a story line and characters that have been used by bigots to fuel hatred for centuries.

Haven't those same texts been used by people for centuries to build hospitals, feed the hungry, clothe the poor and bring hope to the hopeless? Haven't those same texts brought the gospel of love and salvation to generations of lost souls? Is the twisted hatred of a few bigots all the author believes has come of Christianity? Talk about refusing to see the big picture!

[Just mythoughts]

Based upon what has come out of their mouths, they know very well what the Gospel says, and Christ's instruction.

These know the Gospel as well or better than most Christians. Read about the temptation of Christ, what was offered and how the scripture was twisted. Even after 40 days of fasting Christ withstood..... the temptation of Christ...... Reason why that blasphemy of a Movie was made, its all about sex to them from the beginning.

Just as the "high priest" had his words sealed way back in Psalms 22, so are their words.

[Liz]

These know the Gospel as well or better than most Christians.

Cafeteria believers....they pick and choose what they to believe and disregard the rest.

[Liz]

Haven't those same texts been used by people for centuries to build hospitals, feed the hungry, clothe the poor and bring hope to the hopeless? Haven't those same texts brought the gospel of love and salvation to generations of lost souls? Is the twisted hatred of a few bigots all the author believes has come of Christianity? Talk about refusing to see the big picture!

Playing a lot of intellectual hopscotch here using brains like Swiss cheese....lots of memory holes.

[Liz]

Cafeteria believers....they pick and choose what they want to believe and disregard the rest.

[TASMANIANRED]

They are running scared. They tried to prevent the movie being made, Mel financed it. They tried to prevent the movie from being distributed, Mell found an alternative means. They tried to paint the movie as anti-semetic. After the rivers of blood and brutality that Hollywood has foisted on the US for years they found it too violent.

They thought they had marginalized Christians, they thought they had succeeded in painting them as right wing cultists. They thought they had heaped enough scorn, abuse and ridicule on Christians that it would be an embarassment to admit to being Christians. They have turned politicians, at least the Democrat ones into nominal Christians.

And then the Passion came out and took the United States by storm. When they were in the midst of their success with same sex marriage sweeping from Massachuttes west and from San Francisco east this movie esplodes into the conciousness.

They are afraid that fallen Christians will find their way back, that there could be conversions. What they are most afraid of is that devout Christians will wake up and discover that they are strong, both strong in faith , in voice and in the voting booths.

[Just mythoughts]

Very good summation!

What is next when the religion of GOOD comes face to face with the religion of EVIL?

[Zack Nguyen]

The left hates this movie because it is about Christ's death and resurrection, and not His life. They prefer to focus on Christ as an advocate for the poor and needy (thereby segwaying into government socialism), for social justice (thereby segwaying into affirmative action and socialism) and against conflict (thereby segwaying into a vigorous anti-war, anti-America stand.)

But this film refuses ot be taken that simply. It is a film about God Almighty suffering torture and death in the place of humanity because our sins are so horrible that nothing else would suffice, and His resurrection confirming that He was God, our sins could not kill Him, and we too will be resurrected if we only believed.

[Just mythoughts]

Good post.

They really like that part of demanding Christians turn the other cheek no matter what.

[rogueleader]

They can't even get the first sentence right.

depicting the last dozen hours in the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth

At least those dozen hours before the Resurrection.

[Zack Nguyen]

Thanks. I have no problem at all with turning the other cheek. We have been ordered to. But Christ never told us to be silent in our witness, or be silent in the face of evil. We simply are not supposed to seek revenge, and not return evil for evil, insult for insult.