Is Mel Gibson's film passion for Jesus misplaced?

The Boston Globe ^ | 7/22/03 | Alex Beam

[Aquinasfan]

A fair amount of attention, although not necessarily the attention one would seek, attends the production of ''The Passion,'' Mel Gibson's movie about the last days of Jesus Christ. Making a movie about Christ is a surefire path to instant publicity, most of it negative. And when one of the most bankable stars in the English-speaking world is backing the project, you can bet Christ won't go quietly this time.

[wideawake]

Christ does place himself in, and simultaneously above, the tradition of Jewish prophecy.

"He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward"; "a prophet is not without honor except in his own country"; "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee" etc.

Jesus describes himself as the one who sent the prophets and, obliquely, to his own prophetic mission.

The author errs in implying that the Christian Scriptures describe Jesus as only a prophet.

[Russ]

I can't even imagine the outrage if there would be a Mohammed Seminar...

[Alberta's Child]

In a related story, Alex Beam also criticized Steven Spielberg for his decision to release Schindler's List.

"No matter what his intentions," Beam said, "this film comes across as very anti-German."

/sarcasm off/

[FourPeas]

You know, I never planned to see Gibson's movie, mostly because watching suffering and brutality is so disturbing to me that I have nightmares for weeks to follow after watching a graphic movie. Still, considering the volume of pieces like this that seem to pop-up everywhere, I'm seriously considering "voting" with my pocket book and purchasing a ticket anyway even though I'll skip the actual showing.

[Future Snake Eater]

I attended church when they began their work. I -- and millions like me -- am attending church now that they have finished. Do you think I am surprised to learn that some question the story of the virgin birth? Or, more astonishing still, that some doubt Jesus walked on water?

But for some real truth, read The Globe, right?

No, Mr. Beam, it doesn't surprise me that you and others like you don't believe in a word of the Bible.

What these people don't understand, what Mel Gibson and his ilk don't understand, is that the literal truth of Jesus' story isn't what animates Christian belief. Many of us are awed by the figurative beauty of a story that created a system of values and beliefs that has survived for 2,000 years...

You obviously fail to understand everything, based on this statement. Go back to Sunday School, grown-up church is too advanced for you, obviously.

[FourPeas]

I must admit, the lines you quoted disturbed me the most. When surveys quote the number of "Christians" in our society, our author is counted among them.

[beachn4fun]

morning mhking. You are right-on about this. Gibson himself said that he wanted people to understand the sacrifice that Jesus made.

But you know that there are many out there who do not believe in Jesus or our Christian faith. So they refuse or will never understand, and therefore, will pick apart any attempts to tell the Christian story. It was probably ok with all of these people that someone made a movie that says Jesus was gay. But, OMG, don't you put one out that SHOWS people what Jesus went through.

p.s. I did go to your web-sites. And, you know in a way you are in the same boat as Gibson!!! you are trying to make a difference in a community that doesn't want to face the facts! Know what I mean?

[Petronski]

Both hilarious and sad: the "Jesus Seminar" is a spiritual authority, but Gibson's father is a "crackpot."

That sounds about right for Boston.

[Future Snake Eater]

It greatly disturbs me, too. I can't even take solace in the fact that, one day, he and people like him will learn the truth, because I just keep thinking--how many other true believers will he and his ilk drag into Hell with them?

[KarlInOhio]

assigned to the red and pink categories in The Five Gospels

Huh? Did I miss one? Was King Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail doing the counting?

[stuartcr]

It's pretty obvious that's why they are ALL called religious beliefs....not religious facts.

[mhking]

And, you know in a way you are in the same boat as Gibson!!! you are trying to make a difference in a community that doesn't want to face the facts! Know what I mean?

[blush] Thank you. I appreciate it, but I'm only one voice. Hopefully one that can make a difference, but still only one.

[txzman]

What do you expect from an uninformed, uneducated ("beliefs not facts") liberal with an axe to grind? Don't levae out anti-christian.

[SquirrelKing]

...will be perceived as anti-semitic

The Israel-loathing, islam-snuggling media ought to know about that.

[mhking]

Huh? Did I miss one? Was King Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail doing the counting?

Mel Brooks. 'Came right after "...these fifteen--[crash!] Uh, ten commandments!"

[beachn4fun]

Gibson is only one voice!

[Remole]

No--the 5th Gospel used in Funk's book is The Gospel of Thomas, a collection of sayings purportedly by Jesus.

[mlmr]

I borrowned from the thread to send this email to the writer and the paper.

Your column is so obviously intolerant and prejudiced, that it is embarrasing to read. I haven't read such insulting and ax-grinding in a long time. Just becasue you have difficulties with Christianty is no reason to be insulting. The Jesus Seminar, is considered the joke of the intellectual Christian world. Its participants were out of their league and all interested in the same thing, discrediting Christ. You are spouting, word for word, the Jesus Seminar's own press. You are an unthinking mouthpiece who has literally no conception of what you are discussing. What is most dismaying is the fact that you danced around the fact that you haven't even seen the movie.
This story must have passed through the hands of at least one editor, who must also have had literally no conception of what he was reading. There seems to be a cultural void at the Globe and you sir epitomize it.

[Aquinasfan]

They don't want to see the reality of Christ's suffering because it will shatter their world of complacency.

It's really bothering them. We're 8 months before the movie's release and there's an article a day somewhere trashing the movie –which the writers haven't seen.

[Aquinasfan]

How can such nonsensical drivel be published in a semi-national mainstream newspaper?

Astounding, isn't it? This doesn't even rise to high school newspaper quality.