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.

[Dataman]

Oh, good heavens. "Storied," all right: the idea that the Jesus Seminar was in any sense an exercise in dispassionate, fact-oriented scholarship is quite a whopper of a story in itself

Oh, come on! Lots of people take the Jesus Seminar seriously: Apostates, ultra libs, atheists, screeching feminists...

[Corin Stormhands]

I read this earlier. The idiot actually gives credibility to the "Jesus Seminar."

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

[ksen]

It is crap... what a hatchet job... on Gibson, on this film, on Jesus, and on Christians.

Amen sistuh!

[Dataman]

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

There never will be a Moe seminar because he's a joke. But Jesus is a real threat, so he's attacked from all angles.

Think about it. He was hated, tortured and executed while he was on earth. Why? What did he do that caused (and causes) so many to hate him?

[r9etb]

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 and has a reasonable possibility of surviving even Italian vamp Monica Bellucci's depiction of Mary Magdalene in Gibson's vanity outing.

Actually, the literal truth of Jesus' story is precisely what animates Christian belief. St. Paul dicusses it at length in 1 Cor: 15.

Mr. Beam might think about reading his Bible again.

[ksen]

how many other true believers will he and his ilk drag into Hell with them?

< nitpick >If they are true believers they cannot be dragged into Hell. < /nitpick >

[r9etb]

- I Corinthians 15:14

You beat me to it....

[Diver925]

Re: Is The Boston Globe's Dislike for Gibson's Film Misplaced?

Alex,

Don't often write to columnists, but this time I'll make an acceptation.

I've just read your review of the new Mel Gibson film, Passion. Although I saw many flaws in the review, you didn't state you even saw the film.

I'm planning to write a review on the Boston Globe.

You don't think I'll have any trouble if I don't actually read the paper first, do you?

Most thinking people know what The Globe's all about.

Dan

[ksen]

...what Mel Gibson and his ilk don't understand....

I love it when they trot out the word "ilk."

[r9etb]

Think about it. He was hated, tortured and executed while he was on earth. Why? What did he do that caused (and causes) so many to hate him?

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)

He shows us what we really are, and it's not "righteous". I hate it when He does that.

Of course, admitting our sins, and being repentent, requires us to subject ourselves to God. Pride often battles against that -- which is why pridefulness is such a grave sin.

[ksen]

Thanks for the ping Suzi.

How's the Flat Frodo story coming along? ;^)

[SpringheelJack]

The Gospel of Thomas is not a narrative of Christ's ministry and passion like the real Gospels - it is a collection of snippets of stories about Jesus which range from bits lifted straight out of the real Gospels to grotesque legends - including a bit about the boy Jesus murdering the local town bully.

You're confusing the Gospel of Thomas with one of the so-called "infancy gospels". The Thomas Gospel that was referred to is almost entirely a collection of sayings, with IIRC only two or three segments that could be called stories.

[ksen]

Mr. Beam might think about reading his Bible again.

Mr. Beam may need to actually purchase a Bible first.

[Diver925]

Re: Is The Boston Globe's Dislike for Gibson's Film Misplaced?

Alex,

Don't often write to columnists, but this time I'll make an acceptation.

I've just read your review of the new Mel Gibson film, Passion. Although I saw many flaws in the review, you didn't state you even saw the film.

I'm planning to write a review on the Boston Globe.

You don't think I'll have any trouble if I don't actually read the paper first, do you?

Most thinking people know what The Globe's all about.

Dan

[quebecois]

The reaction to this movie has convinced me, more than any other single event in my recent memory, of how far the US has fallen as a culture.

We live in an age where the TV is full of unbelievable garbage (have you seen the previews for the new reality TV shows for this fall?). This junk passes more or less without comment today...and anyone raising objections is shouted down as being "intolerant" or wanting to engage in "censorship".

Meanwhile, at any other time in US history, a film about the Passion would have passed almost unnoticed. No one would have thought to attack or defame it and declare that the content was essentially unfit for artistic expression.

The important point here is that these folks aren't criticizing any particular points made in the movie...but are essentially saying that a bibilically accurate picture about the death of Jesus is not fit for public consumption because it is evil and dangerous.

I'm flabbergasted. Somehow, I have arrived at a point where I no longer recognize the nation of my birth.

[Dataman]

Believers know why he is hated-- but it shouldn't make any sense for the unbeliever. They don't believe he is God (so they say), they don't believe he arose, he was only a good teacher who taught love and tolerance and peace and flowers. In hating him, therefore, they acknowledge (perhaps not consciously) that

He is alive
He is God
They are not reconciled with him
They reject him
They will be judged by him.

[gavriloprincip]

ugh

[Future Snake Eater]

People's faith can be eroded. It has happened many, many times.

[VOA]

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.

So Jesus was just jokin' with that "Ye shall know the truth" thing?

What this writer AND The Jesus Seminar seem to miss is that Christianity seals
the deal for people hearts, souls AND MIND.

HE didn't die so we can quit thinking.

[VOA]

Somehow, I have arrived at a point where I no longer recognize the nation of my birth.

Hold on.
We just need to make sure our fellow Americans see how post-modern (and post-Christian)
Europe founders.

Just think, where would we really be right now, but for the rise of conservative
(and somewhat religious) talk radio and the use of the Internet (given there
are plenty downsides).

keep the faith...