Passion- Religiously Righteous or Downright Heresy?

[Revan]

The Passion of the Christ. I refuse to watch it, but I thought it would be interesting to discuss it. Mel Gibson admits the young man who plays Christ was struck by lightning THREE TIMES while filming. A sign of the Lord's Wrath or freakish natural occorrunce?


I feel that anyone who makes a profit off the Lord is sinning, but what do you think?

I also refuse to watch it.... I refuse to watch such drivel. but thanks my opinion.

I have no opinion, my name is Darth.

[Worm of Despite]

I respect your opinion Darth, but how do you know it's drivel if you haven't watched it? It is about Jesus and you and I are atheists (correct me if I'm wrong on the assumption that you are), but does that automatically mean the movie is bereft of any enjoyable elements for us? I don't think so, but that's just me.

[Baradakas]

As one who believes in and reverences our Lord Christ, I simply cannot participate by viewing this movie. Someone profited from this, in fact many somebodies. My own belief simply recoils from such self-servance. Not to say it isnt some theatrical masterpeice, as I have heard from some that it is. I simply won't be involved in it. If I rent it, someone profits from it. If I buy it someone profits from it. If I view the obscene levels of violence and gore, I have soiled myself with the Lord's true suffering....

Just my thoughts.

[Worm of Despite]

Oh yes, I understand your points and respect them. That's your view and there's nothing wrong with it/wouldn't dream of challenging it. I was merely addressing the problem I see with prejudging a movie in terms of whether it, by itself, was enjoyable or not, which is something you've not done/didn't direct toward you, Barad.

[Baradakas]

Oh, Ok. Heh.

[Avatar]

I haven't bothered to watch it either, and don't intend to. However, in a sense, I agree with Baradakas (although that's not the way I voted).

If it was made with the intention of glorifying Christ, or bringing his message to people, I'd much prefer that the profits went to some organisation that would benefit and carry out that function, rather than enriching people who are already rich.

BTW Baradakas, I've finally recognised your avatar; it's from SunRunners Fire isn't it?

--Avatar

[variol son]

If there is one person that I think was well portrayed in The Passion, (other than Statan of coourse), it was Mary.

I am not a Catholic, but I found that the emotional suffering of Mary, and of other surrounding characters such as Mary Magdalene, Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate's wife and Joseph of Arimathea incredably moving.

Yes the moving was violent, but I thought it was also vey beautiful in the way it portrayed human despair and sorrow.

As to whether the movie is sinful; I don't think so. Or at least not compared to any other movie out there. My Bible tells me (or at least it used to when I was a Christian) that all sin is equal in the eyes of God. Therefore I see no difference between watching The Passion and watching a movie such as Natural Born Killers, which glorifies violence, or Wild Things, which is full of nudity and contains some fairly graphic sex scenes.

In and of itself, The Passion is simply a re-telling of certain parts of the Bible, and whether the movie's director is sinning by making money through it makes little difference to me. The Passion, while controversial, is simply a resource, one version of the events of the last week in Jesus' life. Imho, it remains separate from Gibson's "sin", which is his own.

Sum sui generis
Vs

[Revan]

I respect your opinion Darth, but how do you know it's drivel if you haven't watched it? It is about Jesus and you and I are atheists (correct me if I'm wrong on the assumption that you are), but does that automatically mean the movie is bereft of any enjoyable elements for us? I don't think so, but that's just me.

hmm... you have a very good point there Foul... I should think before I type. I'm sorry.

[Worm of Despite]

Don't be sorry! You think a lot before you type (heh, yes, I am Lord Foul and I am saying that about you, Darth ). Just felt I needed to address that one thing. It's easy to dismiss films, though, and I can understand how one would think it's drivel from an initial reaction/seeing a preview of it.

[Revan]

Don't be sorry! You think a lot before you type (heh, yes, I am Lord Foul and I am saying that about you, Darth ). Just felt I needed to address that one thing. It's easy to dismiss films, though, and I can understand how one would think it's drivel from an initial reaction/seeing a preview of it.

Thanks Foul



I guess i've always thought the bible as drivel, therefore I assume this will be too. *shrug*

[Baradakas]

Why yes, Avatar!!! It is Sunrunner's Fire. Are you a Melanie Rawn fan? If so, you just got 5000 times cooler in my eyes!

I would agree with you though, that if even a quarter of the profits had gone to good works then my opinion of the film might be a little different...

a little.

-B

[Avatar]

Yeah, I think they're great books. Only have the first series though, never got to the others, Star and Token weren't they?

Read the first series many times though. Excellent stuff. Have you read the other series? and if so, do you recommend them? Don't see them often in the shops (especially the 2nd hand ones where I get most of my books) and even then, they rarely have them in sequence.

Although I used to read series in any old order, as I got my hands on them, I hate doing it now.

Glad to find someone else who likes them-- Don't think I ever have before.

Take it Easy
--Avatar

[Baradakas]

Wow, you read the first trilogy but not the second?????

Suggestion: Read the first trilogy again, then read the second. It's bloody brilliant.



-B



(Ahem) Back to topic now.

[Iryssa]

Everything I have read about the Roman methods of punishment (before you ask, no, I haven't just read it from the Bible or Bible-related books...there are many historians out there who mention it from a non-Christian and non-Jewish perspective) suggests that Mel pretty well hit the nail on the head (no pun intended) with his portrayal of Christ's punisment. I admit I'd kinda put my faith in Christ on hold for a time...and then I saw this movie. It was a real eye-opener.

By the way...the early Christians did NOT use the cross as a religious symbol. They used a fish, to symbolize being "fishers of men" and later, for the acronym that made the greek word for "fish," (I'd type it in the Greek lettering if I knew how to do it on computer) which translates to "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior." Sometimes symbols of fish-hooks and anchors were also used. Guess who brought in the cross symbol...none other than the very people who made sure the crosses were put to use: the Romans.

[Brinn]

I agree Iryssa. Amazing film. Powerful message. The violence was raw and unrelenting but, IMHO, very effective in showing the extent of the sacrifice that Christ made. From a purely cinematic standpoint this was a beautifully shot, emotional, and brutal movie to behold. A masterpiece in my opinion.

[Baradakas]

Irryssa said:

Guess who brought in the cross symbol...none other than the very people who made sure the crosses were put to use: the Romans.

Partially correct Iryssa. It was early Roman Catholic Missionaries, converting parts of Egypt, who symbolized the cross, (an easy conversion of the ankh, which symbolized rebirth anyway) after Christ's Ascension. Somewhere between 150 and 300 A.D. I believe. Many pagan religions were incorporated into christianity around that time, and from many cultures.

[Iryssa]

Oh, k *smile* I see you're right, now that I've put my brain into gear

[ENDLESS SUMMER]

I feel sorry for good old Mel.

He is a great actor and person. He is passionate about everthing in his life. I saw the movie and it made me cry. I don't think anyone has the right to say, "You can't see that movie it is wrong!"

And another thing: it's just a movie.