[DallasMike]

I'm a staunch Protestant and thought that the movie was wonderful. This review presents a very tiny minority opinion.

[atomicpossum]

Reminds me of the bit in Blazing Saddles:

Slim Pickens: 'We'll kill the first born son of every family!'

Harvey Korman: 'Too Jewish.'

[dawn53]

Mr Thompson says that "this malign influence of Rome ought to cause all evangelical Protestants to reject The Passion of the Christ" and refuse to be swayed by the subtleties of the alleged arguments in favour of it

Sorry to disappoint you Mr. Thompson, but we're Protestant evangelicals and we loved the film. In fact we're seeing it again this weekend.

The imagery blew me away and I'm looking forward to seeing it again, so I can look for things I missed on the first viewing.

[johniegrad]

Can't you just feel the love in Northern Ireland?

[ladtx]

Imagine that. An Irish Protestant disliking a film made by a Catholic. Don't suppose there would be an underlying reason for the dislike would you?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

And Christmas is too Christian! /sarcasm

[nmh]

It is but I've seen churches who went in groups go back and discuss that movie as well as where it departs FROM the Bible. It has helped clarify why many are not Catholic and could never turn to Catholicism since it is not in agreement with the Bible.

[Aracelis]

THE controversial Mel Gibson film 'The Passion of the Christ' has been dismissed by the Evangelical Protestant Society as a 'Catholic' interpretation of events which "does not present the Gospel".

ROFL! Must be a wee jealous of the success. I was raised a Fundie and found the movie powerful, thought-provoking and compelling. Sure, there was some Catholicism in the movie, but guess what! Mel Gibson is a Catholic!

Sheesh! You'd think by now some protestants would be over the "Catholics are not Christians" bologna.

Mr Thompson also says that the film is "extremely violent", and that "anyone who watches it will be shaken and possibly terrified by its graphic and bloody scenes."

NEWSFLASH! Roman crucifixions were bad, bloody and terribly violent. Personally, I think every Christian of majority age should see what Christ endured.

[freebilly]

Wallace Thompson, secretary of the Evangelical Protestant Society, said the film displayed "an un-Biblical fixation on Mary, the mother of Jesus. None of this should surprise us, for both Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel, who plays the part of Christ, are enthusiastic devotees of the traditional teachings of the Church of Rome."

Oh them devil worshipping Catlicks...!

[BibChr]

As a Christian, I certainly have no affection for Rome's dogmas; and I did go in concerned. And some Mary-over-emphases did bother me a bit at first.

But then I asked myself whether, had I been unaware of the monstrous disservice done to Mary long after her death, would I have been equally troubled? The answer is "No." I would have just seen it as the director further humanizing the events and personalizing them by showing them from the perspective of one actual participant, the mother of Jesus' human nature: Mary.

So I'd say this issue is worth noting, worth discussing, and worth dismissing.

Dan
What Is Biblical Christianity?

[ahayes]

I was wondering why these Evangelical Protestants seem so far departed from those I know, and then I realized they're in Belfast.

[Taiwan Bocks]

Yes, the gospel covered in the movie can be read in a quarter of an hour tops.

The rest is dramatic expression.

He's Catholic, influenced, by his own admission by catholic nonscriptural mystic writings.

[Hacksaw]

Whenever I have a religious discussion with my hard core Protestant friends, they always seem fixated on
1. Purgatory
2. The legitimacy of the Pope
3. Veneration of Mary (and saints).

They do have some interesting points, and increased my knowledge of the differences causing the split.

[kailbo]

The only specifically catholic scene I noticed was when Veronica wiped the face of Jesus and his image remained on the cloth.

I don't believe that is found in the gospels or anywhere else in the 'Protestant' New Testament-- but I do recall it from my days in catholic school.

[aruanan]

THE controversial Mel Gibson film 'The Passion of the Christ' has been dismissed by the Evangelical Protestant Society as a 'Catholic' interpretation of events which "does not present the Gospel".

What political axe-grinding morons. Figures, coming from Protestants in Belfast. Without the crucifixion and resurrection there IS no gospel.

[latina4dubya]

i've had these discussions with some "well-meaning" Christian friends... as Protestants, my husband and i both favor this movie... our friends however were "jealous for Jesus because so much of the movie focused on Mary."

i am sad for them... they have no regard for Mary... do i think we should worship her? no... but she was obedient to a calling--bearing and raising the Son of God--a calling given to no one else in all of history... a calling that no one else will ever receive... i see nothing wrong with her having a place in this movie... after all, it was her son who was crucified... it was only right that she should be of some focus... she didn't take away from what Jesus did...

[Havoc]

Sorry, I saw the nun outfit she was wearing - insignificant. I don't see the idolatry that one would expect to see if it were centered on Mary ala the Pope's
blasphemous prayers that I've heard quoted. This centers on Christ. Rome should be glad Mel didn't present their doctrine of the Eucharist in all it's splendor. He'd have gone broke.

[Mamzelle]

It does help the evangelical to go to the libary and thumb through some books on Medieval and Renaissance artwork before going to the movie--it helps to put some of the rawness and harshness of Gibson's crucifixion imagery into perspective in Catholic tradition. He took it right off the walls of the great cathedrals--

[TRY ONE]

"an un-Biblical fixation on Mary"

As a Protestant and one who still recommends people to see the movie, I agree with the allegation.

The specific issue is that Mary is used in several instances in the movie as the substitute Holy Spirit. Mary follows Jesus throughout the crucifixion process and Jesus looks to Mary several times for his energy rather than to His Father. That is good theater but not Biblical. Also, it shows Mary suffering with Jesus even to the point of having His blood transferred (splattered) to her. That allows the Catholics to pray to (and even "worship") Mary --- a real no-no for Protestants.

[MainFrame65]

All right, I'm just a confused Jew who has experienced this movie, so maybe one of you protestants out there can straighten me out.

Exactly what was so exclusively catholic about Gibson's portrayal of Mary? True, she was a strong presence throughout most of the film, but only in her grief, contrasted with the few flashbacks to happier times. What I saw was a woman watching her son being beaten, humiliated, and tortured to death, without any intervention from G_d except in her prayers. All I saw was love and humanity, without embellishment.

Did I miss something?