Posted on 02/29/2004 5:59:33 PM PST by Coleus
'Passion' shakes North Jersey clergy to the core
|
Sunday, February 29, 2004 |
One Catholic priest in Morris County was so appalled by Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ'' that he described the film as "religious barbarism.''
But a Protestant minister in Harrington Park was so moved that afterward he drove to a park, where he prayed and sat silently for almost an hour.
Meanwhile, a rabbi from River Edge said the movie could bring Jews and Christians closer, despite the film's insistence that it was the Jews who pushed for the execution of Jesus.
Arriving in theaters last week on Ash Wednesday, "The Passion's'' harrowing vision of the final 12 hours of Jesus' life has struck a nerve in the landscape of American faith, inspiring countless believers, polarizing others, and giving fresh focus to interfaith activism.
The bloody, two-hour movie has outraged some Jews with its portrayal of the Jewish high priests as vicious, scheming power barons. And it has turned off some Christians who believe the film's sole focus on Jesus' violent death misses the essence of Christianity.
The film has also delighted millions of conservative Christians - who showed their growing clout by packing theaters coast to coast, helping make the movie a box-office bonanza.
Yet among clergy, the movie's supporters and critics can't be neatly divided along denominational lines.
The Rev. Jack Lohr, a pastor in Franklin Lakes who preaches a liberal brand of Christianity, said the movie startled him personally and raised fundamental questions for all Christians.
"For us who claim to have taken up the cross to follow Jesus, the film challenges any convenient or comfortable reading of the cost of discipleship,'' said Lohr, of the Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes. "I shall never again be able to sing the sweetly sentimental lines of 'The Old Rugged Cross' without a dreadful sense of irony.''
And the pastor at one of the most progressive parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson said the film woke him up to the realities of Jesus' death in a way that trumped years of Bible readings.
"It made me realize I've had a pretty sanitized view of what Christ did for me,'' said the Rev. Kevin Downey of St. Mary's in Pompton Lakes. "I've read the story so much, and felt I knew the story so well, that after a while, you take it for granted.''
One thing's for certain, "The Passion'' isn't going away. The movie took in $23.6 million on opening day, a box office showing that suggests the film could wind up in the same esteemed league as such screen classics as "Ben-Hur'' and "The Ten Commandments.''
But unlike those earlier religious blockbusters, "The Passion'' draws razor sharp theological lines that attract and repel.
The movie dwells almost entirely on Jesus' torture and execution, emphasizing that he chose death on the cross to bring salvation to mankind. The movie's violence is now notorious. Jewish leaders call for his death, mocking and spitting on him. Then Roman soldiers take over, whipping him over and over until the flesh is ripped from his back. Finally, his hands and feet are nailed into the cross.
The Rev. Kenneth Lasch, a veteran Catholic priest, said he was repelled.
"I saw it as religious barbarism ... in my opinion, God did not send his son to die,'' said Lasch, of St. Joseph's Church of Mendham. "God sent his son to live, to be faithful. And in being faithful, it cost him his life.''
Lasch, who saw the movie Thursday, also said the film's uncompromising, in-your-face approach reflects a growing divisiveness and belligerence within the major religions.
"As I was sitting at the end of movie I thought, 'This is not bringing us together,''' he said. "This is increasing the separation.''
Others share his fears.
Rabbi Neil Borovitz said he couldn't help but think about "Fiddler on the Roof,'' the classic musical about life in an Eastern European shtetl. The show, which had a revival open on Broadway the same week "The Passion'' reached the theaters, ends tragically with pogroms against the Jews.
"It was the claim of the Jews killing Jesus that inspired people to slaughter thousands of innocent people,'' said Borovitz, of Temple Sholom in River Edge. "I think Mel Gibson has taken a similar approach in this movie, and it's very bothersome.''
But Borovitz also holds out hope. He attended the movie Wednesday with Catholic and Protestant clergymen that he has known for years. And he points to a fresh round of interfaith activism in Bergen County that will make "The Passion'' the main topic of conversation. On Thursday in Teaneck, for example, two scholars, one Catholic and one Jewish, will speak to religious educators and clergy on the complexities of the crucifixion story and how to explain them to students and other lay people.
Borovitz said he respects the story of the Resurrection as the central narrative of Christianity. But he said Gibson has told the story in a provocative, manipulative, and mean-spirited way.
"I feel much more comfortable with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops or the National Council of Churches teaching this story than I do with Mel Gibson,'' Borovitz said. "But Mel Gibson is going to reach more people than they will, and that's what concerns me.''
Many pastors found the movie so compelling they're seeing it again.
The Rev. George Kaden, of Community Church in Harrington Park, saw the movie Wednesday and drove to Van Saun Park in Paramus for 45 minutes of reflection. He is seeing the movie again today with his family.
"It's a film that challenges us to look in our own hearts and ask ourselves about our relationship with God,'' Kaden said. "Each person has to come to grips with what they are seeing and what they are wrestling with in their personal life.''
Others said the movie is transforming the season of Lent, the period of introspection that began on Ash Wednesday and culminates on Easter Sunday.
The Rev. Steve Giordano will preach about the movie in his sermon today. Giordano, of Clinton Avenue Reformed Church in Bergenfield, cited the movie's opening scene in which Jesus decides to face the cross rather than run from it.
"That's the same question that we face at the beginning of the Lenten season,'' Giordano said. "Are we going to accept the challenge of making a significant spiritual season, or is it just going to be business as usual?''
This article contains material from The Associated Press.
Isn't it basic Christian theology that Jesus was sent to die for mankind's sins? I'm not Christian so correct me if I'm wrong. Correct me on the theological point that is, not on my beliefs. 8>)
What bothers me isn't that this priest has this belief -- I mean, it doesn't matter to me. What bothers me is that he would be -- or at least act -- so shocked that people would actually believe what (I think) is the traditional Christian belief.
I'm wondering what others of the same faith feel about the above statement?
Go ahead and wreck a great song. Y'know, I have more traditional Christian belief that this guy does, and I'm not even Christian.
I love sarcasm, except for the ignorant kind.
The reason he disliked it is because it accurately depicts the core of the faith he supposedly has given his life over to. That's as screwy as your post.
Right. He certainly didn't send Him to be molested by you and your kind. Have you even thought of that? The next child you abuse could be the Messiah...
That was from Webster's Dictionary. Next.
I really didn't think we came off nearly as badly as the Romans (except for Pilate and Claudia) who were portrayed as Nazis. They did all the beating, and most of the taunting.
Attendance here in northern NJ was heavy. I arrived at 3:00 at a multiplex type theater (I guess they're all that way nowadays.) that had 3:20 and 4:00 shows scheduled. The 3:20 was already sold out so I bought a ticket for the 4:00. When I came back at 3:30, the sign said the 4:00 was sold out too. But they opened an extra theater for the 4:00 while I was on line to get in, and the theater I was in was about two thirds full. When I left, they next two showings were sold out an hour before they were supposed to begin.
Nobody moves or talks while this movie is going on. (Well, almost nobody.) It's kind of eerie. I was surprised that when it was over, people got up rather quickly and left. I stayed for all the credits and the accompanying music which went on for about five minutes. There were fewer than a half dozen people who walked out with me.
What did I think? It was pretty good. I was probably one of the few in the audience who could understand some of the dialog. (I never took Latin, but one sort of acquires a bit anyway; and I know some Hebrew, and Aramaic is a cognate of Hebrew so some of what they say is recognizable.) I was a bit disappointed in the Aramaic accents. I don't really know what these are supposed to sound like, but I imagine more like Hebrew than English, and most did not.
I had some questions about the historicity. Here I apologize in advance for my less than through knowledge of the Gospels. But I wondered why all the Jews were up in the middle of the night when Jesus was taken. Also I thought it was supposed to be Passover time, but there was no reference to this nor were there any animals (for sacrifices) that I recall in any of the Temple scenes. Almost nothing was shot in Jerusalem, so some of the settings looked a bit strange. And since the Romans came off as the bad guys, flaying Jesus as they did, I wondered why the two thieves who were crucified along with Jesus didn't come in for the same treatment.
ML/NJ
"I saw it as religious barbarism ... in my opinion, God did not send his son to die,'' said Lasch, of St. Joseph's Church of Mendham.
At first I thought, " I and my handbag only need fifteen minutes with this heretic." But, through the intervention of my guardian angel, I am being urged to put anger aside and to invite all of you good souls to join me in
Let us call the parish and also the Chancery and share our views regarding this Fr. Lash, the heresy he has spewed forth, and the dishonour he has brought upon Holy Mother Church.
Nobody remotely connected to the film would accept that label for it. It is an act of love by Mel Gibson, and not a bit entertaining.
"As I was sitting at the end of movie I thought, 'This is not bringing us together,''' he said. "This is increasing the separation.''
Wasn't it CS Lewis that said something to the effect that as the end of the world draws near everything and everyone will be divided. No more grey, just black and white, good and evil.
This is, in my opinion, just another example.
NKJ 2 Corinthians 2:16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
I like this commentary maybe this priest should study this before he opens his mouth again:
"We too preach Christ crucified, even though we know this teaching of Jesus is offensive to many. Yet the Apostle wrote, "To us who are the called, it [the preaching of Christ crucified for our sin] is the power of God and the wisdom of God" (I Corinthians 1:24). That all hearers be "rooted and grounded in this love (of Christ)" (Ephesians 3:17), is also our earnest prayer. "He was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised (from the dead) because of our justification" (Romans 4:25). This is the love of God."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.