[NYer]

My teenage son is going with me.

I took my teenage daughter out of school on Friday so we could watch it together.

Today, she told me that she was verbally attacked by some of her "friends" in school as being a 'religious fanatic'. This attack was provoked by her reaction to two of her girlfriends who decided to emulate Madonna and Britney by making out in the back of her car over the weekend. She told them their actions were immoral.

My daughter then told me that after watching The Passion, she had done a 180 degree turn, seeing her faith in very realistic terms. That makes perfect sense, since our kids are growing up in such a visual world.

My daughter has now severed all ties with these two girlls. Her faith, she tells me, is stronger now than ever and she will stand up for it against anyone and everyone.

The Passion of the Christ is indeed a very powerful film! Thank you, Mr. Gibson for releasing it to us now. God knows we need it more than ever.

[nickcarraway]

BUMP!

[Barnacle]

That's fantastic. If you have such a story to tell, you know there must be others.

I hope the Passion will have the impact of 9-11 on our culture.

[wardaddy]

Good for you Nyer, I have teen daughters as well.

We saw it today. Most difficult film to watch I've ever seen. Gibson intended to impress upon us Christ's suffering and he did his job. It's not the violence itself that was so hard but who it was being inflicted upon that troubled me. I had to steel myself continuously and my wife sobbed throughout a great deal of the movie.

I am a protestant and I could see the emphasis on Mary as being a bit different than what I was used to but it was so welcome. It brought a different more human or maternal impact that I thought added to the film....very much so.

Anyone who thinks the film is anti-Jewish is either dim or has another agenda. Sure, the bad guys encompass some Jewish religious leaders and the mob and some awful Roman soldiers but I think all the sympathetic characters are Jewish sans perhaps Pilate's wife. These Jews are the foundation of Christendom. These charges are nonsensical at the root.

Caviezal as Jesus is so believable yet ethereal that it's scary. The Morgenstern woman as Mary is just as good too in my view....she acted that role with simply her face mostly. Incredible. They are all good, Belluci who is impossible to make ugly shows she can act. John and Pilate are well portrayed too and one should mention the androgynous Satan as well.

I think all Christians lapsed or otherwise should see it and especially teenagers. They need to realize that Jesus is not simply a story and they need to get a glimpse of what he voluntarily suffered for us.

The pivotal line for me (which I realize was out of chronological context) was when Mary rushed to Jesus as he stumbled beneath the cross and he told her "BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW". That sort of summed it all up for me and I hope this film helps to rekindle that feeling.

When Jesus squishes Satan's snake is also an early signal that this is a different sort of film....not much ambiguity.

The theater was quiet sans sobbing and everyone left very very quietly. I must confess that I am enjoying watching my cultural foes reeling....it's been a long time coming. I hope they are learning something good here from their own chicanery. The film was everything I expected and hoped for and then some. I will watch it again but I need some time.

[Aquinasfan]

My daughter has now severed all ties with these two girlls. Her faith, she tells me, is stronger now than ever and she will stand up for it against anyone and everyone.

The Spirit is working! I'm happy for you and your daughter.

[Salvation]

Thanks for the ping!