Passion bashin' is in fashion

The Globe and Mail ^ | 3-20-04 | MARGARET WENTE

[truthandlife]

'Passion' ping

[OpusatFR]

"We are fairly certain that born-again Christians are bigoted, not very intelligent, and possibly dangerous."

I'm always amazed by this belief. Many of the greatest thinkers and writers in history have been Christian. I cut intellectual teeth on CS Lewis and Chesterton.

[moneyrunner]

"Something's happening here, and we ought to find out what it is."

Is a faint light beginning to dawn? Is the Holy spirit at work in this life? Let us pray.

[xp38]

Margaret is one of the few writers I can read at the mop and pail(standard nickname for the Globe and Mail). She occasionally gets it right.

[Joe Republc]

A bit off-topic, but I've read a LOT of Lewis, and would now like to read Chesterton.

What's a good start?

-- Joe

P.S. I heartily agree with your comment. Christianity IS historically reasonable, logically defensible, and anyone with belief in objective truth and morality has a lot more to say than an intellectual with a whatever-you-think-is-OK relativistic worldview.

[vrwinger]

Finally saw the film last night... For any believer who ever said "Jesus suffered and died for my sins," this film will never let you say that again without remembering vividly HOW he suffered and died.

Throughout the last half, you feel like crying out "Stop beating him already!" Very moving. This film will be packed again Easter weekend...

[Snuffington]

Excellent and very honest article from one of the media-elite who seems to be able to "get it."

Though there is still a little trouble when comparing the following statements:

Mr. Gibson belongs to a tiny sect of backward-looking Catholics who reject Vatican II and think that everybody but themselves is going to hell. As Andy Rooney said on 60 Minutes, the guy's a wacko.

Most media folks are proudly secular types who regard openly religious people as distinctly odd. If you're gay, bi, or transgendered, we embrace you. But if your orientation is toward Jesus, you'd better keep it to yourself. We are fairly certain that born-again Christians are bigoted, not very intelligent, and possibly dangerous.

The first statement seems to be a full embracing of the stereotype she castigates her fellows for in the latter. Still, barring Saul on the road to Damascus, it's not expected that one "gets it" all in one shot. I'm happy to take what we can get.

[TAP ONLINE]

I must confess that after seeing the Passion I became very violent.

[Fiddlstix]

.....Many of the greatest thinkers and writers in history have been Christian......

WELL SAID!

(To God be the glory, great things He hath done......)

[dirtboy]

It's between certain devout Christians and all the rest of us, especially those of little or no faith

I'm more of a Deist than a Christian, but an honest secular view of Christ's sacrifices and the Christian notion of sin and Christ's sacrifice for the sins of others is still a powerful statement to anyone with a sense of humility.

You won't see this view articulated in the mainstream media. Most media folks are proudly secular types who regard openly religious people as distinctly odd. If you're gay, bi, or transgendered, we embrace you. But if your orientation is toward Jesus, you'd better keep it to yourself. We are fairly certain that born-again Christians are bigoted, not very intelligent, and possibly dangerous. This stereotype is easy to sustain because we've never actually met one.

The honesty is deeply appreciated, Ms. Wente. Most liberal media types aren't nearly so circumspect regarding their own biases towards Christianity. And honesty towards one's own biases is the first step towards bridging differences.

After I talked with Ken Godon, I finally went off to see The Passion. To me, the movie was alternately riveting and revolting, moving and unwatchable. Once or twice it almost touched a chord of rapture in me, the sort of rapture that I vaguely remember feeling as a girl.

I now see where the circumspection comes from, Ms. Wente - you still have a few threads of faith and humanity running through your psyche.

The Passion is on its way to being the biggest hit in movie history. Something's happening here, and we ought to find out what it is.

A smart liberal. I thought they were just about extinct.

[Thane_Banquo]

Not to mention Sir Isaac Newton.

[TAP ONLINE]

I must confess that after seeing the Passion I became very violent.

So violent, that I defaced cornerstones that had roman numerals.

So violent that I no longer eat Roman Bread. So violent that I no longer am a Roman Catholic, just Catholic. Can I be helped?

[Aquinasfan]

It's between certain devout Christians and all the rest of us, especially those of little or no faith. Virtually everyone who mongers opinions in the mainstream media, including me, belongs to the latter category.

Refreshing honesty.

To me, the movie was alternately riveting and revolting, moving and unwatchable. Once or twice it almost touched a chord of rapture in me, the sort of rapture that I vaguely remember feeling as a girl.

Sad and wonderful. God help her.

[sirchtruth]

I'm more of a Deist than a Christian

How do you define deism? I ask you this question because I'm curious as to how people really view Deism.

[Aquinasfan]

Here's the link for the American Chesterton Society.

I can recommend "Orthodoxy."

Also, G.K. CHESTERTON, THE APOSTLE OF COMMON SENSE is running on EWTN Saturday afternoons at 5:00 P.M. Don't miss it!

[dirtboy]

How do you define deism? I ask you this question because I'm curious as to how people really view Deism.

I believe in God but am not certain as to Christ's divinity. Since I was raised an Episcopalean, it was a logical transition.

And no, that doesn't make me Jewish by default.

[sirchtruth]

I believe in God but am not certain as to Christ's divinity.

So as you define deist, you would define it as one who believes in God?

And no, that doesn't make me Jewish by default.

I don't understand? Do some think you Jewish because you're not sure of Christ divinity?

[TomSmedley]

The churches of the Protestant upper classes have neutered Jesus of his terrifying power. They got rid of all the militancy and gore, which were seen as hopelessly primitive. The suffering of Jesus is Christianity's greatest calling card, and they threw it away.

What a testimony from an outsider (who may be on her way in!).

As my favorite marxist jesuit, Ivan Illich, said, "The gospel is like a joke told to a circle of men. And one man smiles."