A Freeper Review of The Passion of Christ

Vanity | 2/21/04 | John Fields

[choirboy]

. . . who are Catholic will likely see Mary as divine . . .

Catholics do NOT see Mary as divine! I'm sick and tired of this canard by Protestants who should know better.

[LowOiL]

Super BTTT...

[VOA]

As to this movie being appropriate for children? That's a hard call. I think it would
be best if conscientous parents screened it for themselves first. It is hard enough
for mature adults to stomach. However, there is something to be said for
exposing young tender hearts to the truth of what He did. Maybe knowing what He did
at a younger age would lead to more mature Christians later. Again, it's an individual call.

RE: viewing of The Passion by minors
I heard a good suggestion on a Christian talk-radio show on this topic.
One family had decided that they'd would go to the same screening...
but be "split up" with separate transportation. Thus, if an older child(ren) wanted to
see the film (and could endure it), one parent could stay...and if sibling(s)
couldn't endure it, they could bail out and have the other parent drive them home
(and help them process the experience).

I suspect there will be at least a few adults who will probably won't make it through
a first screening of this film...and they shouldn't be embarassed.
A cursory reading of the clinical aspect of a crucifixion (and all the
attendant punishment proceeding) is brutal enough; seeing a realistic portrayal
MUST have be at least an "R" experience.

[mcg1969]

Please let's not debate this (this time around) - Let us discuss this movie without the prejudiced remarks.

Then why did you start it, then?

[LisaMalia]

Which channel is PAX? I get 200 plus channels, but I don't remember that one. Just wondered before I flip though my channel guide.
Thanks!

[Flora McDonald]

"Those who see the relationship between Jesus and Mary who are Catholic will likely see Mary as divine."

As a Roman Catholic, I have never been taught that Mary was "divine" nor do we worship her. As the Mother of God, we love and venerate her for her obedience and humility and for her role in bringing the Saviour to us. We love her also because He gave her to us from the Cross.

That said, I want to thank you for posting this review. I felt as if I was sitting next to you! Our country needs something like this so badly and isn't it ironic that this great gift comes from the movie industry. God bless Mel Gibson and all the people who helped in producing "The Passion".

[commish]

My wife has already indicated that she may not make it through the entire movie, so we are doing the two cars thing. She wants to see the movie, but just is not sure if she will be able to handle it emotionally.

[padfoot_lover]

Thanks for the review, except for the misrepresentation about the Catholic view of Mary -- she is NOT divine and the Catholic Church has never taught that.

[jocon307]

"Would "mortal" be a better word choice than "mere" and still make the point?"

Well, let's see if I've gotten your point. Mere is not good, in and of itself it is a dismissive word, not insulting necessarily, but minimizing.

Mortal is good, if what you're getting at is the Mary was not mortal, that is she did not die, she ascended into heaven, as did a few other worthies of the Old Testament, if I am not gravely mistaken.

Obviously from my Bible-ignorant reply, I'm a Catholic, and no, to us Mary is not divine. Unless you're not well educated. I remember one fellow (I think on these threads) telling me his mom thought that the Holy Trinity was God the Father, Jesus, and Mary. But, er, that was a mistake.

[WritableSpace]

Well this is interesting.

[OneVike]

"I always thought my past sins would come back to haunt me" Quote from Gibsons character in the Patriot.

I must dry the tears from my eyes everytime I read a review, your's was no different. I will see the movie and will make sure I bring plenty of tissue. God forgive me for my many sins.

[commish]

I think a lot of the confusion for non-Catholics in regards to Mary involves the "Hail Mary". Many non-Catholics look on this as a prayer to Mary, and ergo if one is praying to her then by fiat one must consider her to be devine.

I have many catholic friends who have cleared things up for me, but I think that may be the sticking point for a lot of others.

I think the suggestion of another thread, or maybe just a good explanation of Mary and her role in Catholic Religion would be very enlightening.

[madison10]

Mary discussion.

[bellas_sister]

Me too....

[LowOiL]

Catholic view of Mary -- she is NOT divine and the Catholic Church has never taught that.

I don't know what is taugh at the local Catholic Church here in my small town, but I do know that of people at my work most are Hispanic and Catholic. I can count no less that 4 or 5 images per day on cars (at any time of day or night at our work) that have pictures of Mary with the halo holy style. Most the cars have a small statue of Mary on the dash of the car too. When you see a full size van daily with Mary on the hood then you have to wonder if Mary is not a saint to these particular people. Call me bias, call me simple-minded, call me over for supper, I don't care, but that is my daily world life work senerio.

[commish]

by fiat one must consider her to be devine.

Not to be confused of course with Andy DEVINE, who while a god in many ways is certainly not DIVINE ;-)

[Cboldt]

But the cross wasn't about retribution, that will come later at Judgment, it was about mercy.

*bump* to grace, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

[LS]

I think I will see this---still undecided, as I just don't know that I can sit through the gore. That said, I KNOW the violence is accurately represented, and this is what is so remarkable about that:

The physical pain on the cross was, as unimaginable as it may be for us humans, the easiest thing Jesus did for us.

Before He ever got to the cross, He had to walk, as a human, a totally perfect life and never sin, despite "being tempted in all respects" as we are. How hard is that? Day after day, year after year, to always make the right decision, to always deny self. Satan's petty temptations were probably nothing to Him by the time He got to that point, having "seen it all."

More amazing is the spiritual death He died in the Garden and the sin of the world that He took upon Himself. For One who "knew not sin" to be "made sin for us" had to be a far greater pain and involve far more suffering than even the torture of the cross.

What really ought to get Christians is that what they see on screen is the EASY part of what Jesus did. Think about that!

[giotto]

I was raised and schooled as a Catholic. I've never understood why Jews were blamed for Christ's death. He was a Jew who lived among Jews. Jesus Himself said that a prophet is never accepted in his own country. He chose His fate. Those who crucified Him were individuals who acted out of free will, but the fact that they were Jewish was incidental. There were undoubtedly just as many, if not more, Jewish people who loved and followed Him, as there were who brought about His demise. Why has history chosen to forget about them and emphasise those who destroyed Him?

[ladylib]

My mother is a devout Catholic (mass every day) and she said she won't see it. I think it's the violence.