The rise of new Christianity (The Passion annunciates orthodox Christianity's central doctrine)

THE AGE (AUSTRALIAN) ^ | April 12, 2004 | Angela Shanahan

[Liz]

Whatever one's opinion of the artistic merit of (The Passion) film, it's greatest achievement....is to bring within the orbit of popular culture an annunciation of the central doctrine of orthodox Christianity: Jesus is the divine redeemer whose suffering and death was the point of his life and the Gospels. It does that in no uncertain terms - and the young of today want certainty.

[shineon]

The name of the Lord is a mighty strong tower. The righteous run therein and are safe.

Jesus died for our sins so that we might have life.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Defenders of the Faith Ping!!

Discussion, thoughts, opinions?

[Theo]

I saw "orthodox" in the title, and scanned the article to find out how "Orthodox Christian" doctrine is any different from "mere Christian" doctrine. Hm. Then I saw that "orthodox" was lowercase, not meant to refer to the branch of Christianity, but to "orthodox" Christianity (as opposed to "heretical" Christianity).

Nice article. It is good seeing the key doctrine of our faith vividly portrayed.

[foolscap]

I am a Christian however I will not be seeing Mel's film. I dislike any film with violence. They make me physically ill. I am very glad the film is doing so well at the box office and that many people find meaning in it. Having made the decision not to view it it is interesting the reaction I have received from my Christan friends, the majority of whom have seen the film multiple times. There is this very strong pressure on me to go with them. When I say no and give my reason in their minds my salvation suddenly become suspect. One person really got into it with me. Finally I said "We are talking about a movie. When did viewing a certain movie become the test to determine if someone is saved or not?" That brought them up a little short.

I very much dislike trend in religion. It sort of like if you are not wearing a WWJD bracelet or know the secret handshake of the week you're not "saved enough" I feel no desire to see this film because I have read the book and that's all I need.Reading the book and doing what it says is the whole point of the faith. I don't need to see someone whipped and nailed to a cross to get the idea. There are no doubt many that do. It is good that the film is out because is it helpful for them.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - RELIGION

[Rose in RoseBear]

Pingpingping!

[mtntop3]

A very informative and encouraging article. Thank you, Liz.

[kidd]

I have seen the movie twice. The first time I saw it, I could only think of how wrong the critics were. I saw it a second time when I had some time to kill on a business trip, but mostly to get the spiritual feel for the movie.

It is a great movie. But none of it was any different than what I had expected. I knew that Christ had suffered/died for my sins. And I had a good understanding of the brutality of the whole ordeal.

Therefore, I was not shocked or brought to tears by the movie. However, the movie did provide a great visualisation of the events, which in turn gave me a deeper appreciation of the Passion during Palm Sunday mass.

Its a significant movie for humanity in general, because it has refocused our attention to Jesus as the Savior, instead of Jesus the Really Nice Guy. However, certain individuals may not need the movie because they already recognize that Jesus is our Savior and have the deep appreciation that it deserves.

[hosepipe]

[ This will come to be seen as the century in which religion replaced ideology, writes Angela Shanahan. ]

Pity if true. Since Christ came to make religion, all religion, obsolete, and did.

[LTCJ]

Christ came to make religion, all religion, obsolete, and did.

Amen.

[Aquinasfan]

But contrary to expectations, the film has been hugely popular among the young. This is partly because it vividly dramatises the Passion.

Anyone who survived junior high can understand Christ's Passion.

[eastsider]

Reading the book and doing what it says is the whole point of the faith.

Although I have seen the film four times and consider it a remarkable contribution to religious art, I can certainly appreciate others' reluctance to see it. I do, however, question the formulation that the point of Christian faith is to 'read the Bible and do what it says.'

Scripture doesn't exist for itself or by itself. It is intrinsically linked to the Incarnation, to the eternal Son of God's becoming man, to His taking on flesh to redeem man. Jesus is the Logos, the Word, and Scripture only finds its force because it is linked to the Word. Jesus is the Truth He reveals. Were it not for the intrinsic link between the divine person and the written word, Christians would have no use whatsoever for Scripture.

This is not to say that revelation is unimportant or nonessential to our life in Christ -- revelation does indeed affirm and promulgate the importance of God's having become man in history -- just that there must be that link between the divine Person who became man and revelation. The focus of Christian faith is, first and foremost, the person of the Christ.

[Delphinium]

Whether or not you have seen the "passion" should have nothing to do with someone else's opinion of your rightness with God or not.

Its whether you are washed in His blood that was shed 2000 years ago that makes you righteous. Not anything you could do.

But I would consider what the Bible says about the last days, before, or after the rapture because you might see some pretty violent stuff.

A movie could never prepare you, but the Word of God can.

[NYer]

Jesus is the divine redeemer whose suffering and death was the point of his life and the Gospels.

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[Oberon]

Ping for later reading.

[Campion]

Since Christ came to make religion, all religion, obsolete, and did.

I don't remember reading that in the Bible. Can you give me a citation?

While you're doing that, maybe you could also explain why James 1:27 says, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

[Between the Lines]

Great article! Thanks for posting.

[Thorin]

Thanks for the great post. The dividing line between supporters of Gibson's "Passion" and its enemies is the same line that defines those who favor orthodox Christianity and those who do not.

[hosepipe]

[ I don't remember reading that in the Bible. Can you give me a citation? While you're doing that, maybe you could also explain why James 1:27 says, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." ]

1) "I am the way , the truth, and the life, no man comes to the father but through me"- Jesus
Religion is obsolete, all religion. Your religion OR Jesus you can't have both.
Jesus eliminated the middle man. PURE Genius I would say. And the reason they HAD to martyr him, could'nt have that getting around..

2) That quote exposes and ravishes religion, in case you did'nt notice. Not a good start you seeing a dis on religion as being passage for it. One wonder what else you have missed.

Another question.. What would a real genuine God almighty even need with a religion, any religion, even yours ? If he needed a religion, he would'nt BE GOD..p> Clergy needs religions, God don't. Thats why theres so many..