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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.

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.

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.

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.

The depths of your beliefs are quite inspiring.

However, by not viewing The Passion film, you are cheating yourself out of an unforgettable intellectual and artistic experience. One does not have to be a believer to enjoy the film's acting, authentic production values, including costumes, music and and the film's settings (Italy).

The film is a celluloid masterpiece. Every frame could be mounted and hung in a museum. Mel said he was inspired by Renaissance painter, Carvaggio. Hearing the excellent actors speak the language of Christ is awesome.

Remember, the violence in The Passion film is not the typical gratuitous Hollywarped device to sell tickets.

This is redemptive violence. Much is done with makeup. Mel has said he inserted "escape hatches" so that audiences would not be exposed to the unrelenting brutality to Christ.

I do hope you get to see it. You will exit the theatre thanking yourself that you did.