Is The Passion too Violent for Children

ABC ^ | 02/19/2004 | ABC - Good Morning America

[Theophilus]

Mel Gibson tackles the controversy surrounding his new film, charges of anti-Semitism, and the despair that spurred his Faith. Jim Caviezel, portraying Jesus Christ, carries a cross on the set of The Passion of the Christ.

(Philippe Antonello, Marquis Films/AP Photo)

Mel Gibson's controversial new movie The Passion of the Christ has created a debate between those who see the depiction of Jesus' final hours as a religious lesson and those who view it as graphic violence that will only scare children.

Some church leaders believe the depiction of Christ's final 12 hours and crucifixion will help give children a fuller understanding of Jesus and the Gospel. In anticipation of the movie's Feb. 25 opening, churches have booked hundreds of theaters, with plans to bus in church youth groups to see the film. Some parents are pledging to take even very young children.

But critics of those plans say the R-rated film's unrelenting violence is too disturbing for children to see. Some of the more graphic parts of the film include a scene in which Roman guards strike Jesus with cat-o'-nine-tails, ripping the flesh from his back, and another in which a Roman soldier pierces Jesus' side with a lance to see if he is dead, prompting blood to shower down on the guard.

In an exclusive interview with ABCNEWS' Diane Sawyer, director Gibson said he had no issue with the film's "R" rating, which means children under 17 will not be admitted without an adult.

"It deserves an R rating," Gibson said. "It's absolutely, you know, it's hard to watch."

Gibson said he would let his 13-year-old son see it, but he would tell him it was graphic and difficult.

"He knows the story," Gibson said. "He understands."

Teaching Tool?

Jerry Johnston, a pastor of the First Family Church in Kansas City, Kan., has been vocal about encouraging children to see the film and his church has arranged youth screenings for middle and high school students. Pastors will be present at the screenings to speak to children about what they have seen.

"I think it will have a huge impact on young people all over America, and I believe many are going to want to find Christ," Johnston said.

Continued
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[TSgt]

No, I don't relish it.

I just know it is coming.

I support Israel and the Jews 100%. They are God's chosen people, however, I cannot change what is written.

[skeeter]

Not to mention the buttinskis...;)

I was referring to this comment or Workerbee's:

I hope you'll at least give them the option of leaving the theater should it become too overwhelming.

I, like most parents, are bugged by nameless, faceless individuals who presume to care more about my kids than I do.

[Maurkov]

Read the gospels - it was violent and brutal - thats the point.

That's odd; I get an entirely different point.

[N. Theknow]

Your date must be familiar with Aramaic and Latin.

I wonder if the DVD will have an English language option.

[ZULU]

"Some church leaders believe the depiction of Christ's final 12 hours and crucifixion will help give children a fuller understanding of Jesus and the Gospel."

They are nuts. This is picture only suitable for over 17 year olds and then selectively. Watching this will give children nightmares the rest of their lives.

These "churchleaders" have craniorectumitis - an acute case.

[Gal.5:1]

It was for freedom that Christ set us free

therefore keep standing firm...

[Stone Mountain]

I was referring to this comment or Workerbee's: I hope you'll at least give them the option of leaving the theater should it become too overwhelming. I, like most parents, are bugged by nameless, faceless individuals who presume to care more about my kids than I do.

Well, it didn't seem like an offensive comment to me, but I'm not a parent, I guess. Still, it seems to me like a good suggestion for taking kids to any movie.

I still think that when you post in a public forum that you are taking your kids to this movie, most people would agree that you are inviting comment. Isn't that the point of forums such as these?

[Gal.5:1]

hi Theo,
I have 3 children 10 and under, and they will not be going to see Passion. They have been taught the Bible and Jesus from toddlerhood and they know of His sacrifice for our sins. (as millions before us have learned by the reading/hearing of the gospel as someone already pointed out.) They have seen the 'Jesus' film (yes the one made in '79 and still being shown around the world in hundreds of languages) and from that have "seen" a bit of what the suffering of our Lord must have been like. I am pretty sensitive, and I thought that was hard to watch (Jesus film).

[skeeter]

I still think that when you post in a public forum that you are taking your kids to this movie, most people would agree that you are inviting comment. Isn't that the point of forums such as these?

Of course. I'm not sure what would've lead you to believe I think otherwise. Surely your not saying I have to accept any comment?

Getting back to the subject, though I've been amused by the lengths certain interested parties in the media have for shutting down this picture, but I must say I really don't get the 'for the children' argument.

More surprising is it seems to resonate with alot of otherwise reasonable posters here.

I mean, whats the worst that can result from a child coming as close as possible to witnessing the extent of Christ's sacrifice? On the other hand, I believe the best I can hope for makes the risk worth the while.

[tiamat]

ZULU wrote:

These "churchleaders" have craniorectumitis - an acute case.

---

"craniorectumitis" LOVE it! Gotta remember that term!

[Stone Mountain]

Of course. I'm not sure what would've lead you to believe I think otherwise.

I think it was the "And what business is it of your's?" comment. You weren't arguing with his point. You were asking why he had any business commenting on it at all. I found (and find) that amusing.

Surely your not saying I have to accept any comment?

Certainly not. If you had replied by saying that you disagreed with the posters view and said why, I wouldn't have commented. Again, you weren't commenting on his view - you were commenting on the mere fact that he questioned your view.

I mean, whats the worst that can result from a child coming as close as possible to witnessing the extent of Christ's sacrifice?

Well, I'm not a parent, but it's easy to for me to see that a child might have trouble understanding the context in which this violence is presented. That could lead to prolonged nightmares or other phobic manifestations. Asking a child to understand the nuances of concepts such as suffering for another's sins juxtaposed with extended scenes of graphic violence might give the child a skewed idea of the whole story in the first place. Do I think that will happen to every child that sees this movie? No. But you asked what the worst that can result would be, and the above seems very plausible to me.

[Stone Mountain]

I've been amused by the lengths certain interested parties in the media have for shutting down this picture

I'm interested in this. Who specifically are you talking about? Do you believe their motive is to shut down or discredit the picture, rather than to boost their own bottom line? For instance, I have seen people say that those guys interviewing Gibson's father are doing so to drive a wedge between Mel and his father, or to discredit the picture. The interviewer's motive, as far as I can see, is to maximize their potential audience. Ascribing a personal motive or media conspiracy to this kind of thing smacks of paranoia to me.

[skeeter]

I think it was the "And what business is it of your's?" comment. You weren't arguing with his point. You were asking why he had any business commenting on it at all. I found (and find) that amusing.

Knock yerself out. Since you seem dead set on ignoring the context of the subject comment there's really nothing left to be said.

If you had replied by saying that you disagreed with the posters view and said why, I wouldn't have commented.

I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

Well, I'm not a parent...

With due respect, considering the images of violence, murder & mayhem available to our kids on TV, in movies, on the news, etc from the time they're born, to worry about any negative effect the image of a crucified Christ might have on them borders on the perverse, IMO.

[Pagey]

Is The Passion too Violent for Children?

Hmmm, any teenager that was allowed to see Quentin Tarantinos 1992 movie 'Reservoir Dogs',(please remember most youths don't ask their parents to go to movies anymore)where one of the crooks slowly and graphically slices off the ear of a cop (it's a long,horribly drawn out process) then douses him w/ gasoline---then they can see this movie.

[Mears]

Your statement about me being too logical really made me chuckle,I've been accused of that all my life.

I'm a Virgo so that probably explains it.

[Theophilus]

Dr. Dobson states that it is "wholly inappropriate for young children.

Thanks for this tip, I respect Dr. Dobson. I'm thinking that my mature and thoughtful 7 year old (plus the 9 & 10 yrs old) catechism student might not be too "young". I guess I'll probably see it first for the extensive prep work.

For those who say that to see this film is abuse to children I say: I will never sacrifice my children's sanctity for the sake of their sanity . The felicity of heaven will salve any disturbance the cruelty of this world and her children can inflict on them. We live in a time and place of unusual tranquility. Neither we nor our children are regularly called to true martyrdom. What will become of us when/if history returns to it's normal course?

The cross is laid on every Christian. It begins with the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with His death -- we give over our lives to death. Since this happens at the beginning of the Christian life, the cross can never be merely a tragic ending to an otherwise happy religious life. When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow Him, or it may be a death like Luther's, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time -- death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at His call. That is why the rich young man was so loath to follow Jesus, for the cost of his following was the death of his will. In fact, every command of Jesus is a call to die, with all our affections and lusts. But we do not want to die, and therefore Jesus Christ and His call are necessarily our death and our life.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

[mercy]

Sorry ... I don't need to torture myself to accept the covering Blood of Christ. Maybe you should try a whip on yourself. You could feel even more holy.

[OldFriend]

Ah, I have a Virgo daughter.........she drives this emotional mom crazy!!! LOLOL.......

I keep telling her I want to be just like her when I grow up!

[Krodg]

Can't people do this without seeing the movie?

Were you referring to this part of my post?

It's one thing to accept the concept of His love for us, we also need to accept the reality of what His love cost.

If that is the case, I say it's possible (Philippians 4:13) but not probable. Look at the direction the church is going and you will see that none of us truly has our eye on the cross. We are a selfish people...we don't want to see the truth.

[mercy]

You ask what is the worst that can happen?

I'll tell you: If I had been dragged to a movie like this when I was a kid I might not be a Christian today. I would have been so shocked and disgusted that my small immature mind might have thrown my fanatic parent's religion in their face ... permanently.

It took me a long time to accept the faith of my fathers as it was. Why would God murder his own son? Or allow him to be murdered if you want to split hairs. The idea offended me and not untill I could face up to my own horrific sin-nature could I see the reason.

I don't think kids can grasp this situation because they cannot understand how awful is the sin-nature of man. It is impossible because they are, after all, children.

It's a crime to take a child to this movie.