This is from a Blog by Jack Brooks (Jack0Lantern here) Rev Jab on ABC.

Friday, February 13, 2004You Can Tell Me About The Passion...

...'because we're not going. I don't go to R-rated movies, for one thing. And this movie is R-rated because the crucifixion of Christ is an avalanche of carnage, a relentless bloodbath.

Have you ever read the Gospels? When you read them, have you noted that the eye-witnesses to Jesus' execution do not graphically play up the sensory impact of the smells, the sights, the sounds, and the tastes of that horrific event? And that they testify in order to lead someone to faith, not to overwhelm their nervous system? The Gospel isn't a series of iconic images aimed at our viscera.

The original plan for this movie, however, was for it to be portrayed with incomprehensible Latin and Aramaic -- not even dubbing was planned. Truth and meaning would be muted -- functionally non-existent. They may have changed plans since then, but the original intent is the same -- gut-wrenching iconic pictures, aimed at overwhelming the viewer with emotion. But being left shaken by a complex of emotion isn't faith, or repentance.

I hope we evangelicals can take advantage of the talking opportunities this movie may afford. But when I hear that many in the cast and crew converted to Roman Catholicism as a result of participating in this film, I feel a sense of suspicion and dismay.
Posted by: Jack / 12:51 PM