Jesus Christ Superstar on NBC

[Archivist]

Here in the United States, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) aired a live production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar on Easter. I thought it was fabulous, but I have heard complaints about it from some Christians. These have ranged from the fact that the musical does not actually depict the resurrection to the use of a black actor to portray Jesus.

Any thoughts?

I do send apologies to those in countries where the musical was not broadcast.

 

[Dave-W]

Any thoughts?

One: since this is a NEWS folder, you should have a news link in your OP.

Two: I saw it and liked it a lot. Yes, the theology is screwed up; but those arguments are almost 50 years old. Nothing new there.

Three: a friend of mine came to faith playing Jesus in a local civic theater offering of this play, that was in the early 1970s, and he is also black.

Four: I started a thread on it yesterday in the Entertainment folder.

Five: Alice Cooper was a HOOT as King Herod!

 

[Archivist]

One: since this is a NEWS folder, you should have a news link in your OP.

I never bother with links. I find things to read on here by simply reading through a folder. BTW, this is not really news--this is the news and events folder. I would think of this as being an event rather than news.

Two: I saw it and liked it a lot. Yes, the theology is screwed up; but those arguments are almost 50 years old. Nothing new there.

Yes, and 50 years later people are still sadly still making those same arguments.

Three: a friend of mine came to faith playing Jesus in a local civic theater offering of this play, that was in the early 1970s, and he is also black.

Glad that your friend came to faith by playing Jesus. Sadly, some people are still offended by a black actor playing Jesus.

Four: I started a thread on it yesterday in the Entertainment folder.

Cool! I will check it out.

Five: Alice Cooper was a HOOT as King Herod!

Agreed.

 

[revanneosl]

As in every other part of life, in Superstar the bad guys get all the good songs. I didn't see it live because I'm living the all-streaming lifestyle, but I saw a lot of it on Youtube. It looked fantastic.

 

[Archivist]

As in every other part of life, in Superstar the bad guys get all the good songs. I didn't see it live because I'm living the all-streaming lifestyle, but I saw a lot of it on Youtube. It looked fantastic.

Certainly true for the male characters in Superstar.

 

[pat34lee]

Never watched it, don't plan on it in the future.
Haven't even looked up what people say about
it as the short clip of the title song that I have
heard since the first stage shows tells me that it
is nothing I want to see or hear. I usually like a
good fantasy show, but not when they rewrite
the bible to tell their fantasy.

 

[Archivist]

Never watched it, don't plan on it in the future.
Haven't even looked up what people say about
it as the short clip of the title song that I have
heard since the first stage shows tells me that it
is nothing I want to see or hear. I usually like a
good fantasy show, but not when they rewrite
the bible to tell their fantasy.

What are your specific objections to the production?

 

[hedrick]

I didn't see the broadcast, but know two other versions of JC Superstar. I believe it is a passion, like Bach's St Matthew's Passion. It's a well-known form of sacred music. A passion only goes through the crucifixion.

 

[Arcangl86]

I didn't see the broadcast, but know two other versions of JC Superstar. I believe it is a passion, like Bach's St Matthew's Passion. It's a well-known form of sacred music. A passion only goes through the crucifixion.

If you are interested in seeing it, the whole thing is on Youtube.

 

[Smidlee]

Jesus Christ Superstar is simply not Jesus Christ of scripture.
The writer of the opera's lyrics, Tim Rice believes Jesus was just a "prophet" and not God just like Muslims do.
I just as well watch a play that wrongfully portrayed my mother as a harlot. I don't think so.

 

[Archivist]

Jesus Christ Superstar is simply not Jesus Christ of scripture.
The writer of the opera's lyrics, Tim Rice believes Jesus was just a "prophet" and not God just like Muslims do.
I just as well watch a play that wrongfully portrayed my mother as a harlot. I don't think so.

But in the musical it is Judas who believes that Jesus is only a man; Jesus never says any such thing.

 

[Smidlee]

But in the musical it is Judas who believes that Jesus is only a man; Jesus never says any such thing.

No this is the view of the writer of the play.

 

[Archivist]

No this is the view of the writer of the play.

But that wasn’t said anyplace in the musical. You compared it to a play depicting your mother as a harlot, but that isn’t how Jesus is depicted in the musical. The writer might have believed that, but he didn’t say that in the show.

 

[Smidlee]

But that wasn’t said anyplace in the musical. You compared it to a play depicting your mother as a harlot, but that isn’t how Jesus is depicted in the musical. The writer might have believed that, but he didn’t say that in the show.

So you really believe someone who totally rejects the deity of Christ will represent the true Christ?

It happens that we DON’T SEE CHRIST AS GOD but simply the right man at the right time at the right place.

Tim Rice"

 

[Archivist]

So you really believe someone who totally rejects the deity of Christ will represent the true Christ?

It happens that we DON’T SEE CHRIST AS GOD but simply the right man at the right time at the right place.

Tim Rice"

Did you watch the musical on NBC? Have you seen the movie or stage show?

 

[Smidlee]

Did you watch the musical on NBC? Have you seen the movie or stage show?

Do you even think that's a requirement when I have meet and talk to others who deny Jesus Christ as God? They often used the same "words" but mean something totally different. Those who deny the deity of Jesus Christ will never present the true Christ as they are spiritually dead. Even Muslims will accept certain facts about Jesus but also deny his deity.
I have read some of the script which does present Jesus as a man who happen to be in the right time and place.
Jesus Christ Superstar Movie Quotes
Do I need to pointed out the misquotes of scripture?
John 18:37 " Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

 

[Archivist]

Do you even think that's a requirement when I have meet and talk to others who deny Jesus Christ as God? They often used the same "words" but mean something totally different. Those who deny the deity of Jesus Christ will never present the true Christ as they are spiritually dead. Even Muslims will accept certain facts about Jesus but also deny his deity.
I have read some of the script which does present Jesus as a man who happen to be in the right time and place.
Jesus Christ Superstar Movie Quotes
Do I need to pointed out the misquotes of scripture?
John 18:37 " Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

You’ve never seen it, but the person who wrote it believed x so that is what it must say. Of course.

Why not see it and then make up your own mind based on what you have seen?

 

[Smidlee]

You’ve never seen it, but the person who wrote it believed x so that is what it must say. Of course.

Why not see it and then make up your own mind based on what you have seen?

Are you claiming those quotes are not in the movie? I didn't actually see Jesus in the flesh but I accept the apostle record on the events. the gospel

Pontius Pilate:
Then you are a king.

Jesus:
It's you that say I am. I look for truth, and find that I get damned.

Pontius Pilate:
And what is 'truth'? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours?

Mary Magdalene:
I don't know how to love him. I don't know why he moves me. He's a man, he's just a man. And I've had so many men before, in very many ways, he's just one more.

Jesus:
God, thy will is hard. But you hold every card. I will drink your cup of poison, nail me to your cross and break me, bleed me, beat me, kill me! Take me now, before I change my mind!

Pontius Pilate:
Talk to me, Jesus Christ! You have been brought here, manacled, beaten by your own people! Do you have the first idea why you deserve it? Listen, King of the Jews, where is your kingdom? Look at me! Am I a Jew?

Jesus:
I have no kingdom. In this world, I'm through.

Jesus:
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere, if you only knew.

Compared this to CS Lewis who refute those who wants to see Jesus as a good teacher/prophet but not as God. (start at 7:45)

 

[Archivist]

Are you claiming those quotes are not in the movie? I didn't actually see Jesus in the flesh but I accept the apostle record on the events. the gospel


Compared this to CS Lewis who refute those who wants to see Jesus as a good teacher/prophet but not as God. (start at 7:45)

Again, you have never seen it, but you are preeenting yourself as an expert.

Yes, in the show Mary says Jesus is just a man. Jesus didn’t say those words. Mary probably thought at one point that He was just a man.

Yes, Pilate says he is just a man. Pilate also probably thought that.

In the quote from the show the actor portraying Jesus doesn’t say he isn’t God.

Perhaps you should actually watch it before attacking it.

 

[drstevej]

Watched 10-15 minutes of it. I prefer Ernest Saves Christmas.