The Movie: You know which one.

[Photini]

And also a problem for me, is the fact that they are claiming that this is an accurate portrayal of what is in Scripture. I'm not sure what to think about that, being that this is coming out of Hollywood. I don't see how just the Passion should be singled out like that, without also the Incarnation, Resurrection and Ascension, and still be "accurate."

 

[MariaRegina]

And also a problem for me, is the fact that they are claiming that this is an accurate portrayal of what is in Scripture. I'm not sure what to think about that, being that this is coming out of Hollywood. I don't see how just the Passion should be singled out like that, without also the Incarnation, Resurrection and Ascension, and still be "accurate."

Yes, the Crucifixion without the Resurrection would have been awful. No hope.

 

[prodromos]

Wasn't Latin considered to be the language of the uneducated at that time?

Dear Elizabeth,

here is a little bit of light reading on the Greekness of the Roman Empire.

There I go again, tempting you away from your studies

John.

 

[prodromos]

And also a problem for me, is the fact that they are claiming that this is an accurate portrayal of what is in Scripture.

I have been given the impression, perhaps mistakenly, that the visions of Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich played a large role in the screenplay.

John.

 

[Photini]

I have been given the impression, perhaps mistakenly, that the visions of Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich played a large role in the screenplay.

John.

I'm not sure what to think of that either.

Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich was an Augustian nun who lived in Germany. She lived between 1774 to 1824. During her life, God gave her extensive visions of the past, the present and the future. Many theologians believe that she received from God more visions than any other saint. The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ are the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich concerning the Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden, the Arrest, the Scourging , the Crucifixion and the Ressurection of Jesus Christ. They are highly detailed and highly descriptive revealing to us more information about the Life of Jesus Christ besides what we read of Him in the Bible.

I didn't read any of it past this point.

 

[Patristic]

I plan on seeing the movie since I think I need to understand better exacly what our Lord went through. Too much of the imagery I have seen is too Victorian and I don't think it does enough justice to the brutality of the passion and crucifixion of Jesus. Anyways, my prayer is that I will better comprehend the immense suffering and torment Christ went through as he bore the sins of the entire world.

 

[countrymousenc]

Anyways, my prayer is that I will better comprehend the immense suffering and torment Christ went through as he bore the sins of the entire world.

I am hoping for the same. Even though I actually dread seeing such a graphic portrayal of what Christ endured for us, it's my prayer that every time I am tempted to sin, every time I am weak, that my memory of this film will help me to prevail. I am also praying that it will have a profound impact on my family.

 

[Photini]

Anyways, my prayer is that I will better comprehend the immense suffering and torment Christ went through as he bore the sins of the entire world.

Understanding that there is really no way that we could possibly comprehend it, I hope to also gain this...but not by seeing any movie, which plays on emotions and gives a false sense of spirituality...but through prayer, fasting, and the ways prescribed to us by our Church. Through divinely revealed and uncreated knowledge given to us by Christ Himself. This movie I do not trust, but the Church I do trust.

 

[OrthodoxTexan]

I've been waiting for this movie for a long time. I only wish that it would have been released as it was originally intended to be, that is without subtitles. But maybe I am just being artsy-fartsy.

I can see the point some have made about the intrusion of images during worship. However, for myself, an image of Gibson's portrayal of the Lord's Passion would be better than the images of my own passions that attack the quietness of my mind. Lord have mercy on me, the chiefest among sinners.

 

[Photini]

I've been waiting for this movie for a long time. I only wish that it would have been released as it was originally intended to be, that is without subtitles. But maybe I am just being artsy-fartsy.

I can see the point some have made about the intrusion of images during worship. However, for myself, an image of Gibson's portrayal of the Lord's Passion would be better than the images of my own passions that attack the quietness of my mind. Lord have mercy on me, the chiefest among sinners.

lol

You're right. Different people will be effected in different ways. I have an over-active imagination. Something that at one time I thought was a good thing, but now I see as a huge nuisance. (As I said in that other thread...Jurassic Park gave me a recurring dream for several years.) I am almost positive that the image of the movie would haunt me for a very long time, and even worse...replace the Orthodox image of Christ as shown in the Icons of the Crucifixion.

 

[Patristic]

Understanding that there is really no way that we could possibly comprehend it, I hope to also gain this...but not by seeing any movie, which plays on emotions and gives a false sense of spirituality...but through prayer, fasting, and the ways prescribed to us by our Church. Through divinely revealed and uncreated knowledge given to us by Christ Himself. This movie I do not trust, but the Church I do trust.

I agree! Nevertheless, I don't think this movie will promote an aggradizing false sense of spirituality in everyone, although it may do that in some. My whole desire for wanting to see this movie is that since my youth I have been exposed to austere and stoic recreations of Christ's passion where one could never really tell that He was suffering; It was as if His divine nature gobbled up His human nature during the crucifixion and He just bore everything He received without flinching. Gibson's portrayal of the event, although a personal artistic interpretation, strives to give us a glimpse of how gruesome and painful this event really was. He actually conducted a lot of research into how a crucifixion was conducted, how a person would suffer, and how they would eventually die. I am by no means going to accept his rendition as dogmatic or the final word, but I will view it in the hopes that I can better understand how Christ suffered and the immense pain and torment He went through while doing so.

 

[JillLars]

patristic, I will be seeing the movie for the same reason. We see the cross around many places, in churches, on necklaces, on other Christian paraphenilia, but I think a lot of times we forget that the cross back then is what the electric chair is today. I think we sometimes forget the horrible death that Christ suffered on that cross. Yes, it is a symbol of our salvation because Christ overcame that death, but we can never forget the pain and suffering he went through to give us that gift. I don't understand what it was like because people don't get crucified today, hopefully this will give me a glimpse of the horrible pain Christ went through to save me. I don't think it will create a false sense of faith, simply reinforce what I already know and believe.

 

[Patristic]

I don't understand what it was like because people don't get crucified today, hopefully this will give me a glimpse of the horrible pain Christ went through to save me. I don't think it will create a false sense of faith, simply reinforce what I already know and believe.

Amen!

 

[Matthias]

Nope, I won't be seeing it; the trailers for it bored me...

 

[Photini]

Surely the Church could have chosen to focus upon the bloody gore and horror of the Crucifixion, but guided by the Holy Spirit...it has not done this. I got this quote below from a link that is absolutely sickening. I wonder if seeing such things could eventually and maybe unconciously lead us to reject (especially new converts and potential converts) the Holy Icons of the Passion in this way...surely for some it may affect their sensitivity to them in some way. http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/passion.htm

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The reason why Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ is such an important film is that it underscores the emotion, pain and passion of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Through the centuries Christian depictions of the Crucifixion of Christ became so decorative that they lost the original passion. Beautiful works of art indeed, but they became nearly bloodless with no evidence of real emotion or pain. Artistic depictions of the Passion were reduced to a mere religious symbols. These works of art have deep connection to the faithful, but no connection to rest of the world apart from their obvious decorative beauty. Neither of the depictions below have the crown of thorns, nor evidence of the whipping, nor emphasis on blood, pain or passion. All the characters look bored, even Jesus looks bored. Again, no passion[/font]

[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif].[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[/font]

​

 

[TWells]

I will most definitely be seeing the movie tomorrow as I have already bought tickets.

Photini, I really dont understand your perspective at all. Christians today have been completely desensitized to everything. Including the massive pain and suffering our Lord went through. And while Icons and Franciscian Cross's sure are pretty they completly leave out the true sacrifice God made when He "loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son...". It wasnt pretty, our God was beaten, tortured, humiliated then nailed to a tree completley naked for all to see and mock. That is our God, that is His glory and bloodless crucifixes with a slightly wimpering Jesus totally neglect that. The Passion is the model for our Christian life, its the symbol in which we model our own bearing of the Cross. It wasnt pretty for him nor should it be for us. Why should his agony always be portrayed as a slightly annoyed looking wimper? Personally I think this is exactly what is needed in American Christianity. We need to be shocked, we need to be slapped in the face, we need to be shown what we have forgotten and what the consequences of our forgetting can mean for the world. The Passion of our Lord and McWorld dont mix.

Does that mean that everything the Church does regarding the crucifixion and the Passion should be gory? No, but "ONE".. single movie...surely, surely that is ok. Surely its needed every once in a while.

Also, I am very visual and audio oriented. Its one of the reasons I love Holy Icons and Christian art like Michealangelo's 'Creation of Man' so much. They can say something spiritually far more powerfully that just reading about it . For me to see a film that portrays that period of history so accurately, visually in familiar images like the Blessed Virgin at the foot of the Cross with her hand open and with great music (which the soundtrack is beautifull) - that does a lot for me. Far more than another few hours of theological reading.

In Christ,

Travis

 

[MariaRegina]

My first Good Friday service (Holy Thursday Night) in the Holy Orthodox Church was very shocking. The Priests read the twelve Gospels which detail the Holy Passion of Christ our God, then the priest carried the Holy Cross in procession around the Church. The lights were out and it was very dark and quiet. Suddenly we heard a hammer, and some of the women started to cry. We didn't need to see blood. We knew that today Christ was nailed to the tree. Today is our salvation. Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever.

 

[Suzannah]

Chanter: Amen~!
Beautiful story...I hope to expereince that in my Church on Good Friday...what a beautiful and profound thought you had there!

 

[MariaRegina]

Thank you Suzannah and Photini.

May you all have a blessed and holy Lent. It's my favorite time of the year because we draw near to the Lord in repentance.

 

[Suzannah]

Quote: "You may not add to Chanter's reputation until you spread some more reputation around."

Me: