Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2004 by Gene

Passion agonistes
Having read, over the past twenty-four hours, a number of "man-on-the-street" comments from people who have seen Gibson's The Passion of the Christ and had positive things to say about it, I think I finally understand why this whole thing annoys me so goddamn much.

According to some, the movie is some kind of reaffirmation of faith. Others called it life-altering, and said it would make them better Christians. A few argued that non-Christians who see it might reconsider their stance (provided one can find a non-Christian willing to sit for the movie, which I think is a long shot.)

Here is what I find so incredibly frustrating: do these people REALLY define their faith by how violently their savior was tortured for them? I mean, that's what the movie is, it's Jesus Christ being tortured for a couple of hours. It touches on his ministry prior to the stations of the cross, but only tangentially. It covers his rising from the dead, but only for a second or two before the credits.

So, is that it? Is that's what's wrong with so many of today's so-called Christians, that they focus not on what the vast bulk of the gospels concern themselves with-- that would be the messages administered in those momentary flashbacks Gibson pays lip-service to-- but to the violent end of the messenger? Because it seems to me that's a pretty weak basis for one's faith. It's almost like the fact that Jesus was willing to endure not just death, but significant pain beforehand somehow makes him a more convincing savior.

I mean, what if the Romans just hanged their dissidents instead? Reading some of these comments, you get the impression a few of these Christians wouldn't BE Christians then because hey sure, Jesus died for our sins and all, but it was real quick. Much better to have had him suffer a lot first.

And it's not like this is THE gospel truth Gibson's showing us. One of the gospels says simply "And then they crucified him" and that's IT.

It's this macabre focus on the way he died that makes me think there is a whole lot wrong with a whole lot of people out there who call themselves Christians. Because it's easy to drown out "love thy neighbor" with shouts of "you killed my Savior."