So, I went and saw that new-fangled "The Passion of the Christ" with Mike and Kevin today. On the whole, I can't say that I really liked the movie. I mean, as a movie, it was pretty terrible -- the entertainment value was through the floor.
But, as a vehicle for inspiring thought, it fairs a little better. One "take away" that I have is that the whole thing is basically a treatise against ignorance. If Jesus' accusers had taken the time to do their due diligence, then they would have found that there was some evidence to support his claims, and that maybe killing him wasn't the smartest thing in the world to do. The Jewish rabble could have employed some independent thought instead of merely following their spiritual leaders, as well.
So basically, the whole movie is "up with science". And down with crucifixions -- those things look like they are kindof painful.
One weird thing, is that the theatre showed previews for several G-rated movies before the passion. Movies like "Two Brothers", "Home on the Range", and "Cody Banks 2". Clearly, somebody needs to do some better market research...
-Andy.
That's funny with the kid's movies.
I don't think Mel Gibson made the movie to be entertaining. He's on a "I got my religion back" kick and I think he made this as part of a "and now you will too" campaign.
I think the accusers were afraid of the very thing you're talking about. If they saw that Jesus was inspiring the people to employ independent thinking about their lives and morality, that pretty much would put them out of a job. Jesus was already calling them hypocrites.
I think we're on the same general page here though: science rocks, torture does not.