One of the curious features of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" is how it is almost entirely preoccupied with the suffering and death of Jesus. We are told nothing about his message or his ministry - even the resurrection is given little attention. In their place, the camera lingers over Jesus' reaction to being whipped and even over the stripping of his flesh through torture. What does this have to say about Mel Gibson's theology and, perhaps, Christianity generally?
Read Article: Nietzsche vs. Gibson: Suffering, Debt, and Guilt with Jesus
He’s into S&M?
Not entirely sure… but it can’t be good.
I have seen the results of traffic accidents before. Gibson’s approach to Jesus is to treat him as an innocent concentration camp victim, so that stoic unjust suffering is what enobles him. I prefer to think of Jesus as a person who had some smarts and who detested phonies and blockheads.
Honestly, it says a lot about gibson and christanity, enough that I am eternally grateful I am not associated with christianity, and forever regretful that people remember gibson is associated with my home country.
A couple of days ago, I saw a vehicle big enough to haul that Guilt. You wanna get out of ‘ere…..ya talk to me.
Lyrics from Christian children’s songs that teach children the torture and death of Jesus is on their heads:
From “Jesus Loves Me”:
Jesus loves me, He who died, Heaven’s gates to open wide,
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.
From “The B-I-B-L-E:
The B-L-O-O-D
That Jesus shed for me
Cleansed me from sin,
I belong to him,
The B-L-O-O-D
From “I’m inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time”:
Since Jesus Christ came in,
And cleansed my heart from sin.
From “Jesus Loves the Little Children”:
Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world; Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in his sight; Jesus died the little children of the world.
Additionally, consider the Orwellian implications of this “Oh Be Careful”:
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.
Be careful little ears what you hear
Be careful little mouth what you say…
Be careful little hands, what you touch…
Be careful little feet, where you go…
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Nuts or what? Guilt? You bet–and a good helping of fear to boot.
[No, Tracieh, I'm not 'stalking' you...It just happens that your excellent comments often inspire some tangential follow-up thoughts.
]
RE that rather child-abusive “Oh Be Careful” brainwashing…
the insanity is carried over into the more common, mundane, stuff; like that good ole Capitalistic Xmas tune (from as far back as the “Eddie Cantor Show” in 1934, no less!):
“Santa Claus is Coming To Town”
Remember this shtick?…
“You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Yeah…that red-suited, white bearded, flying sleigh riding, ultra-voyeuristic, home invading…and sometimes chimney damaging…Mr. creepy drawers!
On that Note…actually, in the key of F Major:
Here’s a rather nicely arranged (almost way TOO good and sophisticated?) version by the Carpenters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxalhOfYQ-4
Of course, a goodly (or “badly”?) number of Christians would be screaming and yelling…
“Santa…why, he’s REALLY Satan!”
(Anagramatically, of course!)
Soooo…next time you’re “resting”, or showering, in your very own private ‘washroom’, remember who’s watching!…?
And, of course…
“Be afraid…be VERY afraid!”