One of the curious features of Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion" is its almost-exclusive focus on Jesus' suffering and death. While it is true that they are important to Christian theology, it is also true that Jesus' life and resurrection are important as well. So why are they given hardly any attention?

Martha Sawyer Allen writes for the Star Tribune:

[Bill Cavanaugh, an associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul] said there are good reasons why his fellow Catholics leave Jesus on the cross, in the crucifix. Although they celebrate his resurrection, Catholics want to remember his suffering, too, he said. Otherwise it becomes a "happy bourgeois Christianity where everything's fine." He adds that it's important to remember the suffering: "We live in a suffering world."

The Rev. Bob Merritt, senior pastor of Eagle Brook Church in White Bear Lake, said, "Suffering often gets overlooked. We've heard the story so often -- Jesus died and rose again. It's almost a cliche." ... Still, [James Hanson, professor of theology at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.] worries that Gibson's film will influence generations to think more in terms of suffering than resurrection. "I think as a religion professor I'll be teaching over and against [the movie] for the rest of my career."

Allen doesn't offer any definitive answers, but the opinions quoted from various theologians and scholars does provide an interesting glimpse into the work done on this aspect of Christianity and Christian doctrines. It's worth reading if you'd like to learn more.

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