When I saw it on Thursday, I didn't see ANY Catholic imagry. They showed Mary (Holy crap! Can't do that in a story about Jesus can we??? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" /> )
<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/ranton.gif" alt="" /> I will admit that there was some emphasis on Mary, but not in some diety form or anything. He basically shows Mary as any other mother watching her son be murdered. She goes to help him even though she can't. She follows him all the way to the mount and she kisses his feet when he is on the cross right before He dies. There is no "troubling Catholic imagery" that I could find.
Not to sound like a [img]https://the-highway.com/Smileys/censored.gif[/img], but the 2nd Commandment arguement, while I can see the validity, just doesn't seem to hold water. The idol is made when we, every time we read the Scriptures, see Jesus as THAT Jesus on the screen. Then we have made a graven image.
What was on that screen had a major impact on my life. I had never really been taught or believed that crucifixion was that brutal. I have a new dimension to the Gospel accounts than I did before. And if that is a bad thing, than, well, I am in the wrong for having a deeper understanding of what happened.
Personally, I think that the reason a lot of people are so against this movie is because it shows, as realistically as was needed at this time, what happened to Christ and others in those days and also takes attention away from renownd pastors and onto what Jesus did, and they can't handle that. I have a lot of respect for White and the others who are so adamant against this film, but at the same time, being fallable men, they are not right on everything. And I think that this is one of those times where they are wrong. I think it is sad when people, especially Christian pastors, are so intolerant of anything other than reformed preaching and dry hymns that when someone does something radical, suddenly it is seen as some sort of damnable thing. God forbid that we use the Gospel story in an attempt to convict people of their sin and see people fly to Christ for salvation.
Having seen the movie, I can say that, from a cinematographical standpoint, it was stunningly beautiful. From a story standpoint, it was a part of the greatest story ever told. And from a truth standpoint, more of the church, reformed and otherwise, needs to stop being so PC and start using their GOd-given abilities and go out and share the Gospel in boldness and love. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rantoff.gif" alt="" />
