3 of 3

Talk About It

1. Many say the film might be anti-Semitic. Which scenes might be especially disturbing to a Jewish viewer, and why? How does the film address the Jewishness of Jesus and his followers?
   
   
2. Why is Satan portrayed so prominently? Why is he (or she) portrayed as an androgynous figure? How is Satan portrayed in Scripture? Why do you think the film shows demons but no angels (see Luke 22:43 and Matthew 28:2)?
   
   
3. How does the violence in the film compare to the violence described in the Gospels? Does the film go too far? Not far enough? What do we learn by seeing the violence in such graphic detail? How does it compare to the violence in, say, war movies like Saving Private Ryan?
   
   
4. Jesus tells Peter that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Is it always wrong to fight back? Can you believe in forgiveness and still enjoy movies about revenge, including earlier Mel Gibson movies like Braveheart and The Patriot? How?
   
   

The Family Corner

The film is rated R for its graphic violence. This is not a film for children, and parents should probably see it first even before taking teens. Jesus is beaten by the Temple guards while leaving Gethsemane, and his eye is swollen shut for most of the rest of the film. The scourging sequence—in which sadistic Roman soldiers first strike Jesus with canes, then rip out chunks of his flesh with their cat-o'-nine-tails—is especially long and brutal, and very difficult to watch. The soldiers also flog Jesus and Simon of Cyrene repeatedly as they carry the cross to Golgotha. Satan and a number of demons make several grotesque appearances, and a crow pecks out the eye of one of the thieves crucified next to Jesus.

Photos by Ken Duncan. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. © Icon Distribution. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

CT's coverage of The Passion includes:

The Good News of God's Wrath At the heart of the universe, there is a just and gracious God. (Feb. 23, 2004)

'Dude, That Was Graphic' Mel Gibson talks about The Passion of The Christ (Feb. 23, 2004)

Behind the Scenes of The Passion On the set with Holly McClure (Feb. 23, 2004)

Behind the Scenes of The Passion Part 2 On the set with Holly McClure (Feb. 24, 2004)

The Passion of Mel Gibson Why evangelicals are cheering a movie with profoundly Catholic sensibilities. (Feb. 20, 2004)

Mel, Mary, and Mothers The mother of Jesus was still a mom (Feb. 20, 2004)

Why some Jews fear The Passion Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ gives Christians the chance to disavow a shameful history of anti-Semitism. (Feb. 20, 2004)

Film Forum: The First Official Passion of The Christ Reviews … and 50 First Dates Moviegoers must wait a few more days for The Passion of The Christ, but the reviews are already coming in. Plus: Mel Gibson talks to PrimeTime, and the Passion debates continue. Meanwhile, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have 50 First Dates, and one Christian film critic wonders why viewers are ignoring Peter Pan. (Feb. 19, 2004)

Good News to the Jew First Critics of The Passion of The Christ assume the story embodies an anti-Semitic message. But does it? (Nov. 21, 2003)

Jews Against Jesus? Critics of Gibson's film The Passion distort the truth. (Oct. 30, 2003)

A ready-to-download Movie Discussion Guide related to this movie is available at ChristianityTodayMoviesStore.com. Use this guide after the movie to help you and your small group better connect your faith to pop culture.

first page |  3 of 3

Related Elsewhere:

'Dude, That Was Graphic'	Printer view
Mel Gibson talks about The Passion of The Christ.

---

A Primer on Filmmaking	Printer view
Is it possible to make a good movie for a measly $7,000? Yes. Shane Carruth proves it with his film debut, Primer, which is stirring up buzz-the good kind-at film festivals everywhere.