Letters to the Editor
The following is a selection of letters sent to us in response to Scott Holleran's commentary "Jesus Christ Superscar." Click here to read the original article. Some responses have been edited for clarity or shortened for length requirements. Thanks to all who responded as we do read every e-mail. We look forward to more of your feedback.
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The continued financial success of The Passion of the Christ can only be interpreted as a silent protest against that bastion of immorality, Hollywood, its atheist comrades the major newspapers and TV networks. Theirs was an effort in acrimony to discredit a Hollywood type, Mel Gibson, who dares to show that he is like a majority of Americans: a believer. Shame on all of them.
Angelo Zenga
Toronto, Canada <HR>
Obviously, Hollywood ignores the fact that not only teens are out there and that Americans want more family-type movies instead of the sleaze Hollywood normally puts out. Though The Passion of the Christ was not a movie for children, the message of it's success should be coming through loud and clear. Is anyone listening besides Mel Gibson?
Joyce Romano
Redondo Beach, CA
<HR>
You have clearly misled others with this article in your own interpretation of the movie. I simply do not understand how you get the idea that pain is our destiny. That is completely contrary to the theme of the movie. You see, the theme of the movie is that Jesus suffered for us, not we need to suffer. I'm sorry you have missed the greatest gift ever for you and me.
I hope your eyes are opened to the love of Jesus. That bloody mess you saw on the screen was for us. In fact, Mel Gibson held back. The scriptures say he was not even recognizable as a man... I could still recognize Jesus as a man on the big screen. There was much more in reality that happened. This was a true story and it happened because of God's love for you and I.
Ryan Mcloughlin
Kalaheo, Hawaii <HR>
The success of The Passion of the Christ is all very confusing and irritating to media elites. To Mr. Holleran, it is apparently a source of enormous angst. This wasn't an "article" about a movie. This was a transparent article of faith from a bitter, angry man who hates religion in general and Christianity in particular. Mr. Holleran believes that suffering and misery are the hallmarks of the Christian, but the opposite is true. Christ went through unspeakable suffering and misery, carrying the weight of all sin for all time in our place, so we wouldn't have to pay the price. And that brings to the Christian a kind of joy that can be found nowhere else.
Phil Trevathan
Nashville, TN <HR>
I find it offensive to even consider comparing the "passion" of Christians for their faith to those who would "use planes, computers, and skyscrapers to attack the secular civilization." Did you not understand that Christ called us to "love our enemies?" That is what Jesus preached, that is what He lived, and that is why He died. I, for one, have had my faith unbelievable charged by seeing the movie.
Camille Di Maio
San Antonio, TX <HR>
I believe the box office success of The Passion of the Christ will continue to indicate that America is not what we see painted on the news and on the typical movie screens. Perhaps you too will see the light if you watch the movie with an open mind. However, for those who do not share this view, that is their right and I respect that. I simply ask that they respect my rights as well.
Ronny White
Hobart, Oklahoma <HR>
I think we are on the brink of fundamental Christians and loony Muslims turning back time, technology, science, freedom and humanism to a degree that will equal the mythology of Jesus, Muhammad and fictitious gods that has persisted in lieu of sound evidence to discredit same. I believe big governments along with big religious despots and their cloned follower's and their handymen (like Gibson) and politicians who can't get elected without having a god to pray to, will eventually get us all back to the dark ages. Many top scientists, philosopher's and free thinkers will be their eventual target. The past repeats itself and mankind returns to the redundant theme of suffering on earth with the hopes of eternal joy in the afterlife.
Hundreds of millions of good men, women and children have suffered more horrifying deaths than Jesus. Tens of thousands were crucified just like him. Crucifixion wasn't unusual in the Roman Empire or elsewhere. What do people know about Dracula The Impaler? The Inquisition in Europe and South America? The Witch trials of Europe and the United States? Joan of Arc? Romulus? Caesar's? Giardan de Bruno? Who singled out Jesus as so special?
Tom McKay
El Paso, Texas <HR>
To suggest, as Scott Holleran does, that Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is a movie that points to pain as man's highest purpose is to completely misunderstand the message and the suffering of Christ. One important fundamental point of the Bible, and the point that the critics and the Jews are stumbling on today when confronted with the movie, is that Jesus is God. He was not "just a man," and His suffering was not a human experience. His pain, suffering, death and resurrection were the fulfillment of the prophecy that God would provide a perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of man. But to reject Christ is to reject the one and only thing that can pardon us from the penalty that is due us for sin -- and everyone, in their heart, knows what we are due.
You can dislike the concept of life, sin, death or salvation that God has set into motion, but you cannot reject it without the consequences. The Passion Of The Christ is your cinematic call to accept and surrender.
Martt Clupper
Indiana <HR>
The point to be gained from The Passion is that suffering is redemptive. Suffering for its own sake is meaningless and horrible but suffering for others, as Christ did, brings healing and redemption to this sick and sorry world. Everyone suffers, and these days it seems to be increased beyond measure all over the world. But when the forgiveness and love of Christ, as told in the Gospels and depicted in this movie, are truly applied to our lives there is a joy that nothing in this world can even come close to giving us. True joy does not come from anywhere else.
Carolyn Nytch
Owego, New York <HR>
Scott Holleran makes the mistake that because man suffers, pain, discomfort, oppression, disease and death that the Christian fundamentalist theme is suffering. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus' death was a gruesome and horrible one. A sacrifice made for our redemption; the ticket for the rest of us to get into Heaven.
Jeff Albertson
Bedford, Indiana <HR>
I have been frustrated by what I have seen in the media about the movie. I was not prepared for the incredible performance of Maia Morgenstern. I am not Catholic so I don't think about Mary as the mother of Jesus on a daily basis. Mostly just at Christmas. So to see her portrayed on the big screen took me aback. I shed many tears during the movie, not over the violence, but because I empathized with Mary as a mother. I thought of my sons. I thought of my beliefs and what I have been willing to forgive or not forgive.
I've seen violent movies. I just wish there would have been one critic in the past three weeks brave enough to tell me the truth about the movie and prepare me as a mother to see this picture.
Alida Sharp
Costa Mesa <HR>
This movie is the perfect marriage between two warring factions: Hollywood and Religion. God has used the very best of what Hollywood has to offer to tell His story in a magnificent way. This was the most deeply moving movie experience in my life.
Mark MacGregor
Odessa, FL <HR>
Mr. Holleran's observations on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is one of the most intelligent comments on this movie's frightening implications. Gibson has the right to make whatever movie he desires, but his choice to make a movie that connects spirituality with brutality sends an extremely destructive message to viewers. The movie is nothing more than a Christian snuff film trying to pass itself off as a religious experience, while slandering Jews as easy targets. In this divided world, Gibson's choice to make this picture is hideously irresponsible. The success of the movie shows that too many Americans are willing to throw out their reason (history does not record the Crucifixion, and current scholarship highly doubts Jesus' existence as an historical individual) and submit themselves to the belief that they are miserable sinners, and that the highest expression of love is torture and masochism. To freethinkers like myself, who embrace the joy the world and the freedom of the American dream, Gibson and those who are flocking to his film send a frightening message indeed.
Ryan Harvey
Los Angeles, CA <HR>
• Discuss the original article and these responses in our user forums...
• Read past commentaries by Scott Holleran:
The continued financial success of The Passion of the Christ can only be interpreted as a silent protest against that bastion of immorality, Hollywood, its atheist comrades the major newspapers and TV networks. Theirs was an effort in acrimony to discredit a Hollywood type, Mel Gibson, who dares to show that he is like a majority of Americans: a believer. Shame on all of them.
Angelo Zenga
Toronto, Canada <HR>
Obviously, Hollywood ignores the fact that not only teens are out there and that Americans want more family-type movies instead of the sleaze Hollywood normally puts out. Though The Passion of the Christ was not a movie for children, the message of it's success should be coming through loud and clear. Is anyone listening besides Mel Gibson?
Joyce Romano
Redondo Beach, CA
<HR>
You have clearly misled others with this article in your own interpretation of the movie. I simply do not understand how you get the idea that pain is our destiny. That is completely contrary to the theme of the movie. You see, the theme of the movie is that Jesus suffered for us, not we need to suffer. I'm sorry you have missed the greatest gift ever for you and me.
I hope your eyes are opened to the love of Jesus. That bloody mess you saw on the screen was for us. In fact, Mel Gibson held back. The scriptures say he was not even recognizable as a man... I could still recognize Jesus as a man on the big screen. There was much more in reality that happened. This was a true story and it happened because of God's love for you and I.
Ryan Mcloughlin
Kalaheo, Hawaii <HR>
The success of The Passion of the Christ is all very confusing and irritating to media elites. To Mr. Holleran, it is apparently a source of enormous angst. This wasn't an "article" about a movie. This was a transparent article of faith from a bitter, angry man who hates religion in general and Christianity in particular. Mr. Holleran believes that suffering and misery are the hallmarks of the Christian, but the opposite is true. Christ went through unspeakable suffering and misery, carrying the weight of all sin for all time in our place, so we wouldn't have to pay the price. And that brings to the Christian a kind of joy that can be found nowhere else.
Phil Trevathan
Nashville, TN <HR>
I find it offensive to even consider comparing the "passion" of Christians for their faith to those who would "use planes, computers, and skyscrapers to attack the secular civilization." Did you not understand that Christ called us to "love our enemies?" That is what Jesus preached, that is what He lived, and that is why He died. I, for one, have had my faith unbelievable charged by seeing the movie.
Camille Di Maio
San Antonio, TX <HR>
I believe the box office success of The Passion of the Christ will continue to indicate that America is not what we see painted on the news and on the typical movie screens. Perhaps you too will see the light if you watch the movie with an open mind. However, for those who do not share this view, that is their right and I respect that. I simply ask that they respect my rights as well.
Ronny White
Hobart, Oklahoma <HR>
I think we are on the brink of fundamental Christians and loony Muslims turning back time, technology, science, freedom and humanism to a degree that will equal the mythology of Jesus, Muhammad and fictitious gods that has persisted in lieu of sound evidence to discredit same. I believe big governments along with big religious despots and their cloned follower's and their handymen (like Gibson) and politicians who can't get elected without having a god to pray to, will eventually get us all back to the dark ages. Many top scientists, philosopher's and free thinkers will be their eventual target. The past repeats itself and mankind returns to the redundant theme of suffering on earth with the hopes of eternal joy in the afterlife.
Hundreds of millions of good men, women and children have suffered more horrifying deaths than Jesus. Tens of thousands were crucified just like him. Crucifixion wasn't unusual in the Roman Empire or elsewhere. What do people know about Dracula The Impaler? The Inquisition in Europe and South America? The Witch trials of Europe and the United States? Joan of Arc? Romulus? Caesar's? Giardan de Bruno? Who singled out Jesus as so special?
Tom McKay
El Paso, Texas <HR>
To suggest, as Scott Holleran does, that Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is a movie that points to pain as man's highest purpose is to completely misunderstand the message and the suffering of Christ. One important fundamental point of the Bible, and the point that the critics and the Jews are stumbling on today when confronted with the movie, is that Jesus is God. He was not "just a man," and His suffering was not a human experience. His pain, suffering, death and resurrection were the fulfillment of the prophecy that God would provide a perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of man. But to reject Christ is to reject the one and only thing that can pardon us from the penalty that is due us for sin -- and everyone, in their heart, knows what we are due.
You can dislike the concept of life, sin, death or salvation that God has set into motion, but you cannot reject it without the consequences. The Passion Of The Christ is your cinematic call to accept and surrender.
Martt Clupper
Indiana <HR>
The point to be gained from The Passion is that suffering is redemptive. Suffering for its own sake is meaningless and horrible but suffering for others, as Christ did, brings healing and redemption to this sick and sorry world. Everyone suffers, and these days it seems to be increased beyond measure all over the world. But when the forgiveness and love of Christ, as told in the Gospels and depicted in this movie, are truly applied to our lives there is a joy that nothing in this world can even come close to giving us. True joy does not come from anywhere else.
Carolyn Nytch
Owego, New York <HR>
Scott Holleran makes the mistake that because man suffers, pain, discomfort, oppression, disease and death that the Christian fundamentalist theme is suffering. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus' death was a gruesome and horrible one. A sacrifice made for our redemption; the ticket for the rest of us to get into Heaven.
Jeff Albertson
Bedford, Indiana <HR>
I have been frustrated by what I have seen in the media about the movie. I was not prepared for the incredible performance of Maia Morgenstern. I am not Catholic so I don't think about Mary as the mother of Jesus on a daily basis. Mostly just at Christmas. So to see her portrayed on the big screen took me aback. I shed many tears during the movie, not over the violence, but because I empathized with Mary as a mother. I thought of my sons. I thought of my beliefs and what I have been willing to forgive or not forgive.
I've seen violent movies. I just wish there would have been one critic in the past three weeks brave enough to tell me the truth about the movie and prepare me as a mother to see this picture.
Alida Sharp
Costa Mesa <HR>
This movie is the perfect marriage between two warring factions: Hollywood and Religion. God has used the very best of what Hollywood has to offer to tell His story in a magnificent way. This was the most deeply moving movie experience in my life.
Mark MacGregor
Odessa, FL <HR>
Mr. Holleran's observations on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is one of the most intelligent comments on this movie's frightening implications. Gibson has the right to make whatever movie he desires, but his choice to make a movie that connects spirituality with brutality sends an extremely destructive message to viewers. The movie is nothing more than a Christian snuff film trying to pass itself off as a religious experience, while slandering Jews as easy targets. In this divided world, Gibson's choice to make this picture is hideously irresponsible. The success of the movie shows that too many Americans are willing to throw out their reason (history does not record the Crucifixion, and current scholarship highly doubts Jesus' existence as an historical individual) and submit themselves to the belief that they are miserable sinners, and that the highest expression of love is torture and masochism. To freethinkers like myself, who embrace the joy the world and the freedom of the American dream, Gibson and those who are flocking to his film send a frightening message indeed.
Ryan Harvey
Los Angeles, CA <HR>
• Discuss the original article and these responses in our user forums...
• Read past commentaries by Scott Holleran:
- 'Jesus Christ Superscar'
- 'The Facts of Bob Hope's Larger-Than-Life Life'
- 'Ten Terrible Types at the Movies'
- 'Katharine Hepburn: A Woman for All Seasons'
- 'When Hollywood Went to War'
