Mel Gibson's Passion and Philosophy: The Cross, the Questions, the Controversy

Book Description

The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson's spectacular film about the death of Jesus, has quickly become one of the most widely-viewed movies of all time—and one of the most fiercely vilified. It is more loved and simultaneously more loathed than any previous work of cinematographic art.

Some maintain that this film has brought them to a new faith in Christ or a deeper understanding of the faith they already had. Others criticize the work for its supposedly gratuitous gore, alleged historical inaccuracy, or its debatable theological assumptions.

In Mel Gibson's Passion and Philosophy, twenty philosophers with widely varying religious and philosophical backgrounds examine all the most important issues raised by the movie, without ridicule or rancor. How can we decide what God intended to tell us? Why do Christians and Jews apparently report seeing two very different Mel Gibson movies? Was Christ a pacifist? Does the film truly follow the gospels? How can we blame Judas for doing what God wanted him to do? Did George Hegel answer Mel Gibson 200 years ahead of time?

Customer Reviews:

An Interesting Collection of Essays........2006-05-12

_Mel Gibson's Passion and Philosophy: The Cross, the Questions, the Controversy_ in the Popular Culture and Philosophy series, edited by Jorge J. E. Gracia, is a relatively interesting collection of essays detailing the responses of various philosophers to the movie. Mel Gibson's movie _The Passion of the Christ_ recounts the last days of Jesus Christ before his death and resurrection, detailing on the screen his passion, torture, and Crucifixion. The movie has been all-too-predictably criticized by atheists and secularists of all sorts as a "tool in the hands of the religious right" and as "anti-Semitic". On the other hand, some Christians have joined in this criticism claiming that the movie is too violent and distorts the true message of Christ. Gibson, a devout Roman Catholic, bases his movie on the Gospel accounts of Christ's suffering and death and upon the visions of the Roman Catholic seeress Anne Catherine Emmerich. These essays attempt to deal with some of the issues surrounding the movie and offer up philosophical thoughts on various aspects of the Christian revelation and on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. My only complaint is that so few of them are actually written by Catholic scholars and that some are written by those with no obvious relation to the movie or Christianity in particular other than as chronic bashers. The essays presented in this book touch on the following themes: did Christ have to suffer violently, is the movie anti-Semitic, what is the truth (a detailing of Pilate's question put to Christ), why was Christ killed, and who is morally responsible. Mention is made of many different philosophers and philosophical schools of thought throughout. Each essayist seems to be coming from a unique point of view which can be both refreshing and frustrating at the same time. As someone who found hope in the movie, I was encouraged by reading many of these essays into reflective thought; however, some of them I found to be particularly odious. That said, I would hesitantly recommend this book for those looking to reflect deeper on the mysteries of Christ and his Crucifixion in a philosophical manner. However, ultimately it is probably better to turn to the source material itself, the Bible and the writings of the saints.

A Matter of Time.......2005-09-15

With a movie as controversial as The Passion of the Christ (Widescreen Edition),it was just a matter of time before Open Court's "Popular Culture and Philosophy" series got their hands on it. As with public opinion about the movie, the opinions within the book are likewise mixed, though with a more thoughtful response.

The book itself deals with the movie in 20 essays in 5 sections. They deal with everything from the alledged anti-semitism, the violence, Christ's suffering and so on. The contributors come from a variety of backgrounds, including theologians and philosophers from various stances. With such a good mix, the views presented are as wide and varied, while maintaining a consistently high level of thought and expression.

The book goes some way to make the shock of the film itself more understandable and somewhat less of a brutalisation of the senses. Putting the excessive gore and blood of the movie into a wider philosophical context is an important function of the book.

As per usual, I have thoroughly enjoyed this installment from the "Popular Culture and Philosophy" series. Once again, a big thumbs up to this volume. It is very good and recommeded to people from all walks of life.

Painless Way to Learn Philosophy.......2005-01-16

This series of books, popular culture and philosophy is fantastic. It seems that any popular movie, or TV series immediately generates a backlash. Two recent examples include the Harry Potter books and movies, and Me. Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. In the case of Harry Potter, fundamentalist Christians have lamented that the books are teaching witchcraft. In Passion, the movie is being charged as being anti-Semite.

In this series of books, prominent philosophers are being asked to comment on these charges and on the story contained in the movie. In contrast to the shrill, loud, emotionally loaded comments being made primarily to get attention to the commenter, here are thoughtful, reasoned essays that challenge the reader to think about and decide for himself about these charges.

These books make for absolutely delightful reading. It is a way to bring philosophy to the public in connection with a story that is familiar to a broad range of people.

Helps dull the extremism..........2004-12-07

Mel Gibson's depiction of Christ's Passion has stirred a vertiginous array of reactions. Some lovingly praise the movie's moving depiction of Jesus' gift to humanity while others condemn it as a perversion of Christianity, a racist diatribe, or a form of [...]. Not only that, the film's influence, ubiquity, and controversy seem to preclude any rational discussion amongst its supporters and detractors. Film reviews supply the most salient evidence of this. Neutral or middle of the road reviews rarely appear, and most reviews get crammed with overbearing for or against hyperboles. This book, intended for the general reader, attempts to remedy this seemingly hopeless situation. It brings together the viewpoints of Christians (Roman Catholics, Evangelicals and Protestants), Jews, Mormons, and even Atheists into one non-inflammatory volume. It succeeds greatly in this task. The book does not sell or indoctrinate one viewpoint on Gibson's film. Nor does it ever try to impose on the reader a "correct" stance. Each of its 20 essays of course has a specific point of view on the film and the issues it raises, but the book as a whole is balanced. Some essays read like theology, others like Cultural Theory, even others like philosophy. A virtual salad of styles awaits.

The topics covered by the book are as diverse as the authors. Five main sections divide the essays. The first deals with the horrific violence portrayed in the film; the second with charges of anti-semitism; the third with the film's accuracy to scripture; the fourth with the "why?" of the passion; the fifth with ethical questions surrounding the Passion. Each section presents level headed for and against positions on the issues. Some of the issues discussed include: Is the violence justified? How does the movie deal with atonement? Does the movie distort Jesus and scripture? What motivated the making of the movie? How do Christians and Jews view the film differently? Can we forgive Judas, and if so, how? What influences did Gibson draw from in making the movie? Did Christ receive due process? What can the Passion teach us about our own mortality? How are women depicted in the film? How do Christ's and Socrates' deaths appear similar or different? Is the Passion anti-semitic? Could Jesus have chosen differently? What theory of nonviolence did Jesus subscribe to? The book also elucidates some of the devices and Biblical references Gibson utilized to make his point (and just what his point was gets debated throughout the book). Those who have seen the movie and are not familiar with scripture will learn a lot. Those seeking elucidation of the principles of Christianity portrayed in the film will also learn much. Open minded readers of any bend will likely finish the book with their extreme viewpoints dulled somewhat. The book simply does a great job of presenting the good arguments on all sides. If the book does have a unifying message it's that "I'm right, you're wrong" is not the best attitude to take towards this film. The book won't make one love the film if one hates it or hate the film if one loves it, but it will make one think more deeply about the issues it raises.

Along the way, many big names and concepts get introduced. Some are theological, some philosophical, some ethical. Apart from the obvious Biblical names that appear, many other big names appear, such as Aristotle, Plato, Nietzsche, Boethius, Augustine, Hegel, Aquinas, Heidegger, Socrates, C.S. Lewis, Buber, Tolkien, Elaine Pagels, and even Dan "The Da Vinci Code" Brown. Probably the best time to read this book is after seeing the movie at least once and before viewing it again. This book will open up new interpretations and perspectives on the movie whether it inspires or repulses. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in any aspect of Mel Gibson's "Passion".

He's an auteur.(Books)(Book Review) : An article from: Commonweal

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He's an auteur.(Books)(Book Review) : An article from: Commonweal
Anthony Burke Smith
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from Commonweal, published by Thomson Gale on May 20, 2005. The length of the article is 987 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: He's an auteur.(Books)(Book Review)
Author: Anthony Burke Smith
Publication: Commonweal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 20, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 132 Issue: 10 Page: 26(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Advance praise for Hotel California

"A British rock critic obsessed with America, Barney Hoskyns brings a genuine love as well as an outsider's keen eye to the rise and fall of the California scene in the sixties and seventies. This is a riveting story, sensitively told."
—Anthony DeCurtis, Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone

"Comprehensive and lively, Hotel California offers a front-row seat on the wild ride—fueled by drugs, sex, and lots of cash—that took Southern California singer-songwriters from hot tubs and local bars to sold-out stadiums, private jets, and the bestselling album of all time."
—Alan Light, author of The Skills to Pay the Bills: The Story of the Beastie Boys

"One of our finest pop historians reappraises a neglected and often maligned milieu. Barney Hoskyns deftly evokes not just the decadence but the sense of discovery rooted in 1960s idealism and fostered by a gaggle of record industry mavericks who, for a brief period, managed to make art and business coexist."
—Simon Reynolds, author of Rip It Up and Start Again

Customer Reviews:

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Summer Read.......2007-08-20

This is the definitive story of Laurel Canyon and the rise and fall of the singer-songwriters that defined an era. Fabulous backstage gossip, great interviews, and a long, revealing look at David Geffen and his role in shaping the sound and artistry of so many great musicians -- Joni, Laura, CSNY, Gene Clark, JT, you name it.

I enjoyed this book so much I didn't want it to end. It also turned me on to some forgotten songwriters and albums that got lost in the shuffle -- Judee Sill being one amazing example.

An essential read for music fans.

Hotel California: The True-Life Adventures of Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Mitchell, Taylor, Browne, Ronstadt, Geffen, the Eagle.......2007-08-04

No Pretender. Interesting insight into the genre of singer-songwriter and into the time period when music was becoming personal to a generation that would lay the groundwork music for future generations. Good background story on the artists and players, explaining with some detail the lyrics that still roll around in my head. Somewhat shallow story describing a shallow lifestyle that resulted in deep emotion. Too much repetition, would have been more interesting if more of the story was told with less dialogue. That said - it's worth the time, and the knowledge gain. Good to know who's behind Linda's "You're no good", and Joni's "Case of You" and why James went to "Mexico". Boomer fodder.

A good read.......2007-08-03

An enjoyable book with a lot of insight into the rock stars of the era.

Just in case the music wasn't a big enough reason to hate them..........2007-07-23

Did you know that the only time musicians ever wrote their own songs was from 1967 to 1976? That's what you'll learn from this book. Did you know that the kids of today just don't care about the world around them? According to the book the only evidence you need of this is that you don't hear a lot of chart-topping anti-Bush songs coming out of coffee houses. So remember kids, until you're a drug-damaged, self-righteous, hypocritical d-bag pushed to the stars by a sexually confused ruthless business man (the only people who have ever been capable of and succeeded in changing the world), you don't mean anything-just like their elders.

But to sum up this book: Stills and Young have a love-hate relationship, David Geffen is gay and pushed Jackson Browne because he had a crush on him, David Crosby is an easier-to-listen-to version of Sean Penn, The Eagles were a marketing scam and Joni Mitchell owns that parking lot.

PS-too many Zevon tags, not enough Zevon.

poorly written,inaccurate.......2007-06-10

don't bother to buy this very poorly written book that has distorted facts.The author is basically repeating various quotes from many sources repeatedly.Boring...His facts are wrong.For example he states that Graham Nash was a very compromising person.In fact he was not and this has been verified with his past history with the Hollies.
I am not a critical person but this book was a real disappointment to me...

4 Way Street: The Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Reader

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Like reliving the great days of CSN&Y
CSN&Y Articles
A riveting, exciting book
An Essential Read For All Music Fans

4 Way Street: The Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Reader

Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306812770
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Book Description

"Crosby, Stills & Nash are in their own special realm-triumphant harmonies, never second-hand or behind the times, always touching the chord and going to the heart."-Bob Dylan

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young have been hailed as "The American Beatles" and "Folk-Rock's Mount Rushmore." They launched a trail-blazing acoustic-electric sound in 1969 and have been captivating listeners with their music ever since. Coming together as refugees from three seminal '60s bands-the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Hollies-the combined talents of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young have influenced several generations of musicians while proving to have enduring appeal to fans of all ages. As rock and roll's first "supergroup," CSNY generated an enormous amount of media scrutiny-from their galvanizing appearance at Woodstock to multi-platinum, chart-topping albums such as DŽj^ Vu, from David Crosby's miraculous recovery from life-threatening addictions to the band's resurgence for enormously successful concert tours. Now, noted CSNY historian Dave Zimmer distills the best of the journalism on these four remarkable artists, ranging from group portraits to individual profiles to in-depth interviews to incisive commentary by such writers as Cameron Crowe, Ben Fong-Torres and David Crosby himself. 4 Way Street: The Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Reader is an open window into one of the most popular groups of all time, offering a fascinating look at their highly charged musical relationships and how they have changed over the decades, along the way revealing a colorful chronicle of the music of an era that continues to echo into the new millennium.

Customer Reviews:

Like reliving the great days of CSN&Y.......2006-01-20

You'll be glad you buy this book, if you do! I was a little young when CSN&Y came out (only 7!), but I kept up with them through the years and always found them fascinating. This book makes you feel like you've got a scrapbook of them from "the old days." The journalism is great, especially the pieces of Cameron Crowe and the first piece about Laurel Canyon and its many musical artists. You also "get to know" the personalities because of the concise natures of the interviews. I found out a lot about my favorite, Stephen Stills. I also love the selection of B&W pictures and took them to Kinko's to copy and put on my walls! The book truly captures their magic and fire. I also have Zimmer's bio, but it's always the Reader that I go back to because you can skip around in it too. The only regret I have is that I will it was a larger book, like the size of the Rolling Stone magazine, which would really give it a scrapbook feel. Nevertheless, I'm thrilled that I found this by doing an Amazon search! Please buy; you'll be glad you did!

CSN&Y Articles.......2004-11-06

Dave Zimmer has complied articles from the thrity-five year career of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The articles are great because they are from the time the events in the band's career were actually unfolding and you don't get that filtered look of biographies that were written years later. The more interesting articles are from the early days especially ones by Lenny Kaye and Cameron Crowe. A worthwhile read for all fans of CSN&Y.

A riveting, exciting book.......2004-03-13

This book is riveting, even electrical, for anybody who wants an inside look at the music business. The selections are in interview form, so as you read, it feels like the music stars are sitting in nearby chairs as they detail inside stories, opinions and perspectives. The author/editor who put it together, Daved Zimmer, did a fantastic job, and no one came better prepared for the job. When Crosby was arrested, I saw that Mr. Zimmer was the one who the New York Times sought out for comment. Even if you are only distantly interested in CSN&Y, but are fascinated with the music biz, you will find the book hits the bulls-eye.

An Essential Read For All Music Fans.......2004-02-29

Thirty years ago my dad "accidentally" flooded the garage, destroying my carefully harvested collection of UK and US publications containing interviews with, articles about and occasional references to CSNY, who for me were "the" band of the early to late 1970's. This latest manifestation of Dave Zimmer's love for the music of, and fascination about the individuals in, the USA's first "supergroup" means I now have access again to many of those writings.

Ranging from 1970 to 2002 in terms of first publication, the articles and interviews cover the development of CSNY from a self confident, but untested, aggregation of individuals through to being elder statesmen of rock capable of selling out tours of major venues in the early 21st century. Although the primary ingredient is pieces that focus specifically on the band as a whole, Zimmer leavens the mix with items that focus on the individuals, using them to cast a more oblique and often revealing light on the activities and behaviour of the "main" band. Not surprisingly, the majority of the articles come from US publications; that said, these include both the usual suspects - primarily "Rolling Stone" and writers such as Cameron Crowe - and also less well known (at least in the UK) publications such as "Crawdaddy" and "Creem". There are, however, some significant pieces from UK publications such as "Melody Maker" and UK writers such as Roy Carr and Vicki Wickham.

Music is the central interest of Zimmer's selection of pieces. CSNY were, however, notable for the nature of their personal, as well as professional, lives and the issues are not shied away from. Some of it requires reading "between the lines", but such articles as Roy Carr's interview with David Geffen, Zimmer's own major interview with Graham Nash and the pieces on David Crosby's drug addiction deal with the issues head on.

Book Description

Arranged for Easy Guitar Tablature & Standard Notation with Lyrics. 12 classic songs by the superstar quartet CSN&Y.

The Best of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young Made Easy"

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The Best of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young Made Easy"

Manufacturer: Alfred Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0897249208

Book Description

John Brimhall has successfully arranged this supergroup's greatest hits for easy piano. The titles are: Carry On * Country Girl * Deja Vu * Everybody I Love You * 4 + 20 Guinnevere * Helpless * Helplessly Hoping * Long Time Gone * Marrakesh Express * Our House * Suite: Judy Blue Eyes * Teach Your Children * Wooden Ships * You Don't Have to Cry.

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Classic Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Jo Novark
Manufacturer: Warner Bros Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Crosby Still Nash and sometimes Young (Volume 2)

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Crosby Still Nash and sometimes Young (Volume 2)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 9051790392

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A biography about Crosby Stills Nash & sometimes Young. Founding fathers in the history of rock.

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Crosby, Still, Nash & Young

Manufacturer: Warner Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQSFC8

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - The Guitar Collection (Authentic Guitar-Tab)

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Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - The Guitar Collection (Authentic Guitar-Tab)
Stills, Nash and Young Crosby
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0897247019

Product Description

From one of the greatest super groups in rock, here are 24 songs that helped form the soundtrack for the '60s and '70s. Titles include: Carry On/Questions * 49 Bye-Byes * Dark Star * Guinevere * Helpless * Helplessly Hoping * Long Time Gone * Love the One You're With * Ohio * Our House * Southern Cross and more.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (Songs From Dallas Taylor & Greg Reeves; Deja vu)

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Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (Songs From Dallas Taylor & Greg Reeves; Deja vu)

Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Sheet music

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Songs: Carry On, Teach Your children, Cut my hair, helpless, Deja vu, Our House, 4+20, Country Girl, Everybody I love you,

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