Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to take an in-depth look at Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of Christ," about the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The paper focuses on the debate that has accompanied the movie. This debate involves whether Gibson's movie was a work of art that made the spiritual message of the crucifixion of Christ come alive for viewers or whether it was an overly violent movie that promoted antisemitism. The debate is examined from several angles. These include examining reviews of the movie as well as discussing it in relation to religious studies, history, philosophy, art and violence in film.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this paper is to take an in-depth look at Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of Christ" about the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The paper focuses on the debate that has accompanied the movie. This debate involves whether Gibson's movie was a work of art that made the spiritual message of the crucifixion of Christ come alive for viewers, or whether it was an overly violent movie that promoted anti-Semitism. The debate..."

Tags:crucifixion, of, Christ, Movie, Mel, Gibson, The Passion of Christ.

Abstract
The paper describes the way that the film, "Passion of Christ" starts with a painful prayer from Jesus Christ followed by his disciple Judas betraying him. The author believes that the tortures and beatings of Jesus Christ are shown so intensely that they disturb the viewer's emotions. The paper relates the film's slow, gloomy environment as Christ moves along the path to the Mount of Olives. The author thinks that the most outstanding feature of the film is the portrayal of the human nature of the Son of God, which is beautifully expressed throughout the different emotional incidents.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
About the Story
Characterization of People
Characterization of Time
Characterization of Town and Others

From the Paper
"The entire movie moves along a single streak of time expect for the events of Jesus' life and his preaching remembered now and then .The sky, the sun and the moon are used to denote transition of time. Jesus Christ is caught on a gloomy night when he offers prayers to God to free him from the evil. Satan appears and signifies the start of evil. Mother Mary also feels that night to be strange and signifying something evil."

Tags:judas, peter, pharisees, innocent, mary

Abstract
This paper explains that some film critics point out some glaring historical and scriptural inaccuracies in "The Passion of the Christ"; using Latin might have been an impressive and unusual screenwriting technique, but it lent only a false sense of historical accuracy to the film. The author points out that part of why "The Passion of the Christ" is passionless is because Gibson does not endeavor to explain the teachings of Jesus or invoke any real sympathy for the man. The paper concludes that the film does deliver a poignantly visceral rendition of the Passion of Christ, even if it does not amount to filmmaking genius and reveals the mind of Mel more than the mind of God.

From the Paper
"The cinematography of "The Passion of Christ" is stunning, and along with the acting, offers the film some saving grace. For instance, at the end of the film, after Jesus has been crucified, Mary holds the body of her dead son with Mary Magdalene at her side in a modern amalgamation of Pieta representations in painting and sculpture. The shot is one of the film's most memorable and expertly composed, as if it were a study for a Michelangelo painting. Moreover, after the crucifixion, some brilliant camera work depicts the event as it would be viewed from heaven, in a swirling mass of color. This scene precedes a supposedly cosmic-inspired earthquake that destroys the Jewish Temple. Whether or not the earthquake actually did occur is irrelevant because Gibson was going for meaning and effect."

Tags:cinematography, history, inaccuracies, visceral, sound

Abstract
This paper explains that the violent nature of "The Passion of the Christ" has created a great deal of controversy, but the movie has largely been seen as an accurate portrayal. The author points out that, in terms of New Testament studies, the movie's reach is limited because it contains a relatively restricted look at Jesus' teachings and because the movie has been criticized as anti-Semitic. The paper contends that, perhaps, the movie's greatest impact has been on the culture at large because it has increased interest in Christ's resurrection, and religious groups have taken this opportunity to use the movie for outreach.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Impact on New Testament Studies
Impact on Culture at Large
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Gibson's movie has been criticized as being anti-Semitic in nature, an accusation that has an impact on New Testament studies as well as on larger culture. In the movie, Gibson decides to omit the line from John's gospel that shows Caiaphas' inner torment at sending Jesus to the cross. In omitting this line, it can be argued that Gibson's movie is anti-Semitic, as it clearly shows Pontius Pilate's inner conflict with his actions."

Tags:anti-semitic, violent, studies, resurrection, outreach

Abstract
This paper summarizes and analyzes Mel Gibson's movie "Passion of the Christ", explaining the film's theological, historical and artistic elements. The paper also explains that, while each of these elements are already controversial by themselves, in combination made the film even more prone to controversy.

From the Paper
"In the earlier category are moments like that in which Jesus falls and then speaks to his mother telling her that he will make "all things new." This quote is out of context, coming from considerably later in the Bible. The point is not that Jesus actually made all things new at this historical moment, but rather than Gibson wishes the audience to know that the purpose of this suffering is to bring about a state of newness and grace -- and not having time to make a film of the entire history of Christianity, he moves this vital point into the narrative, making it prophetic rather than active."

Tags:christian, community, emotional, responses, mystic, vision, ecumenism, iconography

Abstract
This paper presents a study of the scholarly and cultural ramifications of Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ." The impact of the film on New Testament studies is considered. The paper discusses the general cultural ramifications of the film.

From the Paper
"Any film concerning Christ's passion is a combination of the four Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Gibson's film is no exception, yet there are some points of emphasis in this particular work that may impact New Testament studies significantly. The first of these is the emphasis on the Jewish nation as sinners, rejecters of Christ and directly guilty for the crucifixion. The second is the emphasis on the brutality of Christ's death in preference to the other elements of the salvation message, such as God's love and Christ's resurrection."

Tags:gospel, crucifixion, resurrection

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the narratives of passion in the New Testament.

Abstract
The writer explains why "The Gospel of Mark" is the least polished of the four Gospels, albeit the author reveals a talent for graphic description. The writer of this paper details and analyzes various passages from the the book. The narrative opens with the preaching of John the Baptist who represents the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Following the baptism and temptation of Jesus, Mark relates his messianic ministry and then quickly takes the reader to the climax, being the week of Jesus' passion at Jerusalem which culminates in the crucifixion. The writer ponders the author's intent in penning this book and contends that it remains unclear whether or not the author's aim was to influence his fellow Christians or to simply tell the story of Jesus Christ as an historical event. This paper delves into the views and opinions of various theologians and scholars who contend that the primary purpose of "The Gospel of Mark" is to trace a genuine sequence of historical events. This in-depth paper also details one of the most important areas in the book, the passionate narrative which begins with the priests plotting the death of Jesus and concludes with the crucifixion.

From the Paper
"When at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus' identity is questioned, and the author thus provides some background as to this question. First, when Jesus enters the synagogue at Capernaum, those in attendance are "astonished by his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes" In verse 28, as a result of Jesus' teachings in the synagogue, "immediately, his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee." Once again, the strength of these verses illustrates that Jesus is a power to be reckoned with, due to his knowledge and God's proclamation that he is the only Son of God. Jesus then recruits other disciples, such as James and John, and decides to spread the Word of God to other parts of the region while doing good deeds, like miraculously healing the sick and the blind. As a symbol of his personality, Jesus does not accept the role of prophet and then forbids his disciples to spread the idea that he is the messiah, due to "the contemporary messianic ideals of the Jews which he rejected."

Tags:history, jerusalem, bible, jesus, crucifixion, theology, gospels

Abstract
This paper presents a description of the piece of art known as "Diptych", which portrays a series of scenes from the life of Christ, beginning with the Annunciation and proceeding through his birth, adoration by the Magi, betrayal, death, ascension, and the final gift of his spirit to the people at Pentecost.

From the Paper
"Stylistically, this piece seems both common to its time and yet also enlightening as to its historical moment. There is a certain classical stylization to the flow of the drapery and clothing about the figures which has evolved from the more formless shapes of the earlier middle ages, and hints at an evolving classicism and awareness of form that heralds the oncoming Rennaissance. The characters are in constant contorting motion, and the drapery about them is used to accentuate the angles at which they are caught, and an articulated body is visible below. "In the Gothic figure no such differentiation exists" (Iskold), until the Gothic begins to blend into the Rennaissance."

Tags:renaissance, style, christ, bible

Abstract
This paper explores how a human should respond to the apprehension of horrible pain unto death. This question is considered in the essay "In the Face of Evil," which discusses the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Thomas Merton in light of the teachings of the Gospel of Mark, the shortest of the Gospels and in many ways the most violent, being described as little more than a passion account with a lengthy introduction.

From the Paper
"What is the good man, the just man, called upon to do in the face of evil? It was perhaps inevitable that Dietrich Bonhoeffer would have to confront these questions, and die giving voice to his answers. He had come from a comfortable, upper middle class family in Germany, but had journeyed to the United States to teach at the Union Theological Seminary. Acknowledged as a ground-breaking theologian, Bonhoeffer spent his weekends at a church in Harlem, teaching and also learning the necessity of a gospel of social justice and immersing himself in the intense worship of African Americans."

Tags:crucifixion, jesus christ, death