Categories: uncategorized
Date: 18 March 2008 06:25:27
Sandwiched somewhere between EastEnders and some real life crime programme last night was an episode of The Passion .
For the non-UK contingent, it's a presentation of hour programmes being put on for Holy Week, showing the last days in the earthly life of Christ. As a programme it's not bad, well acted and good costumes; far better than the Mel Gibson film that I didn't particularly like. It's also encouraging that a prime time audience are being invited to come face to face with the gospel. The website the BBC have designed to go with the programme is also positive and sensitive.
However, it is a programme that also left me worried. Worried that Jesus becomes entertainment and the story becomes one where the audience are never quite sure what is real and what is purely narrative. Worried that we have so commodified Christ and the gospel that it becomes harmless evening viewing. Worried that it is continuing to promote the myth of a western purely white God in a land where some of the players even retain their British regional accents. Worried that people will fail to see the challenge Jesus presents to them in the current culture.
So as you can tell, I am left not really knowing what to think. This is either an excellent bit of programming which should be widely praised or a worrying development and I'm really not sure which.