Film sends message of humanity
Letter to the Editor
I am responding to Peter Byers' letter condemning the film, "The Last Temptation of Christ." As "a matter of conscience," I am compelled to honor Mr. Byers' request that somebody give a lecture BEFORE the film.
First, let me warn those of you who have not yet seen the film and think that a lecture before it is absurd. I am about to ruin the surprise ending. However, I will respond to Mr. Byers so that I may edify him, and others like him, who refuse to consider the possibility that this film, and the questions that it raises, might present something valuable to the discussion of Christianity.
"The Last Temptation of Christ," directed by Martin Scorsese, is based on the 1955 book of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis. When asked to defend his controversial publication, he stated, "This book was not written because I wanted to offer a supreme model to the man who struggles; I wanted to show him that he must not fear pain, temptation or death because all three can be conquered, all three have already been conquered. Christ suffered pain, and since then pain has been sanctified. temptation fought until the very last moment to lead him astray, and Temptation was defeated. Christ died on the Cross, and at that instant death was vanquished forever."
Disregarding Kazantzakis' Christian intentions, the Roman Catholic Church banned the book soon after its release. Despite the Church's position regarding the book, Martin Scorsese, a Roman Catholic who once contemplated the priesthood, saw passion in the work and decided to base his movie on it.
The film portrays Christ candidly as a human being and addresses the issues that all human beings struggle with in their daily lives, particularly, the temptation to sin. One would be foolish to believe that Christ was not tempted to sin. This film looks at Christ's last temptation: to save himself from the excruciatingly painful, blood dripping crucifixion he suffered on the cross. The film takes an unexpected turn when we see Christ miraculously free himself from the cross and treat himself to a long and fruitful life: He gets married, he has children, his wife dies, he remarries and finally, he grows old.
Just as we begin to think that Christ sold out, we realize that the mirage has merely been a part of his temptation. Some Christians complained because this film showed Christ as being too human. That's strange, I always thought that was the message proclaimed in the Good News. Do not be afraid of this movie. It is only by challenging one's faith that one is able to strengthen it. Christ's last temptation was to save himself; he did not give in. Instead, he chose to save us.
This is the message of the film. I am convinced that atheists, agnostics (like me), non-Christians, Christians and religious fanatics alike, ought to enjoy together.
Patrick J. O'Donnell
Junior
Carroll Hall
February 2, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, February 4, 2000
