Delayed greetings to my friends and relatives,
Here is a story dad wrote about the Mel Gibson produced movie called “The Passion of The Christ”. Or, I should say, it’s about the public reactions to the movie which came out in early 2004. For the record: Dad didn’t see the movie and neither did I, for pretty much the same reasons. I’m not a ‘Horror Movie’ fan and didn’t care much about seeing another version of a Bible story that was sensationalized for the ‘big screen’.
Here’s something that many people don’t know and some would consider ‘heretical’ of me to say: The Bible was written haphazardly by many authors with differing viewpoints and writing styles. It was also written so the majority of people would understand it. In those times, most people were illiterate. So, The Bible stories were written in an oratory style, to be read out loud. In order to keep illiterate and superstitious people interested., the stories were written in a sensationalized fashion. There is much truth and historical fact throughout The Bible but, the truth was often stretched to fit the audience, much like news and Presidential announcements are presented in modern times . . . Did I just say that on top of making heretical statements . . . Double Heresy!!!???
I hope you all enjoy reading my dad’s stories as much as I. He was a very thoughtful and knowledgeable man who loved to impart his knowledge to others . . . . . . . . . . . . I was listening, dad, while pretending not to . . .
It appears there is only one more story left of dad’s compilation, including out-takes that I have included all along. This one, the next and several others, I added titles/headlines to as dad apparently wasn’t going to publish them or hadn’t gotten around to titling the stories. I have dozens of CD’s that dad had made of his stories and I think I found all he was planning to publish in book form. Most of the CD’s are copies . . . and copies of copies, etc. I will keep searching for more but, am confident that this is all. I guess the next step will be to publish the stories in book form. Self-publishing will have to be the method and I’m accepting suggestions for self-publishing programs/help. I would like to also gather stories/anecdotes about Dad/Don from relatives and friends to possibly include in the book. This could be a collaborative publishing venture if enough people respond.
Thanks for reading,
David T
p.s. Comments are very much appreciated.You can write comments and like or dislike below each story.
Passionate About “The Passion”
By Don Tschirhart
Excerpted from the unpublished book “It’s a Wonderful World II: A Retired Reporter Looks At Life“
Passionate About “The Passion”
A stranger stood behind me at the Wal-Mart Store fast check-out counter and asked me loudly, “Have you seen the Passion of Christ?”
He sounded fanatical. Not dangerous; just rabid.
“No,” I answered. He asked, “Are you going to see it?” To which, I said, “No.”
“What’s the matter?” he shouted. “Don’t you believe in Jesus?”
Other people in line turned askance at the loud comment.
I wasn’t embarrassed. If anything, I figured he should have the red face. I completed my purchase and walked away.
Ever since the “Passion” started showing many people have asked me if I had seen the movie or did I intend to see it.
To both questions I answer an emphatic “No.”
I’m sure some of the questioners, even my friends, were a little disappointed with the answer. After all I was born and raised a Christian, attended 12 years in parochial schools and received a college degree at Jesuit-operated University of Detroit. Margie and I have been active in many church organizations.
I’m sure some might think I was being disloyal to my faith. The answer is, “Not at all!”
I might seem to be nit-picking. So the producer has raked in hundreds of millions of dollars from box office receipts. Shouldn’t he be allowed to have some “literary license?”
“Not with my God, he won’t.” So I will nit-pick his production.
First, I’ve seen the TV ads and listened to dozens of people describe their experience — good and bad — while watching the Passion.
Some viewers were mesmerized by the harshness of the Roman soldiers, especially the lengthy sequence of the public whipping with blood and gore flying everywhere as the instruments of torture bit into Jesus’ body. One told me she went home and got sick. Another said she fainted.
Did the flagellation take as long as the scene depicted? Did the fanaticism and “literary license” by the film’s producer get in the way of facts?
TV ads show that after a very lengthy beating a bloody, yet strong Jesus was still able to carry a heavy cross for much of his journey to Golgotha before giving it up to a helper.
The scourging by two muscle-bound, trained Roman torturers, using their entire strength with their steel-tipped whips for the amount of time depicted in the movie would be enough to kill any ordinary person, even one in good condition like Jesus. It is doubtful someone who had undergone the beating could walk.
Which means, I think, that Jesus either didn’t carry the cross-bar or he wasn’t whipped as much as the movie claims.
Secondly, the movie shows a woman wiping Jesus’ face after he had fallen. There is nothing in any of the Gospels about the event.
Third, and I think most important to me is that the Passion is a horror story. I detest horror stories and refuse to watch them in the movies or on TV.
When I was a kid I watched Flash Gordon, and I even went to see Frankenstein and some other so-called horror stories. None of them showed much “blood and gore.”
On television murder mysteries are entertaining. Even real-life hospital programs don’t bother me. I have no fear of dead people and in my 42 years as a Detroit news reporter I’ve seen my share of shocking events without flinching or getting sick including the aftermath of a fast-moving train hitting a convertible that had four passengers.
Fourth, so many people have said Passion has changed their lives. I agree that this is possible and I hope it has happened to those who need a change.
More important is that I hope they remember what they have seen long after the mental message wears off. Too often a message like the Passion is a one-night stand with memories lasting overnight.
I have studied crucifixion, a common form of execution, have read the book, Spartacus, and know that thousands of his revolutionary backers were crucified along the Appian Way.
I even know that popes in the early years of Christianity condemned the wearing of a crucifix because it was a negative symbol of defeat. A cross was OK, but it should not have a corpse.
What I am trying to say, readers, is that I, personally don’t need to watch “Passion” to make my faith strong.
I think I’ll leave it as strong as it is.
Don Tschirhart
