Should children be allowed to watch Mel's The Passion of the Christ?

Question

After all, the moral of the story is "If God would do this to his son, what is he gonna do to YOU?!?!?"

It isn't nice to give your children nightmares.

If you guys are going to use THAT moral, it needs to be qualified that "God intelligently designed a world that required the horrible death of his son to save".

Still doesn't make any sense. Please re-edit your answers and try again.

Answer 1

I believe children should be taught about Jesus and his ministry; however, I saw The Passion of Christ and I could hardly stomach the beatings. I had to leave the movie and I'm an adult. I'm not sure that a child could handle such graphics. A child would be satisfied by just hearing stories of the Bible and going to Bible school. I don't recommend that movie for a child.

Answer 2

it would depend on the kid... some Jr HIgh kids and High kids could watch the passion, but its not for everyone.

For grade school kids 2nd thru 8th...
as a generality I would suggest a different movie. The Gospel of John by The VIsual Bible is PG13 and word for word the gospel in the NIV translation and a very high quality production. It limits the violence, turning the camera and only showing shadows or hearing sounds and I think a 2nd grader on up would not have a problem watching it...

It is more likely a child will learn something from The Gospel of John, it would be like stepping into the Bible whereas the Passion is good for adults put highly artistic license and emotionally powerful and generally assumes one knows the story and is in the style of the stations of the cross where the watcher cant tell what is Bible and what is tradition

I would not recommend 1st or younger watching either movie and I would find a more age appropriate movie for very young

Answer 3

i would say no but not for the reason that you say. that's NOT the moral of this movie, the moral is that God sent His Son to die for you not that He could do anything He wants with you and not care. in fact there's a verse in the Bible that says that He even cares for the little birds in the sky. if He cares for them how much more do you think that he cares for you(MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE!!!). God grieves when we don't listen to Him and go our own way. that's why He sent His Son to die for you, so that YOU could have eternal life with Him and the only other choice is to go to hell. if this gave you something to think about email me at [e-mail] or at my myspace www.myspace.com/i_luv_mash . oh but to get back to your question i don't think that children should watch The Passion of the Christ because of all of the blood and beating that goes on. (and by the way that's just barley a glimpse of how bad of a beating Jesus took for YOU.) God didnt pick the fate of this world man did we didnt have to become sinful thats just wat Adam(the first man) and Eve(the first woman) chose and as a result the rest of man kind was brought into sinfulness.

Answer 4

Dear Trolling, that is not the message. And NO: it should not be shown to young children.

But the children of this age see many horrors that should not be witnessed either. Mel never intended his movie to be seen by children.

The message of The Passon of our Lord Jesus Christ is that God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. God intends your peace and your blessing. But, your sin, as long as you cling to it, keeps you from Him.

My children never saw one violent movie until they were old enough to understand the corrupt heart of man. They never had nightmares. Not once. But, they have been led in peace and given hope.

Have you found hope? I wish you the best. Hope is out there.

Tek

Answer 5

That decision belongs to the parents and not to you and me. As for the moral of the story, I do think you got it wrong. The moral of the story is that Jesus, the sinless, carried the punishment of sin for all of humanity. It is not about what you believe. Believe what you want. You got the moral wrong.

Answer 6

No way!

I thought it was horrifically violent. I was surprised by how much Christians fawned over this guy's progressively violent demise, as if they were stimulated by gore. I agree that the filming was beautiful, especially the final shots with Mary, but it focused way too much on the cruelty of his death, as opposed to the textual character of Christ. It's as if every lash was an attempt to prove his divinity to the movie audience.

One wonders if Mel Gibson keeps a tissue box next to his crucifix collection. And not for tears...

And that wasn't the scary part. It's that people believed in it and screened it to their kids to remind them of "god's love.' My mother started to break out in foreign Aramaic whispers during the film, because she thought she was conversing with Jesus. Insanity!

Answer 7

We allowed our babies ti watch regardless of we watched, yet I doubt that that crappy movie could were between those issues. that's biased, poorly acted, and has a daft topic. no longer something for the babies to study except why now to not be a Christian.

Answer 8

Yes and that is not the moral of the story the moral is God gave his only begotten son so that I could live and you could live back with God eternally.

Answer 9

It doesn't matter what the moral is - or what or who the story is about. The violence is MUCH to graphic for children. End of discussion.

Answer 10

this is the moral: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Jesus LOVES us so much that he endured suffering so that we can be with him in heaven for ever!