Jesus Christ Superstar?

Question

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is a theatrical work that had an enormous impact on the way countless individuals think about the Christian messiah. Since popular entertainment and 'serious' literature can easily originate with and express the same basic idea or tuth, should its creators, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice, be considered among histories most influential theologians in the way that, say, Augustine and Aquinas are? If not, why not?

OK... pay attention when answering: this is a two part question. You can't just say, "I don't think so." You have to answer, "WHY?"

Answer 1

First off...I commend you for asking a question that's actually interesting and requires some thought to answer. Unlike the majority of posts here that are pathetically obvious attempts to simply promulgate people's own personal dogma.

Unfortunately...you're WAY over the heads of most people here who've never heard of Augustine and Aquinas...let alone JCS...and the majority certainly won't be bothered to learn anything prior to opening their blow hole...and blowing!

Jesus Christ Superstar is a wonderful show...and a quality production of it will rival the best operettas of all time...but
JCS was based largely on existing theology...w/ very little new theology to offer (and much of what was new is considered theologically incorrect). Judas's fears, concerns and eventual guilt...as well as Pilate's confusion...Mary Magdalene's unrequited affection for JC...it's a newly musical take on old ideas. Enjoyable...but mostly derivative.

And while JCS did spark a brief revived interest in Catholicism...the impact of JCS was tremendously short-lived in comparison to "Confessions" and "Summa Theologica". These masterworks (and hundreds of others by these same two) are still read by aspiring priests and theologians the world over...and have been for many many centuries.

There is a world of difference between an enjoyable religious-themed rock-opera...and the seminal works of the most significant theologians of all time.

If eight hundred years from now people are still watching JCS...I'll happily recant (from my grave of course :o) ...but until then it's just good theatre...but far less significant theologically and with far less long-term impact on religious schools of thought than the truly influential theologians of history.

Thanks for asking!!

Answer 2

i would say that yes they are influental but only because they are portraying there messege through music and music sometimes can be very spirituall, i am sure when he wrote jc superstar he probably had no idea the impact it would have but the characters were made real and people saw them with there own eyes, it may have been an interpretation of what one might have thought but the right spirit cam through when they performed thus making it truth because a higher being wanted it that way higher being being god, god uses people to get his messege across there no diffrent than a preacher per say

Answer 3

I would certainly hope people wouldn't pay attention to a work of fiction like "Jesus Christ Superstar" for factual information regarding Christ. And I personally would NEVER think of Andrew Lloyd Webber or Tim Rice as "influential" from a religious standpoint.

Answer 4

Jesus Christ should not be turned into Theatrical entertainment. I would say beware to anybody that makes Jesus Christ into entertainment.

Answer 5

Keep in mind, that the Jesus that was represented in that work, is not the Jesus of the bible.

Answer 6

JC Superstar was amazing. But Cats! cancelled it out :P

Answer 7

can't answer the question but I loved the movie, and the song

Answer 8

I love that Music!
Don't know the Answer to your Question, but I AM on my Way Out to Buy that CD!!!

Dit==============to! (Rapture Ready :)
and Thanks!!!

Answer 9

The Pope has his opinion, but don't trust it.

Answer 10

Do you believe what they say you are