Check Out 'Passion' - Peter Gabriel's Soundtrack to 'The Last Temptation of Christ'

Some Good Friday listening for you.

Apr 07, 2023

Earlier today my pal

wrote about his appreciation for Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and how he tries to revisit it every couple years.

I was not overly impressed by the film when it came out and my opinion of it has diminished further over the years as its director Mel Gibson has now been so thoroughly exposed as an antisemite.

Is the film antisemitic? Not explicitly, but there is some troubling subtext there. I identified it in my original review, that there seemed to be an over-emphasis on the role of the Jewish high priests in Christ’s crucifixion, and that when these figures were interpreted as standing in for the collective Jewish people (as has been done throughout history) then that can be regarded as antisemitic.

However, I don’t begrudge people like Fred watching the movie and having a serious spiritual and emotional experience meditating on the horror of their God being brutally tortured to death in the most cruel and degrading way possible. The film is certainly not tainted beyond redemption by Gibson’s hateful views or how some people may misinterpret the Biblical narrative to justify their own bigotry.

Yet I do have to say: my favorite Bible-based film remains The Last Temptation of Christ, which as many regular readers of our publication may recall, even provided the inspiration for the name of our company when Andre Gregory as John the Baptist directed Jesus toward his 40 days in the wilderness, saying “The God of Israel is a God of the Desert, go there if you wish to speak with Him.”

Alongside Last Temptation’s engaging narrative, top-notch acting performances, amazing Martin Scorsese-direction, and challenging theological ideas, the film’s music is also incredible. Check out the lead track above and enjoy a couple more below as well as a scene from the film made all the more powerful because of the music:

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Check Out 'Passion' - Peter Gabriel's Soundtrack to 'The Last Temptation of Christ'

Some Good Friday listening for you.

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