2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Skeptics & Sages, February 20, 2007
This review is from: The Gospel According to Jesus (DVD)
The Gospel According to Jesus is presented by Norris J. Chumley. He takes Stephen Mitchell's book around American for comment and consideration. The September 1995 edition appears frequently throughout. While this is an intriguing way to market a book, the DVD turns out to be profoundly beautiful, humorous or revealing.
Christ's powerful words are read by people across America in situations that seem to give a visual reference. At times this enhances the words and at other times gives one pause.
A woman speaking of grief, sweeps away a tear. A family quotes passages about sowing and reaping while images from a farm are presented. People read passages while vacuuming, while writing, painting, sewing, working, swinging on a swing and even while their children laugh and dance for the camera. I think Jesus likes those sections especially well, to hear his words being read while children were present.
There are quite a few unbelievers who are willing to go along with reading from the book and this may cause some concern to anyone who considers Christ's words to be sacred. For some reason, I felt this was not a hindrance to Christ's message, although the author's exclusion of the resurrection seems a more serious decision. Ideas like "the Christ Consciousness" are discussed briefly.
Famous faces that appear include Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass, Erica Jong, Norman Lear, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. Their voices intermingle with a young girl who claims to be an atheist, a homeless woman on the street and a truck driver sitting in his truck with "JESUS" on a license plate in the front window.
The first section contains mostly people reading the word's of Christ and then in the second section many of the participants give their ideas about what Christ's teachings and life means to them. This crosses all cultural, religious and social boundaries.
The truth is, this seems to make Christ's words more accessible for the modern reader and it made me want to read the book. In the brief time I have walked this earth, I've noticed references to Jesus turning up in the most unlikely places - certain movies, books.
Jesus' wisdom, love and beautiful spirit lives from generation to generation in the heart's of anyone who is willing to look for his message. I think that even with the author's intention to dissolve parts of Christ's life story in his book, the people who believe in his resurrection share this idea on the DVD.
The idea of eternal life through a belief in Christ is not swept away in the mists of time; instead it again gives believers hope and unbelievers something to think about. I found the almost two hours of contemplation to be healing and comforting.
You may also enjoy:
30 Days to Spiritual Well-Being with Norris J. Chumley
The Soul in Love by Deepak Chopra
God's Blogs by Lanny Donoho
The Experience of God by Jonathan Robinson
Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present by Richard A. Singer, Jr.
~The Rebecca Review
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10 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Intresting but incomplete., July 24, 2004
This review is from: The Gospel According to Jesus (DVD)
I just got done watching this movie. I found it interesting to hear some of Jesus Christ teachings from various people (young and old, Christians and buddist). But I found some of their comments of Christ teachings to be completely wrong. Also the fact that they leave out the greatest thing Jesus Christ did, which is the Resurrection. They had a little 10 minute spot where some believe and some didn't believe. The author reminds me of a friend I had who said she believed in Jesus, but didn't believe in the Bible.
If you are enjoy hearing other people thoughts on the Gospel, I say watch it. But don't look to it for any growth in your knowledge of Jesus Christ.
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