Expert panel convenes to discuss ‘The Passion of the Christ’

It has obliterated box office records. It is notorious for its violent depiction of crucifixion in the ancient Roman Empire. Some believe it to be a cinematic indictment of the Jews. Others consider it a faith-enhancing depiction of Christ’s sacrifice.

But how accurately does Mel Gibson’s film, “The Passion of the Christ,” portray the life, times and death of Jesus of Nazareth?

A panel of specialists convened by the UW–Madison Religious Studies Program will endeavor to shed some scholarly light on this highly controversial film at a public discussion on Wednesday, March 24.

“Our panelists will offer informed views on various aspects of the film, but we also hope that members of the community will join the discussion,” says Charles L. Cohen, director of the Religious Studies Program and a professor of history. “We hope that community participants will talk to each other and the panelists rather than past each other.”

In keeping with this mission, panelists will approach the film from various disciplines. Participating will be:

• Ronald Troxel, a senior lecturer in the UW–Madison Religious Studies Program and Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies. He has developed a three-course sequence on Christian scripture and will discuss how Gibson’s film treats the Gospels.
• Judith Wimmer, vice president for academic affairs and professor of religious studies at Edgewood College. A historian of American Catholicism, she will explain the place of Gibson’s sect within the contemporary Roman Catholic Church.
• Leonard Kaplan, Mortimer M. Kaplan Professor of Law, and professor of religious studies and Jewish studies at UW–Madison. He will comment on the film’s theology from the Jewish perspective.

The conversation will begin at 7:30 p.m. in 3650 George Mosse Humanities Building. For more information, contact Sandy Stefaniak in the UW–Madison Religious Studies Program at (608) 265-1854 or sastefaniak@wisc.edu.