Jesus Christ Superstar

[Mr. SmartyPants]

i do not expect a discussion. I simply have a question. Ive seen a commercial on this on tv, and im wondering. Is this broadway blasphemous? Or does it actually Praise Jesus in a good way?

[agasfas]

I saw it as a bit blasphemous. It's been along time sinces I've seen this. Also, I've only seen it once. ONe thing that got me angery was in one scene it made Jesus look like he couldn't handle all the prayer requests by the crowd--like he was incapable... The singer said something like, "I can't handle this, too many, get away... " Somewhere along those lines. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. Just my opinion.


Edit: Though forgive me if anything I've said isn't correct-- like my example. It's been a long time since I've seen this. Drawing a blank on the rest of the movie.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Hmm. I've seen the old movie and I don't know what to tell you. As agasfas said there is that part but other than that I found the movie to just be a musical made by secular people as it was an interesting 'story' for them. I don't think they made it to offend, but what do I know. Anyway musicals can be annoying. The only good one I've seen is the Phantom of the Opera theatre production and I enjoyed that a lot (don't ask me how as I hate the Opera genre).

What does your heart tell you?
That Frodo is aliv...
Um.. I mean decide for yourself wether you should see it, but use the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

lol im not planning on watching it, i was just curious, thats all

[GhostontheNet]

Some of my gripes on the film were Mary of Magdalena's song about how "he's just a man" (her words, not mine, I would use caps), that the film ends with the crucifiction and not the resurrection, which means that in all His pain and shame they felt His vindication wasn't worth mentioning, and that, to memory, the final song sounds much like a challenge against Him. Overall though, I wouldn't say its anything faith smashing though.

[Rev. Doc]

Jesus Christ Superstar was a response to the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s. It premiered in 1971 and was one of the first hits of some guy named Andrew Lloyd Webber. The play and film deals with the last 7 days of the life of Christ and was presented in a very modern pseudo psychedelic way that was very typical of that time in order to draw a younger audience. The viewpoint of all that is taking place comes from Judas Iscariot as he struggles with his own perceptions of Jesus. In the conclusion of the work he feels that he has been tricked by God into being the instrument of Jesus martyrdom. Furious that the man from Nazareth will be remembered as a "Superstar," Judas hangs himself. There are far, far better works dealing with the life and death of Christ and I don't find this work very Biblically sound.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Godspell wasn't a favourite of mine either.

[Yeshua-Knight]

if i was to choose between the Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell, i'd go with Godspell, it's takes straight from the book of matthew as i recall, and in the movie version they use matzah in their last supper type meal, aside from that, in JC superstar, there's one song that takes place in the garden, and it's supposed to be Jesus singing and He's singing to God and one of the lines in the song goes "You'd better hurry up, before i change my mind" referring to his willingness to die on the cross for our sakes, like i said, if i had a choice, i'd go with Godspell

[Ingemar]

Let's put it this way.

I went to a Christian High School. It was a good school by Christian standards. They performed Godspell. So I don't think you should have a problem watching Godspell.

NOTE: Though, Godspell does not portray the resurrection of Christ (our school added that).

[Yeshua-Knight]

this is true, however in the movie (which is the only version i've seen), the disciples of Jesus carry his body through the city, which in a way is like us, also being His disciples, carry Him with us wherever we go through our daily lives, so in that way it was appropriate, but you're right in noting that there is no resurrection in either one, in fact i had a problem with Godspell at first when i saw that, then my stepdad explained to me the significance of the disciples carrying him into the city, then it all made perfect sense

[Mangafanatic]

I know this movie was TERRIBLE and it bordered on blasphemy, but, amazingly enough, it was a major component in my mother's salvation. Her mom had always taken her to an aweful church that really didn't teach any Bible at all, but my grandmother didn't really realize how useless it was. Atleast, she didn't until she took my mom to see this movie. It was only after my grandmother stormed out of the theater and my moms started asking what was wrong with the movie that she realized that someone wasn't tellling her child who Jesus really was.

After my mom saw how upset my grandmother was, she got out a Bible to see what all the fuss was about. She searched through the Bible and finally came to salvation.

See-- God even uses movies like this to do His will.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

yeah my school performed godspell too

[termyt]

Go ahead and watch it, just understand that the play is not, nor was it intended to be, a biblical narrative on the life of Christ. Written from the POV of Judas, the screen writer is openly pondering whether or not Christ is who He says He is. I do not believe it is wrong to question this. The unfortunate part of this work is that it really doesn't draw a conclusion one way or the other (as showing the resurrection would certainly do). That, in my opinion, is the only real part I found bordering on blasphemous. I'd necessarily appreciate the way my Savior was portrayed throughout the movie, but I don't think it should rise to the level of blasphemy.

I do not recommend the show for seekers, as it is more likely to confuse then help, but for Christians, it could be a good exercise.

[Yeshua-Knight]

actually, a friend of mine's mother also came to a relationship with God thanks to viewing Jesus Christ Superstar, she was one of those kind of people that wouldn't set foot in a church, but she would go see a rock concert, and since it was a rock-opera, it was right up her alley, and somehow, someway, through God's infinite grace, it was instrumental in her gaining salvation

[CDLviking]

I know someone who came to Christ by watching the remake of Planet of the Apes (and NO, I am NOT kidding). Goes to show how God works in mysterious ways.

[Lady Arianrod]

I actually saw a performance of Godspell and I didn't find it blasphemous. The "carrying the crucifix" bit was odd to me at first, but I understand it now. I don't think I'd want to watch JCS at the moment, however, because I'm not a big fan of rock operas from that era.