Following in the Footsteps of Failure Now after being rejected by film goers worldwide there is an attempt to import this morally repugnant example of just how low Hollywood can go to South Africa. Following in the footsteps of failure seems to be an obsession of some in our government. Old unsaleable pornographic rubbish that should have been pulped for recycling are now proudly displayed in SA sex shops; the outdated, proven failure that’s being abandoned by schools in America – Outcome Based Education (OBE) – is now being adopted by the SA Education Department; the reverse racism of Affirmative Action that is now being reversed overseas is being aggressively promoted here in SA; the disastrous gambling industry that further impoverishes the poor is being welcomed into our cities; and now this disgraceful distortion of history! “How is it . . . that the King of the Universe can be subjected to such ignominy and disrespect?!” asked Dr. James Dobson, President of Focus on the Family. “The most serious misuse of film craft in the history of film making,” was the verdict of Reverend Lloyd Ogilvie, of the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood. “I have never come across a more blatant attack on Christianity,” was the opinion of Dr. Don Wildmon, Executive Director of the American Family Association. “Absolutely the most blasphemous, degenerate, immoral depraved script and film that I believe it is possible to conceive,” concluded Bill Bright, President of Campus Crusade for Christ. The movie, directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Universal Pictures (whose parent company is MCA), is based on a novel of the same name written by Nikos Kazantzakis. A renegade member of the Greek Orthodox Church whose heretical and blasphemous writings led him into conflict with religious authorities in his native Greece, Kazantzakis was a Marxist-Leninist. His world travels included lengthy tours of both the Soviet Union and Red China. During his tenure as head of UNESCO’s department for the translation of classics, Kazantzakis helped spread the doctrine of World Government. Kazantzakis summarized his religious philosophy in his book, Saviours of God: “It is not God who will save us – it is we who will save God, by battling, by creating and transmuting matter into spirit.” It was this philosophy that guided him in writing “The Last Temptation of Christ.” A Humanist Portrayal of Jesus The movie opens with “Jesus” writhing in agony, tormented by spiritual forces. This blurring of distinctions between God and Satan is a dominant theme of the movie. Jesus is shown making a cross for someone else’s crucifixion, and it turns out that cross-making is his trade. The real hero of the movie makes his first appearance here. Judas berates Jesus for assisting in the torture of others by making crosses, and their dialogue establishes another dominant theme. The divinity of Jesus is denied Him; He is portrayed as just a man – and not a very good man at that. He is confused, bewildered, weak of spirit, unsure of mind, indecisive, devoid of true purpose – a typical anti-hero. Judas, on the other hand, is precisely the opposite – filled with a strong sense of purpose, strong-willed, and aware of the differences between God and Satan. Several scenes later, Jesus enters the brothel of Mary Magdalene and watches as a roomful of customers take their turn at fornication with the naked harlot. After the other men have left, Jesus approaches and says to her: “I want you to forgive me. I’ve done a lot of wrong things . . . The worse things I’ve done are to you.” Later, Jesus intervenes to prevent a mob from stoning an adulteress, who turns out to be Mary Magdalene. It is significant that, after saving her physical life, Jesus makes no attempt to save her soul. He does not tell her to go and sin no more. This scene underscores one of the film’s central themes: that the one most in need of forgiveness and salvation is Jesus! While in the desert, Jesus watches as two snakes appear and copulate in front of Him. One snake has the voice of Mary Magdalene. In conversation with an unidentified man, Jesus says: “I’m a liar,” He also says: “Lucifer is inside me. He tells me I am not a man, but the Son of Man, more the Son of God, more than that, God.” Judas and Jesus |