Skip to main content
Log in

The Eye of Suffering: Reflections on The Passion of the Christ

  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This reflection on Mel Gibson’s Passion views the movie as myth and takes an archetypal perspective on the role of suffering in the deep transformation of both person and God. My approach is intentionally in contrast to most liberal reviewers who have taken issue with the movie from historical perspectives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Gibson, M. (Producer/Writer/Director), Davey, B. (Producer), McEveety, S. (Producer), & Fitzgerald, B. (Writer). (2004). The Passion of the Christ [Motion picture]. United States: New Market Films.

  • Halifax, J. (1979). Shamanic voices: A survey of visionary narratives. New York: E. P. Dutton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1967). Alchemical studies. In R.F.C. Hull (Trans.), Collected works (Vol. 13). Princeton: Princeton University Press.

  • Moore, T. (1990). Dark eros: The imagination of sadism. Woodstock, CT: Spring Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, A. (1998, January 12). Anatomy of melancholy. The New Yorker, 46–61.

  • Styron, W. (1990). Darkness visible. New York: Random House. A shorter version appeared in December 1989, Vanity Fair, 212–286.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hal Childs.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Childs, H. The Eye of Suffering: Reflections on The Passion of the Christ. Pastoral Psychol 53, 329–335 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-005-1363-1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-005-1363-1

Keywords

Navigation