Roland

I just saw a movie entitled "The Gospel of John," which played in theaters about six months ago.

It is an almost word-for-word adaptation of the fourth gospel, and has a narrator reciting the text verbatim from beginning to end. The thing I found interesting is how the movie's dramatization is, by necessity, very different from movies about Jesus based on a mixture of all four gospels. For instance, at Jesus' crucifixion, there is no darkness and no earthquake because those are not referenced in John's version. The movie also shows Mary Magdalene going to the tomb by herself, whereas the other films invariably show her going in a group (a la the Synoptic gospels). Jesus' cleansing of the temple also occurs early on in his ministry and not at the start of Easter week as all other movies show.

I guess my point is that when one tries to dramatize each gospel as it is literally written, it shows just how ridiculous the attempt at "harmonizing" all four accounts really is.

Godless Wonder

I'd like to see what Oliver Stone would do with the Gospels.

Docevil

Back when I was a fundie, I was loaned a book called (I think) 'The Gospels in Harmony'. The author claimed to have, using the original language, make the four gospels into one story, using 100% of the words, in the order they were written. It was actually a good read (though it's now out of print). He came up with two Temple cleansings, six denials for Peter, and even explained the Magi visiting in a house, as opposed to a barn.

Laurentius

...and this is how searching for God turns out to be busily fixing such poor incongruities that pepper the sacred text...

RED DAVE

Check out the excellent "Gospel According to St. Matthew" directed by a Catholic, Communist, homosexual for another point of view.

RED DAVE

Roland

Red Dave -

That is my absolute favorite religious film. I'm glad you mentioned it.