Since this is a Christian board, I thought I try and find out what people's thoughts are on Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera treatment of the "greatest story ever told".
It portrays Jesus as very human and not very divine. He has a powerfully emotional solo called "Gethsemane", in which he questions the idea of dying on the cross. In the end, he agrees to do his Father's will, but ends the song with the challenge, "Take me now before I change my mind!" I agree it's not terribly biblical, but it is powerful and shows Christ in his fear and pain. He asks the same question any of us would ask if we were in that position, "Why, Lord, why?"
The show also centers not around Jesus, but rather his betrayer. This is the "Gospel according to Judas". The whole thing is taken from Judas' point of view and sees into his feelings, portraying him--like Jesus--as very human.
Mary Magdalene is also a figure of some controversy. Her big song, "I don't know how to love him", indicates some sort of wish on her part for a relationship with Jesus. It's never really defined though as a hope for a romantic realtionship or a platonic one. I personally never found her offensive.
I personally love this show, but I have a Pentacostal friend who hates it, calling it blasphemy. What do you all think?
It portrays Jesus as very human and not very divine. He has a powerfully emotional solo called "Gethsemane", in which he questions the idea of dying on the cross. In the end, he agrees to do his Father's will, but ends the song with the challenge, "Take me now before I change my mind!" I agree it's not terribly biblical, but it is powerful and shows Christ in his fear and pain. He asks the same question any of us would ask if we were in that position, "Why, Lord, why?"
The show also centers not around Jesus, but rather his betrayer. This is the "Gospel according to Judas". The whole thing is taken from Judas' point of view and sees into his feelings, portraying him--like Jesus--as very human.
Mary Magdalene is also a figure of some controversy. Her big song, "I don't know how to love him", indicates some sort of wish on her part for a relationship with Jesus. It's never really defined though as a hope for a romantic realtionship or a platonic one. I personally never found her offensive.
I personally love this show, but I have a Pentacostal friend who hates it, calling it blasphemy. What do you all think?