Although Americans disagree on almost everything, most of us still really love Jesus. According to a 2023 Barna study, 71% of Americans have a positive view of Jesus. This includes 84% of Christians (which raises questions about the other 26%), 58% of adherents of other faiths, and 40% of those with no faith.
But although we like Jesus, we still have wildly different ideas about who He is. This is reflected in the American movies and shows produced about Him, the most popular and enduring of which often have fans who are at each other’s throats. Fans of The Last Temptation of Christ often hate The Passion of the Christ and vice versa, because they represent contrary values in the American culture war. Meanwhile, The Chosen has somehow become universally beloved despite deep American divisions.
Because these depictions of Jesus capture different American subcultures, studying these movies can help us understand at least some of our discord as Americans. It may not heal the divide, but it might at least help us navigate it better.
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