Panelists to discuss passion provoked by The Passion of Christ

The Office for Religious Life and the Department of Religious Studies will present a panel, "The Passion About The Passion of the Christ," at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, in Cubberley Auditorium.

The panel discussion will be the culmination of a series initiated by Stanford Associated Religions in February, as a response to controversy over the Mel Gibson film released earlier this year, said the Rev. Scotty McLennan, dean for religious life.

"We had some concerns about the movie and what its impact might be, particularly with concerns about anti-Semitism and how Christianity would be portrayed," McLennan said. "It's a very different movie depending on who is watching it."

Panelists will be Charlotte Fonrobert, assistant professor of religious studies, who specializes in Talmudic Judaism and gender studies; Robert Gregg, professor of religious studies, who specializes in the history of Christianity; and the Rev. Patrick LaBelle, director of the Catholic Community at Stanford and chair of the executive committee for Stanford Associated Religions. Arnold Eisen, chair of the Department of Religious Studies, and McLennan will moderate.

The panelists will make presentations, to be followed by a general discussion that will include audience members, McLennan said.