Debate Over ‘jesus, The Evidence’ (Press, 24 October 1984)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Debate Over ‘jesus, The Evidence’ (Press, 24 October 1984)
On 24 October 1984, it was reported that the Anglican Archbishop of Auckland, the Most Rev. Paul Reeves, expressed his support for the screening of a provocative television documentary titled "Jesus, the Evidence." This three-part series, set to begin airing on New Zealand television on 23 November 1984, suggests that Jesus might have been a homosexual. Despite his support for the documentary's screening, Archbishop Reeves clarified that he personally did not agree with its claims, stating, "I happen to believe that Jesus was not a homosexual." He emphasised that he believed in the ability of individuals to think critically and use their intelligence. The documentary, which had previously sparked outrage among Christians in Britain, also questions various miracles attributed to Jesus as well as the Resurrection. Furthermore, it posits that Jesus associated with homosexuals and could potentially have been homosexual himself. However, the documentary reportedly includes evidence that contradicts the assertion of Jesus' homosexuality. The announcement of the documentary's screening has provoked backlash from some Christian groups in New Zealand. In particular, Dr Denis Browne, the Catholic bishop of Auckland, expressed his disapproval of the documentary's implications regarding Jesus' sexuality, asserting that he had not viewed it but firmly believed that Jesus was not homosexual. Should the documentary suggest otherwise, he would oppose its screening. The controversy reflects ongoing debates within religious communities about interpretations of historical and biblical figures, highlighting the tension between traditional beliefs and modern reinterpretations of religious narratives.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand