Arena Theater Point Arena, CA
Dr. Art Sussman
Retired Scientist; Board Member, Arena Theater Association
Jesus of Montreal— Science, religion and spirituality
Program Description
The film dramatically highlights a conflict between rote religious practice and genuine spirituality. Dr. Art expands that issue to include science. What are the relations among science, religion, and spirituality? Many people think that science teaches that we live in a meaningless universe and that there is no God. Dr. Art will provide a much broader perspective as the basis for a post-movie discussion and sharing.
Presented At
Arena Theater Point Arena, CA
Film Synopsis
A group of actors put on an unorthodox, but acclaimed Passion Play which incites the opposition of the Catholic Church while the actors' lives themselves begin to mirror the Passion itself.
This unconventional Canadian film focuses on an acting troupe hired to stage a Passion play about the life of Jesus. Led by Daniel (Lothaire Bluteau), the actors, all struggling with their own issues, work on a bold interpretation of the Biblical tale that challenges accepted Christian thinking and brings a burst of outrage from the Roman Catholic priests who recruited them. As the story progresses, Daniel's life starts to echo the trials of Jesus in unexpected and poignant ways.
About the Speaker
Dr. Art is a science generalist who transformed his scientific career from basic science research to assisting precollege formal education systems and informal science centers in how they teach and explain major science and environmental concepts. He pursued this path for a multitude of reasons, including his greater interest in exploring the biggest ideas in science across many fields rather than obsessively focusing in one small area. If he has focus areas, they are broad: global environmental issues and the meaning of life.