[TruthTalk] Passion of the Christ "R" Rating Article is by Tim Stevenson

[Judy Taylor]

From: "Marlin Halverson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I wanted to find out who wrote the clever article about the R rating of the Passion.  I found this source over the Internet and Tim Stevenson claims authorship.   Marlin is Tim Stevenson Canadian?  Is this him or are there more than one?  judyt The mix of spirituality, politics, and social justice are what makes Tim Stevenson such an important trailblazer for the LGBT community on Canada's west coast. Tim was the first openly gay person ordained by a mainstream Christian denomination in Canada - the United Church of Canada. In 1996, after being elected British Columbia MLA for Vancouver - Burrard, Tim was the first openly gay provincial Cabinet Minister, serving as Deputy Speaker and then Minister of Employment and Investment. In 2002, he was elected to the Vancouver City Council. Prior to his active life in politics, Tim was the minister at St. Paul's United Church in Burnaby. He spent several years in Vancouver's downtown eastside working with the inner city poor while sitting on the board of the First United Church. Tim has also worked in the Philippines and South Africa, where he was involved with liberation organizations working to overcome social injustice. He was also an international observer in the South African elections in 1994. Born and raised in Vancouver, Tim attended the University of British Columbia (BA), Holy Names College in Oakland, CA (MA, Spirituality) and the Vancouver School of Theology (M.Div). Tim also teaches religious studies at Langara College. Tim lives in Vancouver with his long-time partner, Gary Paterson. They have three grown daughters.     From: Tim Stevenson Yes I am. Tim Stevenson   rom: Marlin Halverson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 02, 2004 8:20 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Passion of the Christ "R" Rating Article Are you the author of the following?   The movie - the PASSION OF CHRIST is rated "R": The "R" of course is because of the violence, the gore...... In movie terms "R" stands for RESTRICTED , but in this movie "R" stands for RELEVANT , for REALISTIC , for it REALLY happened for a REASON because we were REBELIOUS we needed a REDEEMER , we needed to be RECONCILED , we needed to be RECOVERED , we needed to be REGENERATED . Jesus needed to be REJECTED so that we could have a RELATIONSHIP not just a RELIGION . The "R" is to REMIND us to REMEMBER what Jesus did to REMOVE our sin to RENDER Satan powerless, to RESCUE us from eternity in hell. The "R" rating is to show that Jesus was RESPONSIBLE for giving you REST . As a RESULT of his death Jesus RETIRED your debt. The "R" rating means that some will be REPULSED , some will REFUSE to believe, some will be RELUCTANT ,.....................