Review: After Jesus -- The First Christians (CNN)
12/20/06 11:49 AM
By ED BARK
Divining the origins of Christianity is always fraught with peril. CNN ventures forth anyway with After Jesus -- The First Christians, a handsomely mounted, compellingly told alternative to news of holiday season revenue projections.
Narrated by actor Liam Neeson, the two-hour production premieres Wednesday (Dec. 20th) at 6 p.m. central time and will be repeated that same night at 9 p.m. Additional telecasts at those hours are scheduled for Dec. 23rd and Christmas Eve.
CNN calls on nine biblical experts, all of whom seem to steer clear of any overtly controversial observations. Then again, one person's truth can be another's heresy in such matters. So forgive this former Catholic altar boy for missing any flashpoints.
Whatever one's religious beliefs, CNN deserves credit for mounting an ambitious effort that never seems holier than thou. Its frequently stunning visuals make ample use of 3D-like tableaus that transform Biblical paintings into the TV equivalent of a pop-up book. The documentary tracks Christianity's many ups and downs from the crucifixion of Christ to the legalization of the faith in 313 A.D. by Roman emperor Constantine.
The late Peter Jennings also covered much of this ground in his two extended specials on Jesus and the followers who carried his message forward in the face of repeated and brutal persecutions by the Roman empire. All these years later, martyrdom for one's faith is still with us in a jarringly different context. And its non-Christian believers are every bit as fervent.
After Jesus -- The First Christians is a valuable viewing experience at a time of year when value systems should amount to more than how much we spend on gifts. CNN should be commended for instead devoting considerable time and money to an article of faith.
Grade: B+
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