Jesus: The New Way

Dr. Tom Wright, a former Oxford University don and the current Dean of Lichfield, seeks to strip away centuries of doctrinal interpretations by examining Jesus in a historical setting. Combining Wright's narrative with dramatic re-enactments of Christ's ministry, this six-part docu-drama takes a fairly literal minded stance, suggesting, for instance, "that all historians, except the most close-minded skeptics" accept Jesus's ability to give new health and life. Without any discussion of how he came to this conclusion, Wright quickly dismisses the liberal Christian view (not to mention followers of other faiths) that the Biblical miracles are symbolic rather than actual events. Production-wise, one tires quickly of seeing the same footage used over and over again, and--as is the case with so many of these Biblical adaptations--the cast is notoriously light-skinned. More suited to the Trinity Broadcasting Network than a college classroom, Jesus: The New Way would, nevertheless, find a welcome audience in public libraries and therefore should be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (V. Elliott)