"the" (2)

[Stahlke, Herbert F.W.]

Steve,

Given Gibson's background, I suspect he was using "the Christ" in its
traditional theological sense, but given the theological background of
many of those who made the movie into a cause, I suspect you are right.

Herb


In a message dated 8/30/04 11:18:46 AM, hstahlke at bsu.edu writes:
<< I'm not sure that "the Christ" fits in with the other examples.  The 
article is used there to make a particular theological point, in part,
that 
"Christ" is not a name but a title, although there's more to it. >>

I'm sure you're correct.  But consider how often that theological point
could 
have been made in the media and elsewhere when "Christ" has been
mentioned in 
the past.  The departure in the name of a film is striking and may have 
filtered into other uses or perhaps reflect an on-going trend.  I think
it is more 
popularly "understandable" today than it would have been in, say, the
'50's in 
America.  And in that sense, the "title" is used to refer to what is
usually 
treated as a proper name and altered to connote a status.  In that, it
has the 
same connotation as something as profane as "The Shaq."  (Or in a
version 
just recently heard -- "...The Albert Einstein of rap music.")

Regards,
Steve