Zrozumieć Kazantzakisa. Teologiczne niepokoje wokół „Ostatniego kuszenia”

Abstract

If we look closer at the discussion triggered by M. Scoresese’s film The Last Temptation, we shall see that the evaluations and criticism addressed at Kazantzakis are wanting in reliability. The film was based on his novel. It turns out that it is easy to accuse a writer of statements which one does not find in his writings at all. It is easy to refer to excommunication which has not taken place, and excuse callous attack on Kazantzakis’ seeming hostility toward Christian values. As of yet one has not found such an analysis of the novel The Last Temptation or of the whole writing of the novelist labelled as antichrist which would approach seriously the following statement found in the introduction to the novel: “I am sure that every free man, who will read this book full of love, will more and better than ever love Christ” Does the evangelical “new commandment” not oblige Christians to take up real efforts to understand those who seem to be hostile to the values proclaimed by Christianity? Is it not worthwhile at least to try to understand why such a man as Nikos Kazantzakis, who till the end of his life nurtured the desire of holiness, could not find throughout his life the image of God-Love?