What are the wild waves saying From classics to pop Out on a limb ReprintsA philosophy grew up around the baron's generously stocked table that denied religious revelation and shunned Christian morality, embracing instead the primal passions (the fundamental motives, said the philosophes, for human behaviour) and cool reason (which could direct the passions, but never stand against them).
An outspoken conservative Christian, the former action star has been a controversial figure in Hollywood since he wrote, produced and directed "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004, a gory depiction of the crucifixion that is one of the highest grossing films of all times.
Michael Sheen co-directing The Passion around Port Talbot, Damon Albarn writing his first opera, the Royal Opera House staging a docu-opera about Anna Nicole Smith, the children's book War Horse becoming a West End and Broadway hit – on paper all risky projects may be destined to fail but the reality is a different story.
An online petition, which has 125 signatures so far, is calling for Sheen to be knighted for his efforts in performing in and directing The Passion, which was a National Theatre Wales project.
"You rarely see authentic portrayals of people of faith," Gifford said to the man who also directed The Passion of the Christ and was recorded drunkenly spouting anti-Semitic insults.
Hurt feelings aside, the worst grievance Jews could direct at The Passion of the Christ was that it made its already wealthy anti-Semitic creator even richer.
Before that there was the The Passion [a 72-hour performance of a work inspired by the Passion plays co-directed by and starring Michael Sheen], which used all of Port Talbot.
The formidable mayor (Stefania Sandrelli) offers him a choice: Direct the village Passion Play, she says, which is due to take place on Good Friday in five days' time, or be denounced to the Cultural Heritage authorities and face ruinous fines and compensation claims.
