The Beardless Jesus – Part 4 (The Christus by Thorvaldsen)

Professor Buck is about to face a disciplinary hearing for his perceived apostasy from the Church. He’s calm, though, and even attending Sunday meetings with President Brown—the Church leader overseeing the hearing—in hopes of resolving things. The issue has stirred up public opinion, with some defending Buck and others wanting him excommunicated. When Buck meets President Brown, the conversation starts pleasantly enough, but there’s an obvious power dynamic. Brown brings up Buck’s controversial book, The Beardless Jesus, which critiques how modern art and Church practices portray Christ. Brown accuses Buck of opposing Church doctrine, though he admits the book is beautifully written. Buck challenges Brown to pinpoint where the book is apostate. He argues that his critiques of the Church’s art and institutional practices are aimed at inspiring deeper faith, not undermining it. He also emphasizes his years of devotion to the Church and the personal and familial toll this process is taking. The discussion gets heated but respectful. Buck defends his ideas about authentic worship and criticizes how Christ’s image has been commodified, even pointing out that the famous Christus statue is more Greek art than historical realism. Brown listens but remains firm, setting the stage for a tense hearing.