Peak Oil and the Passion of Christ

Peak Oil and the Passion of Christ: "SYNOPSIS: Essay by Neal Brandvik sees 'Satan in the Drivers Seat' as the world careens towards a collision with peak oil.

Every Good Friday since 2004, I remember the crucifixion by watching Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ on DVD. Since becoming aware of Peak Oil, something about the movie really stands out. It’s the way Gibson portrays Satan. It’s totally different than Hollywood’s typical depiction of evil. Gibson’s interpretation of Satan isn’t a little girl with her head spinning around, hissing and vomiting pea soup, but an androgynous character who is attractive to both men and women. Gibson’s Satan doesn’t announce a demonic presence by the smell of brimstone or some gaudy, outlandish attire. He isn’t shrill or threatening and doesn’t menace or portend harm. He lurks around unnoticed in the crowd, blending into the background. He whispers gently in your ear instead of shouting. He is the seductive voice telling you that you really need that Hummer H3, the compact model that gets 13 miles per gallon instead of 8 mpg. Gibson’s Satan is the one in the driver’s seat of our modern, petroleum-based civilization careening toward the cliff that is Peak Oil while we all look out the window and enjoy the scenery.

Since I became aware of Peak Oil and accepted it"