The popular science-fiction novelist Orson Scott Card, a practicing Mormon and a political conservative, really loved “The Passion of the Christ,” and has lengthy, interesting comments about the film and the reaction to it here. He also sends this open letter to Mel Gibson:

Dear Mr. Gibson, It looks like you’re going to make a profit on The Passion of the Christ. Please don’t donate any part of the profits to charity. Instead, use it to finance other films, so this faithful audience can have the visualized stories they hunger for. Keep the standards high, and the audience will only grow. This will do far more for Christianity — and religious faith in general — than any other donation you might make. Remember the parable of the talents, and keep putting this money at risk in service of your faith. Remember that these profits were given to you by fellow believers, because we trusted you as an artist and as a Christian to bring the scripture to life in a way that no sermon — and no lesser artists — ever could. And when award season rolls around next year, please withdraw The Passion of the Christ from consideration for any and all awards. It would demean this great film to be listed as a competitor for a prize. We don’t need to hear absurd and offensive statements like “The Passion of the Christ really has legs as a contender for the Golden Globe” or “The Passion of the Christ is a shoo-in for the best-makeup Oscar.” Hollywood shut you out on this one. Keep this film outside. Don’t let them use it as a tool to show how open-minded they are, after the fact. Since this is one of the few perfect films ever made, and since it deals with a subject matter sacred to you and to most of its audience, there will never be four other films worthy of being listed with it in any category.