The Passion ~ Mel Gibson's New Movie

[Megan Campbell of Feather]

I wanted to post this for all to take a look at. Mel Gibson has gone out on the edge with this movie. Many think that the telling of Christ's life and will be the end of his career (or so they say). Apparently, this is the most true to Biblical scriptures of any movie ever done on the death of Christ.

The movie is in Latin and Aramaic (sp) with English sub titles. There is a movie trailer on the site and I must admit, it is very graphic. and brought me to tears.

http://www.passion-movie.com/

[Ysobelle]

Yeah. Some of us aren't really happy about his "vision."

ADL Concerned Mel Gibson's 'Passion' Could Fuel Anti-Semitism if Released in Present Form
New York, NY, August 11, 2003 … After having attended a private screening of Mel Gibson's new film, "The Passion," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today voiced concerns that the film, if released in its present form, "could fuel hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism" by reinforcing the notion of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus.*An ADL representative was present at a private screening of "The Passion" at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas.
*
"The film unambiguously portrays Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob as the ones responsible for the decision to crucify Jesus," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.* "We are deeply concerned that the film, if released in its present form,*could fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate."
*
The version of Gibson's film, as previewed by Rabbi Eugene Korn, ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs, contained a number of troubling themes and images, all raising the specter of "deicide," or Jewish complicity in the death of Jesus.
*
"Sadly, the film contains many of the dangerous teachings that Christians and Jews have worked for so many years to counter," said Rabbi Korn.* "This is not a disagreement between the Jews and Mr. Gibson.* Many theologically informed Catholics and Protestants have expressed the same concerns regarding anti-Semitism, and that this film may undermine Christian-Jewish dialogue and could turn back the clock on decades of positive progress in interfaith relations."
*
"We hope that Mr. Gibson and Icon Productions will consider modifying 'The Passion,' so that the film will be one that is historically accurate, theologically sound and free of any anti-Semitic message," said Mr. Foxman.
*********
ADL's concerns include:
*
* The film portrays Jewish authorities and the Jewish "mob" as forcing the decision to torture and execute Jesus, thus assuming responsibility for the crucifixion.
* The film relies on sinister medieval stereotypes, portraying Jews as blood-thirsty, sadistic and money-hungry enemies of God who lack compassion and humanity.
* *The film relies on historical errors, chief among them its depiction of the Jewish high priest controlling Pontius Pilate
* *The film uses an anti-Jewish account of a 19th century mystical anti-Semitic nun, distorts New Testament interpretation by selectively citing passages to weave a narrative that oversimplifies history, and is hostile to Jews and Judaism.
* *The film portrays Jews who adhere to their Jewish faith as enemies of God and the locus of evil.
Related Articles:*
• ADL OpEd: Gibson's Passion -- Why ADL is Concerned
* (New York Sun - 8/4/03)
• ADL Responds to Michael Medved, (7/22/03)
• ADL Statement,(6/24/03)
• ADL Letter to Mel Gibson, (3/24/03)
• Passion Plays in History and Theology
• The Oberammergau Passion Play

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

[Megan Campbell of Feather]

Jesus was a Jew, please let's not forget, and the Bible is all up to the interpretation of the reader.

I understand that they are going to release the film and have made changes not showing the Jewish mob against Christ.

My opinion of it is.... it was the first race on race hate crime, hate of the unknown and someone who is different than the rest of society..

I am looking forward to seeing the movie in its original form, I don't think it should be watered down for the sake of society. I am a Jew; I have studied religion in college and take no offense to the movie. I find that sometimes it takes real balls to stand up to the critics and sometimes we all know the truth hurts.

[Kristianne the MerWench]

What I find interesting is that the film may be "Biblically true" in that it follows the New Testament as we know it- jews calling for the execution of Jesus, etc. But the fact is that crucifixion was punishment reserved for traitors to Rome. And his crime, as was stated on Jesus's cross, was claiming to be King of the Jews. The Gospels describing the Jewish mob were written during a time of Roman occupation, so pandered to the Roman authorities. No way would the Jewish population have executed Jesus using a Roman punishment for a Roman political crime. Biblical truth is not historical fact, no matter what fundamentalists say.

That being said, I'm intrigued to see the film.

Just my theology geek $0.02

[Jeannie Fitzgerald]

What I find interesting is that the film may be "Biblically true" in that it follows the New Testament as we know it- jews calling for the execution of Jesus, etc. But the fact is that crucifixion was punishment reserved for traitors to Rome. And his crime, as was stated on Jesus's cross, was claiming to be King of the Jews. The Gospels describing the Jewish mob were written during a time of Roman occupation, so pandered to the Roman authorities. No way would the Jewish population have executed Jesus using a Roman punishment for a Roman political crime. Biblical truth is not historical fact, no matter what fundamentalists say.

That being said, I'm intrigued to see the film.

Just my theology geek $0.02

The Romans weren't overly threaten by Jesus inspite of being declared the King of the Jews. They wouldn't have bothered with Him except they were concerned about a backlash from Israel. Certain sects of the Jews (certainly not all Jews) were threatened by Jesus because He stood for what was, to them, the end of their power (to oversimplify things) and way of life. The leaders of these sects played the Romans like a fish so they would both sanction and do the dirty work for them.

People tend to view things in terms of black and white. Not all of the Jews wanted Jesus' death. But because a certain percentage did, people for the past 2000 years have assumed all Jews were responsible. Something else people lose sight of is that Christ's death at the indirect hand of certain Jews was part of God's plan. The crucifixtion fulfilled prophecy regarding Jesus' death.

As for modern day Jews being enemies of God, the Jews are still God's chosen people and are still part of his plan.

I'll have to wait to see the movie before I can judge it. I'm looking forward to seeing it but it's going to be a tough one to watch. I bawl enough at movies as it is.

[Megan Campbell of Feather]

Jeannie you are a wealth of wisdom.

Well said... HUZZAH!!

[Kiji]

And alot of people that arent happy about this move are assuming alot simple becuase of Gibson's father and the fact Gibson is relcunt to put his father down just because he has son pretty off ideas about things.

From what I've seen and read by people looking at it objectively, is that it is a very deep, veryemtional flim. And utterly ture to the scripture.

This is not the first time that a movie about Jesus life that some have said is anti-Jew and will create a back-lash against the Jewish community.
This probably as more than a little to do with the fact that for hunders of year from the middle ages to only a few decades ago, blaming Jews for Jesus death (and in the middle ages for pretty much every thing) was considered a very mainstream thing to do.

Reglion will always cuase a knee jerk reaction from some. As will a movie likes this being made by a 'movie star'.

Would the reaction be the same had a biblical historian made this movie?

But turly we won't know what the movie is turly like untill it is released and we are able to see it.

[lliberty]

Hello,

Assuming the worst in people and Acting on it, I think that is the Definition of Bigotry.

At least that makes sense to me. Prejudices are judgements from past experiences or decisions, everyone has them, that's life.
But bigotry takes prejudice one step further, you go out of your way to assume the worst and "punish" someone for something you assume they have done.

You exercise your power to make them pay. Right or wrong.


I have always thought the main problem with organized religion was all the people in it... myself included, heh.

There are always some people who are involved for the social/civil aspect of the "gathering of minds and hearts" that organized religion creates. Some have good intention, so do not. It has been that way for all of written history. In general Organized Religion gets it's "bad wrap" because of the bad intentioned ones and, to some extent, the ones who are along for the ride.

You know the Power-hungry type, into political power, because it controls people, and money, because it represents the power to change people's minds though "bought" actions. (example: "Oh, that Mr. Hitler, he's such a good man, he got the bank off our back about our mortgage. I do see what he means about 'those' people controlling our property. Such a shame. Maybe something can be done?")

My knee-jerk thought on the movie and the "fear of reprisal that could happen" is this:
Isn't THAT a bigotted responce? It's a movie, get a life.
Taking action against such a movie because of what "might happen" is, to my mind, just as much bigotry as the redneck who throws a bottle at some poor mother walking her kids in a veil.


I, for one, am glad someone is trying to make a religious movie, rather than a pop culture blockbuster.... I am Christian, but I would watch a religious movie from almost any faith, because I like to think and learn. So I look forward to seeing this one.

Sincerely,
Lyndon

[Ysobelle]

My knee-jerk thought on the movie and the "fear of reprisal that could happen" is this:
Isn't THAT a bigotted responce? It's a movie, get a life.
Taking action against such a movie because of what "might happen" is, to my mind, just as much bigotry as the redneck who throws a bottle at some poor mother walking her kids in a veil.

You know, that's all well and good, but don't ask us to be cheery that, from all reports so far, someone's making a movie that reopens centuries-old battles that some of us still fight to lay to rest. There are still people out there who hate Jews because "they killed Jesus." The last thing we need is Mel Gibson making a media stir with a movie that perpetuates that old lie.

It's very easy to say, "get a life, it's only a movie" when you're not the minority who has to live with the slander and racism.

[Bonnie]

I find it interesting how so much pain can be dredged up in a discussion of a movie about a man that lived thousands of years ago.

Let's just SAY that Jesus lived, that he was the son of God, that he was put to death by the Jews. Wasn't there a PURPOSE for it?

I mean, really...he died to save the sins of all mankind...a totally selfless act, correct?

How was this selfless act going to be committed without someone 'pulling the trigger'?

I'm not sure if it's coming across well, but in my mind, if Jesus' purpose on this planet was to save mankind from itself, then the ones who put him to death had a purpose that had been ordained from their birth. Jewish or Roman or whoever ... their role was inevitable. Part of God's plan for his son. In some ways, they are the deliverers of Christianity.

Jesus didn't hate anyone. His love was universal. It encompassed even those that killed him. If this movie shows that, it will not be a hate movie.

That said, I think I'll avoid this thread from now on...religious debates with close friends scare me. kisses and hugs all around