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2004-04-04 Home Front: Culture Wars

The Movie "Passion of the Christ" Now Showing Abroad

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Posted by Mike Sylwester 2004-04-04 9:44:09 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 What is it with these reporters and the biggest movie of all time crap. It won't even get close to Titanic. The only reason I bring it up is it just shows how bad reporters are in general and how you should not believe everything you read.

Posted by Ol_Dirty_American 2004-04-04 10:31:00 AM|| 2004-04-04 10:31:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I wonder why Gibson chose to focus only on the Passion. Could it be because this was the only place in Christ's story where he could inject typical Hollywood violence to make the film sell? Does he mention anywhere in the film why Jesus was so hated by some and was crucified?

The issue of placing blame on the Jews for Jesus' crucifixion is historically irrelevant. If the Romans considered Jesus politically dangerous to them, they would have killed all the apostles as well. That's common knowledge. Blaming the Jews however, is just being theologically ignorant (as well as being ignorant of the Bible).

Posted by Rafael 2004-04-04 4:12:17 PM|| 2004-04-04 4:12:17 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Right you are Rafe.
Rome crucified Christ not the Jews.

Posted by Raptor 2004-04-04 4:50:44 PM|| 2004-04-04 4:50:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't get all the hoopla is about,it does not matter if the Romans killed him or the Jews or little Green Men from Mars he was going to die anyway it was pre-ordained.

Posted by djohn66 2004-04-04 6:43:25 PM|| 2004-04-04 6:43:25 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I don't think the film was anti-semitic at all. Jesus was a jew after all, the pharisees (who were also jews) wanted him dead and got Pontius P. to sign off on it. Pretty easy to assimilate for anyone w/half a brain. Much hoopla over nothing imo.

Posted by Jarhead 2004-04-04 6:53:24 PM|| 2004-04-04 6:53:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Rafe, most, if not all of the apostles were executed by the Romans.
Martyred for the Faith like St. Paul and St. Peter.
In fact, I'd never heard the word "martyr" used for anyone but Christians who had given their life for the Faith until 9/11.

Posted by Jen 2004-04-04 6:57:37 PM|| [http://www.greatestjeneration.com] 2004-04-04 6:57:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I'm going to see it this week - before Easter. BTW the hand that nails the first nail belongs to Mel Gibson - indicating that it wasn't the Joooos who killed Jesus - we all did, and, as noted above, it was pre-ordained. No guilt or blame is appropriate, just thanks

Posted by Frank G 2004-04-04 7:06:07 PM|| 2004-04-04 7:06:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Jen, true. But they weren't executed with Jesus at the same time. This shows that Rome didn't care about the 'Jesus movement' at that time. It wasn't a threat. They saw it as a squabble between Jews.
Just to be clear, I too think that this who killed Jesus debate is a non-issue. Anyone bringing it up usually has their own anti-semitic baggage.

Posted by Rafael 2004-04-04 7:35:52 PM|| 2004-04-04 7:35:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Someone made a point on another thread that he saw the movie in Qatar. The muslims were crying, but just maybe some might start thinking about the message - Love they enemy.

Posted by Anonymous2U 2004-04-04 7:44:47 PM|| 2004-04-04 7:44:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 I wonder why Gibson chose to focus only on the Passion.

I got the impression that this movie was meant to be a rebuke or chastisement, or maybe just a reminder, to Christians who mouth the words and go through the motions without really considering the "historical" implications.*

We see bumper stickers and t-shirts bearing vapid expressions like "Jesus is Awesome!" and we hear people all the time saying Jesus died for our sins. I think this movie was Gibson's way of saying, "Um, guys? I don't think you fully understand just what that involved." An attempt to get Christians (In Name Only?) to shake off the passive, rah-rah attitude of cheering for Jesus as if he was the local sports team, and to contemplate what he endured - and, with honest appraisal of one's own life, whether it was worth it.

I think the Jews vs. the Romans hoopla is a red herring. The point isn't who did what or why. The point is: This is how bad it was. This is what was done. For you. Are you worthy of it? If there is an accusation in this movie, it's not directed at the Jews, but at those who claim to follow Jesus.

Just my $.02.

* I used quotes because there is, obviously, dispute as to the historical validity of the subject matter. I mean no offense.

Posted by BH 2004-04-04 11:11:18 PM|| 2004-04-04 11:11:18 PM|| Front Page Top

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