The Passion

[Yorick]

Mel Gibsons film. Will you be seeing it?

I can't wait. The trailer had me in tears.

I can't believe the hoohar over it though. Is freedom of religion and freedom of artistic expression a myth now? An artist can't take a work that is regarded as inerrable truth by millions, and reproduce it faithfully? Is an only acceptable film one that is "revisionist". One that changes what the Bible or Qu'ran or any other religious work says?

People are calling it "antisemetic".

Was Braveheart considered anti-Scottish because the Scottish clan leaders betrayed the Scottish hero?

Is a film about the American civil war anti-American, because Americans are killing Americans?

I simply don't understand how anyone could consider a film about a Jew - Jesus - that holds that Jew to be God, could then be called "antisemetic". I simply don't get it.

Jesus was a Jew.

Jesus was a Jew.
When I read the bible, I feel love for Jesus, and love for Jews, not hatred.

When I see films like "the passion" I feel love for Jesus and love for Jews, not hatred.

The other HUUUGE point being that Jesus HAD to die. If the Jews hadn't killed Jesus, there would be no salvation, no grace, no indwelling Holy Spirit for any and all humans who accept it.

Killing Jesus benefitted humanity. Seeing a film that portrays Jesus agony, terror, pain and death is immensely distressing, yet rams home how much he loves me in such emotional depth.

I once played Jesus for a play here in New York. It was unbelievably draining emotionally. It only left me feeling more love for him.

What do you think? Should a Muslim be banned forom making a film, that though faithful to the Qu'ran, may be misinterpretted by some, in a manner that leads to violence? Or do we risk that in a respect for authenticity, artistic endeavour and freedom to express religious conviction.


HAS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE TOO FAR AND SWUNG THE OTHER WAY IN TERMS OF 'LIBERTY'?

A most poignant question about a most poignant film.

[Yorick]

http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulle...256E340077327D

In the best of all possible worlds, "The Passion of the Christ" will prompt constructive conversations about the origins of the religion that claims 2 billion followers around the globe, conversations that ought to lead believers to see that Christian anti-Semitism should be seen as an impossibility – a contradiction in terms. To hate Jews because they are Jews – to hate anyone, in fact – is a sin in the Christian cosmos, for Jesus commands his followers to love their neighbor as themselves. On another level, anti-Semitism is a form of illogical and self-defeating self-loathing. Bluntly put, Jesus had to die for the Christian story to unfold, and the proper Christian posture toward the Jewish people should be one of respect, for the man Christians choose to see as their savior came from the ancient tribe of Judah, the very name from which "Jew" is derived. As children of Abraham, Christians and Jews are branches of the same tree, linked together in the mystery of God.

[wellard]

I actually can't wait to see this film; it’s supposed to be totally raw emotion. And don’t worry Yorick about some people complaining. Look at the positives, the more Angry some "Christians" or some "Jews" get, the more publicity and hype will result, therefore more people will go to see and learn about Christ’s suffering

Excuse my religious ignorance here but does it follow the story per the King James Bible or an earlier edition?

[Yorick]

I believe Mel went to the original languages. Aramaic, and Greek, with Latin for the Romans.

[Stratos]

Originally posted by Yorick: Mel Gibsons film. Will you be seeing it?

I don't know, I already knows how the story ends.

I can't believe the hoohar over it though. Is freedom of religion and freedom of artistic expression a myth now? An artist can't take a work that is regarded as inerrable truth by millions, and reproduce it faithfully? Is an only acceptable film one that is "revisionist". One that changes what the Bible or Qu'ran or any other religious work says?

To be honest, I don't know that much about The Passion and I haven't heard that much 'hoohar' yet. As it is right now, I would guess any controversy would be based on two things mainly;
1. The fact that it's being produced by Mel Gibson and as such religiously inspired movies has entered the 'fine lounges' of entertainment business.
2. Wether it goes into 'lecturing mode' and tell us that it's literally truth or just tries to make an entertaining movie on a biblical story.

There have been plenty of movies and series made based on biblical tales, so unless The Passion will be something special and different, I don't see why it would be that controversial.

People are calling it "antisemetic". Was Braveheart considered anti-Scottish because the Scottish clan leaders betrayed the Scottish hero? Is a film about the American civil war anti-American, because Americans are killing Americans? I simply don't understand how anyone could consider a film about a Jew - Jesus - that holds that Jew to be God, could then be called "antisemetic". I simply don't get it. Jesus was a Jew. Jesus was a Jew. When I read the bible, I feel love for Jesus, and love for Jews, not hatred. When I see films like "the passion" I feel love for Jesus and love for Jews, not hatred.

Most Jews at that time probably didn't believe that Jesus was who he was claimed to be.

The other HUUUGE point being that Jesus HAD to die. If the Jews hadn't killed Jesus, there would be no salvation, no grace, no indwelling Holy Spirit for any and all humans who accept it.

And from a secular point of view, Christianity probably wouldn't have existed today had Jesus survived since his death and resurrection plays a major role in Christianity.

This post is getting very close to starting a religious debate. Unfortunately, we can't go there at the moment.

[Darkman]

I would rather that the movie producers of Hollowood make a movie about Jesus of Nazareth's missing history, you know where the bible convieniently leaves out a few scenes of his life (like 30 years). Now that could have been interesting. But Jesus's crucifixion? I already know how that story goes and if I'm going to watch an actor get crucified and resurrected I'll just rewatch Conan the Barbarian.

Sad thing is, this movie will probably make a killing at the box offices. I read an arctile that said many pastors across the country are preordering tickets for their congregation. LOL. Field trip on Sunday!

As for Passion of Christ being anti-Semitic, I'd be more worried that it would be anti-Protestant, seeing how the director thinks his Christian (but not Catholic) wife is going to hell.

[Morgeruat]

Originally posted by Stratos: Most Jews at that time probably didn't believe that Jesus was who he was claimed to be.

Very true, they were expecting Jesus to be a warrior king who would liberate them, not a prophet to enlighten them.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Darkman: I would rather that the movie producers of Hollowood make a movie about Jesus of Nazareth's missing history, you know where the bible convieniently leaves out a few scenes of his life (like 30 years). Now that could have been interesting.

Convenient? People recorded what they saw! Jesus started his ministry at age 30, and so those around recorded what they saw. Anything about his life as a carpenter would be speculation rather than based on the hard facts gleaned from 4-5 accounts of his life, from people who lived with him for those years.

In any case, Gibson has based it all on the last 12 hours of his life. We follow Jesus because of those last 12 hours, not because of his first 30 years. He's made a film about precisely the single most interesting event in his life.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Morgeruat: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Stratos: Most Jews at that time probably didn't believe that Jesus was who he was claimed to be.

Very true, they were expecting Jesus to be a warrior king who would liberate them, not a prophet to enlighten them. </font>[/QUOTE]Or a messiah to die for them.

We should remember that ALL the early Christians were Jews. To be a Christian is to be in a sense, Jewish. There are many Christians who embrace themselves as "completed Jews". Perhaps a solution is for Jews to openly accept the Christian calls for affinity, so that people gain the perception that persecuation of Jews is in a sense, persecution of part of Christianity.

In any case, the point stands, that Braveheart - a film about the Scottish Hero handed over to the English by the Scottish clan chiefs - is not considered anti-Scottish, yet some would call recounting the biblical accounts of a Jew, handed over to Rome by Jews as antisemetic.

It is really wierd.

No Jesus death = no salvation, no Christianity, no Holy Spirit, no forgiveness of sins.

[Djinn Raffo]

There was all this hoohah with Last Temptation of Christ at the time as well.