The Passion of the Christ

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teenwriter

#26582 Mon, 29 Mar 04 10:11 PM

There's no question about it, the release of this motion picture has caused perhaps more discussion and debate than any other movie of all time. It continues to bring in bundles of money to the actors and producer Mel Gibson, and it is changing lives, opinions and viewpoints. But is this all for the better of for worse? Would the movie industry and the world itself have been better off without this movie? Is it causing more flames than anything else and is the attention it's getting good or bad?

These questions and more deserve answers and honest opinions from real people in order for everyone to form their own conclusions and views.

I also think that whoever responds with a reply should clearly state--before he/she says anything else--if he/she has seen the movie. (If anyone wonders) I HAVE seen it and have posted a few of my opinions about it in another thread.

Another issue that is important to think about is: Does the movie fan the flames of Anti-Semiticism in the world or is that just a mountain made up out of a mole hill?

Hmmm, interesting topic and I hope we get some good feedback here because it is a top news story in our country and around the globe right now.

Signing off,
Samuel L.H. V.E.

teenwriter

Joined on Mon, Mar 29 2004

New Member (26)

GuyD

#26602 Tue, 30 Mar 04 05:57 AM

I have not seen the movie and do not intend to. I might add also that I am a Christian, and I practice my faith.

I will not comment on whether the movie is anti-semitic or not because, as I say, I have not seen it. If it is anti-semitic, I want no part of it and would encourage people not to see it.

My objection to the movie is not on theological grounds. My objection is the violence protrayed in the film. I have seen enough film clips to cause me to reject the film on that alone.

GuyD

Joined on Fri, Feb 20 2004

USA Mid-Atlantic Seaboard

Junior Member (66)

rommie

#26613 Tue, 30 Mar 04 09:15 AM

I haven't seen this movie - but for completely opposite reasons. I haven't seen it because I'm not a christian. I haven't seen it because I'm just not interested in religion, period.

Teenwriter's original post (and indeed, the presence of this thread in this forum) suggests that this movie is in some way controversial. For the benefit of those of us who are still ignorant, could you perhaps give us a clue as to WHY and IN WHAT WAY it is controversial? If you assume that I know absolutely nothing whatsoever about this film, you will be quite correct.

Rommie

rommie

Joined on Mon, Jan 26 2004

Earth orbit

Regular Member (606)

GuyD

#26652 Tue, 30 Mar 04 03:08 PM

Not having seen the movie, I cannot speak from that perspective, but I have seen clips and read reviews. The two main reasons the movie is controversial seem to be that it is unduly violent and that it is anti-semitic.

There seem to be many Christians within my circle who have opted not to see the film for one or both of these reason. I am opposed to the film on both grounds.

If there are other reason that make the film controversal, I am unaware of them.

GuyD

rommie

#26677 Tue, 30 Mar 04 06:04 PM

Right then. Here are some extracts of stuff off the news...

PARIS, March 29 (AFP) - A demand that Mel Gibson's popular film, "The Passion of the Christ", be banned in France because of a perceived anti-Semitic theme was thrown out by a Paris court Monday.

"The film in question... cannot be considered an incitation to hate and violence against people of the Jewish confession or attacking their dignity or safety," the judge hearing the matter, Florence Lagemi, said.

The judge said the film did not threaten the safety of Jews "seeing as it did not appear that there had been major manipulation of the Biblical texts, nor that there film was made with an obvious aim to attack that community."

The Benlolos had claimed that the film, which depicts the final hours of Jesus Christ's life before crucifixion, incited anti-Jewish hatred "because it resulted in an erroneous presentation of the Bible by showing the Jews to be deicides (god killers), which is the cause of persecution against Jews."

Although the movie has been held to be faithful to the New Testament Gospels, some Jews have criticised it for repeating scenes from those texts depicting Jews as responsible for Jesus Christ's death.

I'm happy with that.

Christianity and Judaism are mutually inconsistent theologies. Christianity asserts that Jesus was the son of God. Judaism asserts that Jesus was not the son of God. These viewpoints cannot be simultaneously true. If you present something which is "faithful to the New Testament Gospels" then "repeating scenes from those texts" is the logical conseqence. If some of those scene "[depict] Jews as responsible for Jesus Christ's death" then blame whoever wrote the New Testament Gospels.

I suppose that what I'm trying to say - without disrespect to anyone - is that people should stop getting upset at each other's beliefs. I don't think this film is trying to upset anyone - I think, instead, that people are choosing to find things in it about which to get upset. But it shouldn't be like that. This should be a world in which people of all creeds can get along with each other in peace and mutual respect.

So, no, I don't think it should be banned - and for another reason too: I'm opposed to censorship.

And I would offer this (simple) advice too ... If you think this (or any other) film is going to offend you, just don't watch it. Problem solved.

Rommie

rommie

hitchhiker

#26689 Tue, 30 Mar 04 07:45 PM

I too have not yet seen this film (laziness and lack of interest). My parents are consecrated Catholics and I went to a very catholic boarding school with monks and everything! I have chosen not to subscribe to any religion (one day I'll start that thread!) but I do try to understand and be tolerant of the various religious viewpoints.

1) I dislike any film that is overly violent or prejudice - purely due to personal taste - I'm not too much of a believer in censorship; I would prefer people to be educated past influence.

2) I heard the film crew stating categorically that it was in no way anti-Semitic. I haven’t seen it yet so I can't comment beyond that.

3) I disagree with my (devout catholic) parents when they attack films like this. One of our monks at school used to encourage us to familiarise ourselves with opposing viewpoints - that I respected. Had more members of the catholic community I was familiar with been so “open-minded”, I may have remained "faithful".

4) Much of Hollywood marketing these days is aimed at controversial subjects purely to get a rise out of the 'numbed' masses. My advice to Catholics overly offended by such content would be to 'turn the other cheek' - bug a bully and the bully will bully - that's what the bully wants!

I personally think this sounds like another Hollywood stunt that the world wide catholic audiences are falling for ‘hook, line and sinker’. I’ll watch the film and get back to this thread.

hitchhiker

Joined on Mon, Nov 18 2002

Richmond, UK

Senior Member (3,507)

"They obstinately persisted in their absence." —HGTG

hitchhiker

#26691 Tue, 30 Mar 04 07:53 PM

Just saw your thread now (we posted at the same time but our time-stamps are different – o great a new bug for me to fix!)

I would hate to start a theological debate – they tend to wisp around reminding of that Shakespeare quote ‘sound and fury, signifying nothing’ – Christianity and Judaism are indeed mutually exclusive, as are 90% of the others. I’m blowing off steam; and going O.T

I just want to second this:

I think, instead, that people are choosing to find things in it about which to get upset.

I’d say that quote has been relevant for a good thousand years at least.

hitchhiker

GuyD

#26697 Tue, 30 Mar 04 08:07 PM

My gosh Rommie, you got a little carried away. I don't remember reading anything in any of these posts about banning the movie. You are the one who brought up censorship. Certainly I would not want to ban or censor this film.

The truth is, the Jews are not responsible for the death of Christ. That blame is reserved for Pontius Pilate. Judaism is the seedbed of Christianity. That some Jews believed that Jesus was the Son of God and some didn't is what gave rise to Christianity. No one can prove that either Christianty or Judiasm is right. Who Jesus was and is is a matter of faith. Faith is a matter of the heart, not of scientific investigation.

Did Mel Gibson accurately portray the passion? I'm almost sure he didn't, but I say let him portray it any way he wants to. I don't have to agree with his portrayal nor does anyone else.

I would agree with you that we should all respect each other's faith or lack of it and live together in peace and mutual respect. I don't think that's going to happen however.

GuyD

#26700 Tue, 30 Mar 04 08:14 PM

Hitchhiker, if you think Christianty and Judiasm are mutually exclusive, you might want to do a little more reading. I am a Christian, and I know my roots, and I greatly appreciate and admire the Jewish faith. Althought I am not Jewish by birth, I am Jewish by heritage, as is every Christian.

GuyD

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