Gibson to Delete a Scene in 'Passion' - Re-Writing the BIBLE ?

NY Times ^ | SHARON WAXMAN

[steplock]

Gibson to Delete a Scene in 'Passion'

By SHARON WAXMAN

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3 — Mel Gibson, responding to focus groups as much as to protests by Jewish critics, has decided to delete a controversial scene about Jews from his film, "The Passion of the Christ," a close associate said today.

A scene in the film, in which the Jewish high priest Caiaphas calls down a kind of curse on the Jewish people by declaring of the Crucifixion, "His blood be on us and on our children," will not be in the movie's final version, said the Gibson associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The passage had been included in some versions of the film that were shown before select groups, mostly of priests and ministers.

[steplock]

At the rate Gibson is DELETING parts of the BIBLE because it offends this and that - Maybe we should ban the BIBLE as a "hate book" ??

SHAME on MEL!

[sinkspur]

Gibson was deleting something that wasn't in the Bible.

It was not Caiphas, but the crowd, that uttered, in Matthew, "His blood be on us and on our children."

And deleting this line doesn't change the movie one whit.

[jtminton]

I think it's a bogus rumor to make Gibson look bad. I try to take things from anonymous sources with a grain of salt.

[Theo]

Is that really the title of this article?

Also, It would be nearly impossible to include everything there has been written about Christ in a movie. Producers/directors have to make decisions about what not to include. Or it'd be a 10-hour movie.

Your concern about portraying Jesus is good, but it looks like you're overreacting. It'll be a fine movie.

[pgkdan]

At the rate Gibson is DELETING parts of the BIBLE because it offends this and that - Maybe we should ban the BIBLE as a "hate book" ??

Good grief! He's NOT deleting parts of the Bible. Get a grip.

Look, the media and entertainment elites hate Mel for this film...as we get closer to the release date there's going to be alot more of this kind iof attack against him. Claims of anti-semitism didn't work so now they'll challenge him on other grounds.

[JustPlainJoe]

Maybe we should ban the BIBLE as a "hate book" ??


I can see that happening in the not too distant future!

[Arthur McGowan]

I'm glad somebody already pointed out that the scene is NOT in the gospel.

[rebel25]

i read this scene was deleted 2 days ago in another post

[eastsider]

Gibson was deleting something that wasn't in the Bible.

The words are most definitely in the Gospel of Matthew; only their attribution had been changed.

[sinkspur]

The words are most definitely in the Gospel of Matthew; only their attribution had been changed.

That's pretty important, don't you think?

People are yelling and screaming about being faithful to Scripture, yet see nothing wrong with attributing a statement to someone who never said it.

[stuartcr]

It's just a movie.

[Ciexyz]

I'm glad that Mel deleted that scene. As has already been said, it's not true to the Bible, since Caiaphas never said those words. Besides, even though the Bible reports that THE CROWD uttered those words....so what. The phrase has been misused thru the centuries by haters of the Jewish people. Christ said on the cross, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." In this day and age, we shouldn't be talking about blame for the crucifixion.

That particular verse is one of the "tough verses" of the Bible, and it shouldn't be broadcast and dramatized today without additional commentary explaining the culture of those times. In short, that verse can be easily misunderstood and misused unless people are educated about it.

I'm looking forward to seeing the film on opening weekend.

[joesnuffy]

Matthew 27

:20 BUT THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS PERSUADED THE MULTITUDE THAT THEY SHOULD ASK BARABBAS, AND DESTROY JESUS

:21The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas.

:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Le him be crucified.

:23 and the governor said, Why what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying Let him be cruicified.

:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it

:25 Then answered all the people, and said, HIS BLOOD BE UPON US, AND OUR CHILDREN

[NCPAC]

Thank you for stating the obvious: Gibson is deleting a scene in a MOVIE.

M-O-V-I-E, movie.

[eastsider]

The scene is true to the Passion narratives in the sense that, like the narratives themselves, the scene is theologically reflective. To me, attributing the words to Caiaphus does nothing to alter their meaning or diminish their prophetic irony.

[Sabatier]

Jesus was the most influential and famous Jew who ever lived, among other things. It's sad that the Jews cannot find some pride in Christ for the way he changed mankind's history. His message has inspired millions of people for two thousand years to be better than they otherwise ever would have been. Do the Jews really believe a Western world built on paganism would have been a kinder, gentler place for the Jewish people?

[prairiebreeze]

Nice post. I saw a premiere of this movie. It's great. IMO

Prairie

[jstolarczyk]

Newsflash.....in Sweden and Canada, under new laws, the Bible does constitute "hate speech" for stating that if two men lay together it is an abomination in the eyes of GOD (I paraphrase). I understand in Sweden the Bible is currently in rewrite, I am sure Canada will shortly follow. If liberals have their way Church's here will soon have the New Inclusive Progressive Standard Version. There is a pro-gay Jewish group that claims to be rewriting the Torah. I quess if you cannot argue with God's word you just edit it!

[Manic_Episode]

Appeasement stinks, but I still can't wait to see this movie.

[jstolarczyk]

Jews will no more accept Christ as a prophet or the Messiah, then we accept Mohammad as a prophet. Both Christianity and Islam had periods of violence in the name of God, Jesus or Mohammad, but I find that all three of the faiths that praise God have some beautiful aspects. However, we seem to be in a contest for souls. Wouldn't you like to see what the future holds, or then again maybe not!