Jewish Group Sees Gibson Film, Damns It

IMDB.com ^ | 8-12-03

[Paul Atreides]

Officials of the Anti-Defamation League, who had been pushing to screen Mel Gibson's new film about the crucifixion of Christ, The Passion, were finally allowed to do so Monday, and left the theater expressing concern "that the film, if released in its present form, will fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate." ADL national director Abraham Foxman, speaking for the group, accused the filmmakers of portraying "Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob as the ones responsible for the decision to crucify Jesus." Religious scholars who had seen the film's screenplay have expressed a similar opinion. A spokesman for Gibson said that the actor "for his whole life and career, has been vehemently opposed to anti-Semitism."

[Porterville]

This just in: Aging Nazis and Nazi decendents damn Schindler's list as a Anti-Kraut movie..... Say that Germans are only portrayed as killers even though they were killing other Germans..... That is all...

[John Beresford Tipton]

"accused the filmmakers of portraying Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob as the ones responsible for the decision to crucify Jesus."

Whereas, everyone knows it was those Swiss and Samoan bastards!

[ChemistCat]

If he indeed "stuck to the script" then this is really an assault on the Christian Bible.

I think any people in the world would do what was done to Christ. I have yet to see a people that does not have innocent blood on their hands. If the Jews want us to think they are better than that, they'd best come up with some proof that they DID NOT wave palm fronds at a man named Jesus from Nazareth one day, and cry for his blood the next.

I'm ready. Show me the proof that the events in the New Testament up to the Crucifixion* did not happen and never could have happened. Anybody? Hello? I'm waiting.


* Hey, I'm fair, I don't expect Jewish folk to disprove the Resurrection--for if they believed it they would be Christian!

[dts32041]

Ah you mean it wasn't the Fascist Islamists who killed jesus?

[onedoug]

And other prominant Jews have seen it and say no such thing.

Gee...'guess I'll have to make up my own mind. What a concept!

[ambrose]

Bwahaha.


Seriously, do you think the outcome would be any different today? And I don't mean with a Jewish mob, but just any mob.

Let's say you let a mob to choose between crucifixion for Jesus or Kobe Bryant... who do you think the mob would choose?

[ppaul]

"that the film, if released in its present form, will fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate."

Yeah.
We should be following the Fuhrer's lead in banning degenerate art, right?

[cpprfld]

I hope this fund raising attempt by the ADL backfires on them.

[Paul Atreides]

There is scarcely a movie around that doesn't present the American South as the only source of black slaves. To let a lot of people tell it, slavery began and ended in the American South. However, I don't see much media handwringing over that.

[onedoug]

I don't know about proof, but as far as taking issue with "history", you might find this somewhat interesting.

[alisasny]

GO MEL GO : ))))

[Alouette]

Ah you mean it wasn't the Fascist Islamists who killed jesus?

Well of course! They were enraged because he chased the moneylenders out of the Al-Aqsa Mosque (since the Islamists claim there was never any Temple there for Jesus to have chased out the moneychangers), ergo he he must have started a commotion in the mosque.

[ambrose]

Ummm... Mel Gibson can't pay for this kind of free publicity. The more they bash it, the more I want to see it for myself.

[chicagolady]

It is very interesting! Talk about ANTI-Semetic!!
Trying to prove a great Jewish man ...never existed!! Now that is ANTI-Semetic if I Ever saw it!

[El Gato]

I think any people in the world would do what was done to Christ. I have yet to see a people that does not have innocent blood on their hands

Indeed, Jesus himself was a Jew, raised in the Jewish tradition in a land of Jews. The only other folks around other than Jews were the Roman occuppiers of the land. They, the Romans, are of course the ones who actually killed Jesus, although the "Temple" leaders turned him in to the authorities and egged them on.

In any event, they, the leaders of the Temple and the Romans, were really only playing their role in fulfilling Jesus' destiny. He knew what was going to happen before they even heard of Him, so it's hard to come down very hard on them at all. It had to take place in a Jewish land, for Jesus was after all, the fullfilment of Jewish tradition, He was the Messaih, so who else could he appear amoung, other than the Jews, and who else could condem him other than the Jews? The Romans could have been anybody though, there part was not really important, nor did it require any unique cultural or religious heritage.

[Captiva]

When will people realize that it doesn't matter WHO killed Jesus?

[exmarine]

There is no no such thing in the U.S. Constitution or America as a "right not to be offended." So, if jewish groups don't like it, don't watch it! Otherwise, I don't care what they think. This is just pure unadulterated bias. There is no real fear this will cause a wave of anti-semitism. If they were really worried about anti-semitism, they would be as vociferous against the United Nations, France, and the European Union. The ADL is the same group that called Billy Graham anti-semitic -they are not credible and really do not even register on the laugh meter.

[wideawake]

Yup. My family will see it at the theatre early and often when it is released.

[PoorMuttly]

Anyone aware of any other reviews of traditional Christian-themed movies by this organization ?

[onedoug]

"He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lake-side, He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word: 'Follow thou me!' and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is." --Albert Schweitzer

[montag813]

If the Jews want us to think they are better than that, they'd best come up with some proof that they DID NOT wave palm fronds at a man named Jesus from Nazareth one day, and cry for his blood the next.

Jesus was a JEW. Repeat: A JEW What on earth is the big deal on either side? He was a threat to the established Jewish and Roman order.

CHRISTIANS: As a rabbi threatening the system, he left himself open to enemies. Indeed he WANTED to die. It fulfilled his destiny. What would have happened if they DIDN'T kill him and instead gave him a job in the Temple with a nice golden pension? Would everyone be happier. This whole thing is so silly..,how can Christians be mad at Christ's "killers" when the Lord died for their sins, and himself said to "turn the other cheek"?
JEWS: And how can Jews deny the truth that their leaders at that time wanted Jesus out of the picture since he threatened their corrupt rule. E ven without the Jesus episode, the Jewish leaders had so led their people astray that they would all be scattered to the far winds within 2 generations afterwards regardless. These are the people Abe Foxman wants to defend? If you are idealistic you'd better have soldiers who can back you up. The Jews failed disastrously in this during the Bar Kochba uprising. Other nations were far more clever, working within the Roman system to get what they wanted, and eventually had their own nationhood when Rome finally fell. So it could have been with the Jews in the Holy Land had they not overreached so foolishly.

[Last Visible Dog]

And Pilate, calling together the chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people, Said to them: You have presented unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people; and behold I, having examined him before you, find no cause in this man, in those things wherein you accuse him. No, nor Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to him. I will chastise him therefore, and release him. Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast day. But the whole multitude together cried out, saying: Away with this man, and release unto us Barabus: Who, for a certain sedition made in the city, and for a murder, was cast into prison. And Pilate again spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus. But they cried again, saying: Crucify him, crucify him. And he said to them the third time: Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him therefore, and let him go. But they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified; and their voices prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

- Luke Chapter 23

Help me out here, weren't the chief priests, and the magistrates, and the people and "whole multitude" all Jews? What do they want Mel to do? Change the story so it is more pc, hip, and up-to-date. Pilate may have been the authority that carried out the execution of Jesus but it was the Jewish hierarchy that wanted Jesus dead (because he challenged their authority and power)

[MEG33]

That is a truth that is not recognized among those who don't know the scripture or don't understand the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection.There are haters in the world that will find people to hate.Some pick the Jews,others pick Christians,some pick certain ethnic or tribal groups.Islam hates both Jew and Christian.I hate racism,bigotry and hypocrisy.

[FreedomSurge]

Anit Christian hatred is widespread throughout the Jewish community. What this movie is doing is bringing out into the open this hatred.

[Last Visible Dog]

The Passion is based on the Gospels...Four varying accounts of the same story. Other than that, there is very little to prove that the events actually DID happened. It's easier to prove that they never happened than it is to prove they did happen.

Actually that is not true. It is utterly impossible to prove a negative.

[PaulJ]

I think the ADL had their minds made up before the lights dimmed.

[TheCrusader]

I know that the revisionists have been able to dilute the gospel, but denying any Jewish culpability in Christ's death is just plain assinine.

It was the Jews who paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Him, it was the Jews who arrested Jesus; it was the Jews who bound Him and paraded Him to Herod and Ciaphus, spit on Him, beat Him. It was the Jews who marched Christ to Pilate and demanded His death. Pilate made no fewer than five attempts to save Jesus' life. He had Jesus scourged, hoping to quench the bloodlust of the mob of Jews, to no avail. Pilate wanted to release Jesus as part of his annual pardoning of a criminal, but the Jews demanded Barabas instead. Again and again Pilate confronted the Jews and said: "I find no crime in this man". Pilates wife also urged him to spare Jesus, due to a dream she had. The Jews would not be sated, they wanted Jesus' death and nothing else. (Earlier, the Jews tried to push Christ off a cliff, and stone Him, but were unable). The Jews threatened Pilate with Ceasar's name, saying it was illegal to have any King other than Ceasar, and that Jesus said He was a king. "HIS BLOOD BE UPON US AND UPON OUR CHILDREN", the Jews shouted; (Mathew 27:25) - at which time Pilate finally washed his hands of the matter and let the Jews have their way.

Though it can be said that our sins put Christ to the Cross, or that He allowed it freely; it can be said with historical certainty that the Jews were physically responsible for Christ's death. To take away their culpablility and try to put it on the Romans is a damnable lie. The A.D.L. are the modern Pharisees, once again seeking to crucify the Truth. Still, I don't see why today's Jews are upset with the historical reality of the gospels. What are they worried about anyway? Should history and the Scripture be reivsed to soothe the fears of the ADL?

[freepy smurf]

We rarely here about the W.W.II Mongolian, or Chinese, or Philippine, or Malaysian, or Gypsy, or Slavic (etc.) holocausts because such groups lack the massive marketing machinery necessary to make their horrific massacres an issue. Yet a total of 300 homosexuals were put to death under Hitler and the gays make an international marketing symbol out of the pink triangle the Nazis made them wear to symbolize their plight under the holocaust. It's all only what the media wants us to see.

[redrock]

SO...the ADL hates the film???

Too bad.

I'll go see it anyway........

redrock

[lugsoul]

Matt Drudge?

[Last Visible Dog]

I was responding to this statement...where someone was challenged to prove a negative. Unintentional irony, I guess.

Sorry. I guess I missed that.

[D Rider]

It's easy to fix.

When the film opens have a screen with John 3:16 or Gal 1 3,4 or some such scripture that acknowleges Gods gift of salvation and the Price paid for our sins on the cross. The Jews may be right, the portrayal of the crucifiction, absent of the message of christ willingly laying down his life and the price of our salvation because of our sin, may look like a murder by a bunch of Jews (to those that have not heard the message.)

The point of Christs passion is not what happend, but why it happened.

[irishtenor]

I thought it was Ronald Reagan's fault. It's always his fault.

[TheCrusader]

"When will people realize that it doesn't matter WHO killed Jesus?"

From the historical point it does matter, for the Christian Scripture clearly reveals that the Jews tried to kill Jesus on two occassions and failed, and then paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Christ. The Jews then arrested Jesus, put Him on trial and condemned Him for blasphemy. Then they marched Him to Pilate, and forced Pilate's hand to crucify him. "HIS BLOOD BE UPON US AND UPON OUR CHILDREN", the Jews shouted; (Mathew 27:25).

When anyone succeeds in obscuring or hiding these Biblical truths, they won't stop there - they won't stop until they have us all believe that Jesus Christ Himself was not really the Son of God. You deny one single Biblical truth, you might as well deny them all.

[Question_Assumptions]

Mel should simply put a disclaimer in front of the movie saying that the modern Jews should not be held responsible for the acts of a sect of Jews 2000 years ago. End of story.

[DPB101]

Religious scholars who had seen the film's screenplay have expressed a similar opinion.

One of those "scholars" is Amy-Jill Levine who says she has "a commitment to exposing and expunging anti-Jewish, sexist and heterosexist theologies."¹

The Catholic "scholars"--Mary C. Boys, Philip A. Cunningham, Lawrence E. Frizzell and John T. Pawlikowski--are more or less on the same page. They all work together touring the nation giving speeches on the sins of Christians.

[novacation]

I hadn't intended to see the film. But there have been so many whining, bitching posts about this film that there must be something, true or not, that the cry babies don't want us to see. I think Gibson is an honest man. The gang mentality has reached the saturation point.Quit whining.

[Last Visible Dog]

When the film opens have a screen with John 3:16 or Gal 1 3,4 or some such scripture that acknowleges Gods gift of salvation and the Price paid for our sins on the cross. The Jews may be right, the portrayal of the crucifiction, absent of the message of christ willingly laying down his life and the price of our salvation because of our sin, may look like a murder by a bunch of Jews (to those that have not heard the message.)The point of Christs passion is not what happend, but why it happened.

Good point but this is a telling of the story. Part of the story is the “the Jews did it” but the punch line is: “Thank God they did.” - in their effort to squelch the Son of Man, they helped save the world.

[ChewedGum]

It's not anti-semetic...it's just anti-Sanhedrinitic.

Gum

[rmlew]

Gibson could have made it clear that the Chief Preists and magistrates served at the pleasure of the Romans and were collaborationists in their occuption and colonization of Judea. That was historical fact and does nto undermine anything in the Christian Scriptures. Pilate chose the Annanite family, including Joseph (Caiphas) to be High Priests.
You don't even have to chjange dialoge. Only ensure that the relationship fo deffernce of these toadies to the Romans is made clear through movements like bowing.

[TheCrusader]

"The Jews may be right, the portrayal of the crucifiction, absent of the message of christ willingly laying down his life and the price of our salvation because of our sin, may look like a murder by a bunch of Jews (to those that have not heard the message.)"

The Bible is the most read book on earth, the Passion of Christ is known to every single Christian in the world. If this movie comes as a surprise to any Christian, SHAME ON THEIR IGNORANCE. Yes, Jesus freely laid down His own life for our Redemption, but there was a physical cause of His death, and that was the Jews. Would you have Mel Gibson edit the angry mob of Jews who arrested Jesus and dragged Him to Caiaphus and Herod from the Scriptures to satisfy the ADL and the phony "Christians" who hold some half-baked, diluted theology? Should Gibson ignore the fact the Jews were trying to kill Jesus all along, and that they paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Him? Would you have Mel Gibson forget that so many Jews were after Jesus' blood that even Peter and the Apostles fled for their lives, and Peter denied even knowing Jesus just to save his own life? Gibson's movie isn't being produced to incite anyone agaist the Jews of today, it's a production of the Passion of Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and it needs to be shown. The ADL are the modern Pharisees, and you namby pamby "Christians" out there who are afraid of the Truth make me sick.

[rmlew]

You are correct. A bunch of Roman toadies would make a claim against Jewish law (intergenerational crime) when killing a [political threat.

Go read the 4 Gospels and look for contradictions.

[John Beresford Tipton]

Is that Pee Wee Herman on the right,
with his hands appropriately in his pockets?

[rmlew]

The Sanhedrin served at the pleasure of the Romans and the Edomite Tetrarch ever since Herod had the opposition to the Hellenizers in the Sanhedrin murdered.
We are dealing with the equivalent of the Polish Government under Soviet occupation.

[The Iguana]

Thank you.

[rmlew]

Show the mob, but live up the historical facts: the "Jewish leadership" were collaborationists and did not represent all Jews then, much less Jews now.

[TheCrusader]

"Mel should simply put a disclaimer in front of the movie saying that the modern Jews should not be held responsible for the acts of a sect of Jews 2000 years ago. End of story."

"And all the people answered, 'His blood be upon us and upon our children" (Mathew 27:25) ~ I wonder if this has any bearing on the ADL's desire to crucify the Truth again?