[Destro]

I hope this movie is more accurate then Mel's other so called historical movies. The Patriot--no Americans were locked in churches that the Birtish then burned down and he got all of Braveheart wrong-right down to not having a bridge at the crucial battle and having the British princess serve as negotiator for Long Shanks.

To be Christian is to be vigil against vanity projects that cloak themselves as authentic.

This movie is not based on the Gospels alone.

In fact the scenes were Christ is scourged is not even accurate. The Romans who did such scourging were not sadists per say. The number of whippings dealt was prescribed by the Roman authorities - so many whippings for this offense-so many whippings for that. The Romans who had to do such things probably found them mundane and trying tasks that they wanted ended as soon as possible.

The scourging of Jesus to excess in Mel's movie is done to push a Roman Catholic extasy dogma rather than history. As is the selection of Latin as the primary language of the day rather then the actual but not Catholic dogma chic Greek language.

This is based on previews of the film I have seen and read about.

My approach is via historical analysis and not in support of any creed per say.

[freebilly]

As is the selection of Latin as the primary language of the day rather then the actual but not Catholic dogma chic Greek language.

The Romans spoke Greek in Jerusalem? Now that's news....

[chicagolady]

Lighten up.

[kayak]

This is based on previews of the film I have seen and read about.

Here is a report by someone who has actually seen the movie ... or, rather, experienced it.

My Experience at a Preview of Mel Gibsons's "Passion of The Christ"

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..the Romans who did such scourging were not sadists per say...

How do you know that?

[ZULU]

"The Romans who had to do such things probably found them mundane and trying tasks that they wanted ended as soon as possible."

Its hard to imagine WAHT the Romans thought. They probably kjsut viewed Christ as another trouble-making Jewish radical. The Romans had lots of problems in Palestine long before Christ appeared on the scene. The political picture there was as turbulent as it is today.

The Jews in Jerusalem had rioted when Pilot took over when the Legions moved in with their standards and shields, aome of which had animal symbols, including, at times, wild boars, on them (sound vaguely familiar?)

In the Roman Army, discipline was harsh. A legioary who fell asleep on guard duty was beaten to death by his comrades. A Legion which digrcaed itself in battle (a rare event) could be decimated.

It was such a cruel and violent world that even by our standards, it is difficult to fathom how these people thought. They could hate with a vengeance - read about the destruction of Carthage.

[cookcounty]

" As is the selection of Latin as the primary language of the day rather than the actual but not Catholic-dogma-chic Greek language."

That caught my attention too. The soldiers of the 10th Legion and most of the Roman Army in the Eastern empire were Greek-speaking mercenaries. If it's conversations between officers, it could be Latin, but otherwise it's bogus.

I'll also be interested to see whether Jesus' quotations of scripture comes out in Hebrew (the language he learned it in) or Aramaic, the "common trade language" of Judea.