Scottish church leaders give verdict on The Passion film

Ekklesia ^ | 3.4.04

[ambrose]

Scottish church leaders give verdict on passion film -4/3/04

Religious figures in Scotland have been giving their verdicts on Mel Gibson's controversial new film which portrays the death of Jesus, reports the BBC.

About 600 members of the clergy attended private screenings of The Passion of the Christ in Glasgow and Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Christian church leaders welcomed the film and said it was a movie they would encourage their congregations to see.

But one Jewish leader said he felt the film may provoke anti-Semitic reaction.

The screenings, the first in Scotland, were organised by a London-based Christian radio station which invited Scottish ministers to see the film in advance of its general release on 26 March.

Adam Dillon, minister of Knightswood St Margaret's Parish Church in Glasgow, said after the showing: "I don't think that any anti-Semitic claims are justified at all.

"Jesus was a Jew, and its quite obvious in the film what Mel Gibson is trying to portray there is not anti-Semitic.

"All he has done is been utterly wholesome and true."

But Ephraim Borowski, director of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, warned of an anti-Semitic backlash.

Mr Borowski said: "The production is exceptionally graphic. But that is the worm in the bud: to tell a violent tale so graphically is to exploit and condone that violence.

"Is this an anti-Semitic film? Only in the eye of the beholder. Is Mel Gibson an anti-Semite? Not on this evidence. Might the film foment anti-Semitism? Undoubtedly yes.

"For that reason and that reason alone it might have been better to have left it unmade."

But Church leaders who viewed the film said they would be recommending it to their congregations.

The Right Reverend Idris Jones, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Glasgow and Galloway, said: "I don't understand why anyone would take exception to this film at all.

"I am glad that I have seen the film, and I think that as a devotional aid to people who already have a Christian faith, it might be quite helpful."

Nigel Bryant, minister at Uddingston Church of the Nazarene, said: "It was powerful - I think it brings home what Jesus really did for us.

"I think we will publicise this film among our congregation, and amongst people on the wider fringe of our congregation, and encourage people to go along to really get the gist of what Christ went through for us."

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

I totally agree. It ranks near the birth of my children as a life altering experience. I think that I became accustomed to some vague warm and fuzzy sense of "He died for our sins on the cross" without REALLY feeling in my gut what that means.

Tomorrow will be my first time taking communion since seeing the movie. For possibly the first time in my life, it will not just be a ritual and a signal that mass is almost over, it will be what HE meant for it to be. I can't wait to take communion.

It is so hard to explain sometimes just how a mere movie could have such a powerful impact, but I realized today while talking to someone about it, that I don't think it was just a movie. I think God has used a powerful tool, so often used for evil, to spread His message.......how that must drive Hollywood wacko!!!!!

I find it amazing that Hollywood, who embraced The Last Temptation of Christ (a movie that portrayed Christ in a ficticious, critical way) can seem to handle Christ in a positive light. I also find it mind numbing that the very people who worship bed hopping, teen sex and blowing up 50 people a minute in slasher movies, seem to think, somehow, this will drive people to do bad things. The irony isn't really enjoyable as much as it is disgusting.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"But one Jewish leader said he felt the film may provoke anti-Semitic reaction. "

Another Christ hating anti-Christian outed. These creeps use vetted code words to try and disguise their hatred for Christians.

[keithtoo]

I saw the movie tonight with my wife. Honestly, considering the material, I didn't think it was too violent at all. I thought it was realistic, and nothing more.

I grew up Catholic, and I was an altar boy. I performed the Stations of the Cross dozens of times so I was familiar with the Catholic take that Mel used.

It was a fantastic movie, but it merely covered the material realistically. I mean if you do a movie about the Titanic - at some point a boat has to sink, right?

What I do think is that Muslims will go nuts when they see this movie. Don't forget, to a Muslim, Christ was the immediate precoursor of Mohammed. Seeing Christ abused will add fuel to their already delusionary fires.

Another insight is that, viewing this movie, ALL of the Jewish non-clerical characters, I mean ALL of them - and these were the good-guys in this movie - could be mistaken in terms of appearance for modern day Muslims. From the head coverings of men and women, to the beards on the men, the dark complexions, the 'stone age' environs of the town. I had to mention that because it jumped out at me. I can't help but see them identifying with the 'downtrodden and oppressed' middle easterners in this movie.

[pointsal]

Roman thugs, yes....Jewish backlash....where or why?
Go watch the aftermath of a bombing....there more blood there!

[Eala]

Haven't seen the Stone, though we did have a quick tour of Scotland a few years back. And we will return, if only in the off-season when they apologise for the wet drippy weather and we tell them, "We're from Seattle -- It's just like home!"

[katana]

Off the subject, but I once met a (by that time a bit elderly) lady who was a member of a Scottish group that "kidnapped" the Stone, I think back in the 50's. Don't remember the details (she'd been part of an at the time considered "radical" Scots independence group) but after she told me that I felt an instant rapport and quite a lot of respect for her. I'm planning my first visit to Scotland next year and Edinburgh Castle (where I believe the Stone now resides) will be one of the stops.

[Just mythoughts]

LOL a little "Braveheart" in her. What a remarkable history that Stone has, gives me chills typing about it.

I have a copy of the Scottish Independence which is very interesting.

I am thrill for you taking that trip. If you can take a picture to post on here.