Is Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" really anti-Semitic? [One FReeper's analysis]

Vanity | March 8, 2004 | Eala

[MissAmericanPie]

Gibson bent over backwards to make sure the movie isn't anti-semitic. I assume you missed the part where the henchmen of the priests were rousting their paid mob out of bed in the middle of the night to condemn Jesus and giving the group leaders money to pass out.

Kind of like the demonrats passing out cigarettes and filling their buses with homeless voters.

[tame]

"Is Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' anti-semitic?'" is the wrong question as I pointed out in THIS ARTICLE which someone pulled and placed in the "smokey room" for a reason I cannot comprehend.

[joesnuffy]

Could just be a 'reaction formation' to the collective guilt they feel....But have no reason to feel......

God went to the cross willingly...and if Jesus had not been rejected by the those who rejected him...then He couldnt have come to the Gentiles they way He did....

You cannot nail God to a cross without his express willingness and approval...anyone who believes that Jesus is God...cannot believe that at any time He wanted out...He could have opted out easily...

His followers and many other reliable witnesses saw Jesus ..heal the sick...give the blind their sight...heal lepers...and raise the dead...Jesus is God....and as such...could unmake every living thing on this planet with less effort than a blink of an eye...He could remake every human being into a perfect being...so why does He suffer us...?

The Heavingly dynamics of such a thing are way beyond any man's comprehension...

There is no 'collective guilt'....other than sin.....and ALL HAVE SINNED......and all are in need of a Savior...and the only one who meets the critera of that savior...is Jesus Christ....

It wasnt nails that kept him on that cross and it sure as heck wasnt Jews or Romans either...
It was love...cant be any other explanation....He layed down His life...that He might take it up again...and that who believes in Him might have everlasting life with him...

Born once ..die twice....Born twice...die once...

[elephantlips]

The concept of history, at least to the best degree we know it to have been, being pro or anti, is ludicrous. History is what it is. As long as The Passion makes an attempt to portray history as reported in the Bible, it is more neutral than anything else. Humans can only do so much in trying to be objective and barring any obvious efforts to "slant" the retelling of the story and allowing for visual adaptations, The Passion goes a long way to remaining true to that story. History, in and of itself, is totally objective. Its retelling carries with it the level of objectivity the reteller exhibits. In the case of The Passion, there are literally billions of books available for nearly any human to examine for accuracy in Mr. Gibson's adaptation.

[veronica]

I recall one article describing her start in Hollywood accompanied by her young child, how frightening it was for her when horny Hollyweirdos used to stalk her.

Maybe you could dig up the article so we could verify these claims. :) So she was just a sweet young thing exploited by "Hollyweird" types? Forced to squeeze into teeny-weenie bikinis and flaunt her awesome body? :)

[buffyt]

I agree with you 100%. I saw the movie the day it came out. Ash Wed.

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." --William James

"The devil's boots don't creak." --Scottish Proverb

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless." --Mother Theresa

Thou hast commanded that an ill-regulated mind should be its own punishment." --Saint Augustine

[beachn4fun]

Well, maybe it is as simple as the Jews are trying to deny history!

And, non-believer's are just trying to take away the message of the cross!

[Eala]

I assume you missed the part where the henchmen of the priests were rousting their paid mob out of bed in the middle of the night to condemn Jesus and giving the group leaders money to pass out.

Kind of like the demonrats passing out cigarettes and filling their buses with homeless voters.

Thanks for pointing that out. I saw the bit about rousting them but missed the payout part -- twice. I was probably trying to scribble some notes in the dark at the time.

[SJackson]

But as a Muslim Egyptian colleague wrote me a while back, "How can I be anti-Semitic? I am a Semite too!"

He may simply not be up on his English, or he may be using a common jihadist canard. The term has nothing to do with "semites", rather means specifically someone who hates Jews. To learn about it's origin, check into late 19th century German political history, a fellow named Wilhelm Marr and the Antisemitische Party.

BTW, there is an attempt led by some Arab groups in the US to get the term removed from dictionaries, or at the least to get the definition changed to hating Zionism. Aljazeerah amongst others are quite pleased that Mel's film has raised the issue again.

[Eala]

ping

[Eala]

He may simply not be up on his English, or he may be using a common jihadist canard.

It's hard to say which is the case. I have been asked to explain many terms to him, so it may be the former. And I did explain...

[SJackson]

A good collection of definitions in one place, though I doubt they'll convince anyone who doesn't want to be convinced.

[Eala]

Interesting list. Thanks!

[AFPhys]

I think it's kind of low class to demand a man denounce his own loopy father...

Not only that, but if Gibson DID so in the manner that his critics are demanding, instead of the mild manner in which he has thoughtfully disagreed, Gibson would be in serious violation of "Honor thy father and thy mother."

[AFPhys]

I believe that B-Bear is totally accurate in stating that "Everyone should see it a second time."

When I did, I was much less tense than I was the first time, and was able to see far more of the details that Gibson incorporated. I think that if you do, you'll find several of your questions or objections answered.

I was far better to meditate on, and see, what was being portrayed the second viewing.

[AFPhys]

I can second Liz's statement. I recall seeing just such an interview of Raquel in which she states such a thing, though I certainly can't supply anything in print - sorry.

[ahadams2]

Anglican Freeper movie review Ping.

[Clint Williams]

Catholic ping.

[Cubs Fan]

The movie is not antisemiitic

what IS TRULY antsemitic is the left's attempt to use Judaism as a cudgel to attack Christianity.

[Burkeman1]

Quite frankly I don't find any need to explain, justify, or defend it against any charge. It is an accurate portrayal of the Passion. Take it or leave it.