The Dividers: The "Passion's" critics fail.

National Review Online ^ | February 25, 2004 | Rabbi Daniel Lapin

[Mamzelle]

The real bitterness, the worst thing, of this whole embroglio was in the realization that these leaders of two formerly respectable Jewish orgs (ADL and Weisenthal)--don't really believe that this movie is either antisemitic or will promote antisemitism.

This was just so much cynical exploitation--trying to put legs on a legless horse, cloaking themselves in a phony baloney hair shirt-- to attract attn to themselves

Disgraceful.

[Enterprise]

"such a problematical film may have a very good and tangible benefit into goading Hollywood into producing more biblical films that are true to the Christian Community"

Jesus I: The Crucifixion

Jesus II: The Resurrection

Jesus III: The Return of the KING!

Hollywood may or may not get the message if the film is an outstanding commercial success. Imagine what Gibson could do with current technology in retelling things like "The Ten Commandments," or "Noah's Ark." They might not like it, but they are already thinking about jumping on board. My hope too, is that we don't see a bunch of Methodist leftist liberation theology Jesus types.

[Qwinn]

Thanks for posting this (I was going to myself till I found it on a search). Rabbi Lapin is a tremendously gifted writer and a true friend to Christians.

By the way, in case anyone's interested, Rabbi Lapin also wrote a devastating response to those who claim that Pope Pius XII was "Hitler's Pope". When I need to prove to anyone how ridiculous that charge is, well, if I was limited to a single source to back it up (and I'm not, there's a ton of sources to quash that slander), I would offer up his version.

Qwinn

[rrrod]

need some help here...wasnt there a movie a couple years ago that protrayed jesus as gay???...and if im correct there, didnt the same people that are attacking the PASSION give glowing reviews of the other?

[Qwinn]

Yup, sure was. In fact, there's been a ton of anti-Christian (particularly anti-Catholic) movies in the last couple of decades. I'm old enough to remember when it wasn't that way, when the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth came out (late 70's, early 80's I think). That was a pretty good miniseries if I recall correctly, I wonder why even Freepers don't seem to remember it.

Qwinn

[rrrod]

thanks....in the back of my mind i kept thinking there was such a movie but wasnt.100% sure..old age catching up with me ...all the best

[Fledermaus]

What's worse is they do to anti-semitism what feminist did to rape - marginalize it with their whining to the point of ridicule.

Abe Foxman degrades true forms of anti-semitism and violence against Jews by comparing a movie to the same.

Just like the feminists that equate almost any form of male/female sex as rape.

[Mamzelle]

I watched "Scarborough Country" and they had on Jackie Mason--I began to be much encouraged and hopeful that he had some good sense to bring to the Passion discussion. Boy, that was another disappointment. He railed at Gibson's irresponsibility, that somehow this movie was going to raise violence against Jews in Europe, but not the US.

As evidence, Mason used the usual "bad guy" Jews, Caiaphas and Annas and the bloodthirsty crowd, saying those things should not have appeared in the story...(!!!)...I mean, the calls "Crucify Him" are in the gospels.

I couldn't escape the conclusion that Mason believed that Christians presenting their own stories owe it to some Jewish committee for "clearance" before distribution. It was a chilling thought. I did not realize that this is actually a reasonable expectation.

Mason couldn't hold onto his temper, but there were a couple of rabbis there who could, who had sensible things to say. One fellow I'd love to hear more from.

And I've still heard nothing discussed in the media about Jesus Christ Superstar, which could have all these same criticisms levied at it as well.

[Fledermaus]

I agree, I didn't think Mason would go off like that.