Posted on 02/28/2004 7:46:41 PM PST by rhema
Is it just me, or did Mel Gibson make Satan out to look like Sinead OConnor in his latest movie, The Passion of the Christ? Coincidence? I dont think so. And what about the baby with the old mans face that Lucifer was carrying around in that unholy Madonna-like scene during Christs scourging? I swear it was Andy Rooney.
And while were on the subject of Mr. Rooney hey, Andrew, its really time to give up the 60 Minutes gig. Your screed against Mel officially augers for your retirement, forced if necessary. For you to call Gibson a nut job is like Michael Jackson calling Peggy Noonan freaky. Give it up, Rooney. Dont ruin-e your career more than you have already. Just move down to Miami, get a tan, eat the early bird at Wolfies, continue to grow those fertile eyebrows and keep convincing yourself that Bertrand Russell was right. Most important, do us all a favor zip it.
What is up with the violent knee jerk regarding The Passion? Man, has this film struck a nerve, or what? The two top criticisms leveled at The Passion are that its anti-Semitic, and too violent. Theyre the spoken critiques, but I really think theres another agenda.
Lets dissect the above three amigos.
First off, The Passion is not anti-Semitic, its pro-history. Do the Jews want to erase from the historical record the carnage of the holocaust and its perpetrators because it makes Germans uncomfortable? I dont think so. Just because a few bad first century religious leaders yielded up Jesus to the Romans for crucifixion doesnt mean that well modulated 21st century followers of Christ will condemn an entire race.
I guarantee the Germans are not thrilled over Spielbergs Schindlers List. Nevertheless, the story had to be told and the movie had to be made. To shade the historical evidence of the holocaust atrocities because it might offend some Germans is ridiculous and does a disservice to the past, the present and the future of both Jews and Germans.
Think about it. Christians dont particularly like the fact that at every turn Hollywood, the media elite, the educational elite and the Liberal Left seek every opportunity to trash Christianity but it happens unremittingly. Modern Christians are immediately linked to the Inquisition or the Crusades every time they speak out publicly on an issue or pray over their lunch at the Olive Garden.
Christians know what Jews go through regarding persecution. There are rabid monosyllabic anti-Christian and anti-Semitic sentiments at work in the world brought on, primarily, by the WWF tag team of Islam and liberal secularism. If Orthodox Jews and committed Christians want to get defensive, these are your two main detractors, and thats where the ADL should focus their energy and resources.
All families, religions and nations have creepy stuff we would like to forget, that our ancestors did. We cant re-write the past just because it isnt soft focused and flowery. We would never learn if we were never forced to look in the ugly historical mirror.
Secondly, we come to the too violent charge. This is too funny. First of all the film is about a crucifixion, its not about a Wal-Mart Assistant Managers Day sale. Its supposed to be bloody, Captain Not-so-Obvious. Isnt it ironic that the critical squealers who disapprove of Mels R-rated reenactment of Christs death are usually the same ones who are okay with the gratuitous fake blood-dripping cans of celluloid AKA Natural Born Killers, the "Scream trilogy, the "Hannibal Lector series, Dracula, Texas Chain Massacre, Pulp Fiction, and Desperado?
The majority of movies nowadays are bathed in a sea of blood. Most sport a slew of voluptuous, high-heeled, screaming coeds running from a butcher-knife-wielding, slow-moving, hockey-mask and blue-jumpsuit-wearing oaf. Heck, if its not mildly to wildly pornographic, screaming and bleeding it just cant be fun!
And these morons who laugh and eat popcorn while watching meaningless death are now offended at Gibsons meaningful, historically accurate portrayal of Jesus scourging and crucifixion?
My ClashPoint is this: I can understand the Jewish concern of anti-Semitism, although I believe in this movie and from proper New Testament exegesis, it is unfounded and there is nothing to worry about. It is undeniable: the Jews do not have a stronger ally on the planet than Christians as we honor, look to and protect our spiritual, ancestral covenant roots.
And all this stuff about unnecessary violence? Hey, thats the way it was!
But what are these critics really concerned about? What is it about The Passion that really worries the secular liberal left? Whats up with the Christophobia, guys?
Are you afraid that Jesus Christ and his principles are going to have a national/global renaissance? Are you afraid the film is going to assist a Judeo/Christian effort to bring truth and dignity back to this country? Are you afraid that righteousness is once again going to be re-introduced into our land before you secularly sink it?
Are you afraid that biblical absolutes will be strongly resurrected into the public arena and thus potentially ruin your randy relativism? Are you afraid of personal accountability and responsibility in an age of blame shifting and bovine scatology? Are you afraid that the moral law is going to wreck your amoral life?
Thats it, isnt it? Thats why youre working so passionately to vilify The Passion of the Christ. Thats your real agenda.
In years past, effeminte movie critics and shady lawyers turned leftwing columnists could spew their talking points, and frame the debate.
No longer. The "the passion is anti-Semetic" and "it's too violent" charges were hammered out in the blogs, and hit out of the park.
Left wing critics who tried to interfere with this movie remind me of that Chicago Cubs fan (whatshisname) ---Steve Bartman?----who puts his grubby paws on the ball and prevented the Cubs from getting into the World Series.
Congrats Liberals----how does it feel to be Steve Bartman?
one can hope and pray. This is what seperates today's practicing Christian from those who just check the box on their "forms".
Another speculation I heard was that Jesus wrote the names of people in the crowd and some of the secret sins they committed.
The scriptures point out that Christ was writing in the sand, but never say what he wrote. My belif is that he was writing hebrew word for sin. So it would not be unimaginable to think Mel had Jesus write the hebrew sign for sin.
Just a thought.
I think the point of contention is whether or not the swastika would have any significance to members of the Sanhedrin, and whether or not it would, as you insinuate, be considered a symbol of evil by them.
Although the swastika does have a long history in south and east Asian religions, as well as in several cultures around the world (including ours prior to the Nazis), I have seen nothing definitive indicating that it represented evil to the eyes of ancient Jews. I have seen the swastika inscribed in Buddhist and Hindu sacred places, where it is considered a sacred symbol, but it was assuredly not a representation of evil.
For more on what the swastika has actually represented historically in various cultures, you may want to check out this informative article on Wikipedia. If, after reading that article, and perhaps conducting other research, you still think the swastika could have been used by Jesus to represent evil, I will be fascinated to see your explanation -- with sources cited.
Did you actually read any of the histories of the swastika pointed to by the Google search you included in Post #47?
I did. They invariably contradict your claims. To quote one example: "The swastika existed as a symbol of good fortune thousands of years before the Nazis even existed."
Let the one of you who is without guilt throw the first rock and, oh, by the way,
You have already thrown the first rock, by making a wild, unsubstantiated and insulting claim. You have thrown a second rock by asking an absurd and insulting question, addressed below.
If you are so sensitive to criticism, I can assure you that the problem lies not with us, but with your aberrant behavior. If I had posted such things, I would expect no less. We all are subject to the same rules. You are not a martyr.
People who throw rocks should not live in glass houses.
How's your project to sell out your people to the Romans and their pagan gods comming along?
What the hell are you talking about? I think it is quite reasonable for me and anyone reading this to expect you to clarify such a pernicious and slanderous question. I am not selling anything, let alone my people.
I'm sure the impetus for your crass question is interesting, if not true, but be assured that hurling false accusations around will not increase your standing with me nor on FR. Nor will it deter me from debunking your falsehoods.
I've elaborated on this elsewhere:
I am unable to substantiate your claims based on your elaboration, but I am curious as to how you have arrived at the conclusions you have. If you have any references that can reasonably validate your claims, please present them.
But I hope you can understand how laying out talk of Jesus writing swastikas in the sand and Jews having a project to sell ourselves out to "the Romans and their pagan gods", without at least something to back it up, comes across to those of us who have no idea what you are talking about.
You are entitled, of course, to engage in whatever bizarre sophistry you want. You are not entitled, however, to expect my unqualified support for it.
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