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>>But I hope you can understand how laying out talk of Jesus writing swastikas in the sand

Actually, I was wrong, it wasn't a swastika. I saw the movie again today. My apology for the confusion.

Gibson flashed back to a scene where the Sanhedrin was going to stone a prostitute.

Gibson showed Jesus drawing a line in that sand. Then above that line, an S was drawn, Jesus then began to draw another character, that we did not see the completion of, to the left of the "S".

So Gibson leaves it up to the imagination of the viewer to decide what word he was thinking about, that began with "S".

Hmmm.. Let's see:

Satan was shown tempting Jesus in the garden, Satan was shown watching and smiling as Jesus was being scourged and tortured, Satan was following along and smiling as Jesus bore His cross on the way to be crucified. But Satan wasn't smiling when Satan was left screaming in hell as Christ ascended.

So, I'm going to use my Imagination and take a wild guess to complete the word that began with the "S" that was *clearly* drawn in the sand, by adding "atan". Satan?

    Ps 106:35-39
        35 but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
        36 They worshiped their idols,which became a snare to them.
        37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
        38 They shed innocent blood,the blood of their sons and daughters,

whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
39 They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.

Rev 2:9 (Jesus Christ said)
I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

And, before you go all "anti-Semitic" on me, I'm not saying that "all" Jews were a synagogue of Satan. That would be as ludicrous as saying that "All 240 million Americans blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City". In both cases, It was just a seditious few.... traitors within.

But, of course, that IS just my personal interpretation of the Word... and I could be wrong.

DISCLAIMER

Before going any further, I would like to clarify myself regarding my "rules of engagement", because I see myself drifting too far into the camp of apparent negativity, and that's not where I like to be.

In the interest of brevity, I'll use a bullet-point format and try to be succinct:

1) I'm enjoying the discussion, and want to make it clear that my tendency toward fiery prose is more from habit than anything else. Try as I might to keep myself in check, when I later review some of my more strident posts, I usually cringe at how hard-edged they sound. I enjoy direct and passionate debate, but I despise ad hominem attacks (even though I regrettably indulge in them now and then). So up front, I request that you bear in mind that, to me at least, the tone I wish to adopt is more one of forthrightness than anger (which I do not feel toward you) or self-righteous indignation. We're exchanging viewpoints, and mine is no more valuable than yours or anyone else's.

2) I have no intention of going all "anti-Semitic" on you. I am reluctant to hurl such a label even at genuine, avowed, self-described anti-Semites, because I reject the culture of victimization that has developed around the term. I also try to avoid using labels to shut down discussions, because I consider it intellectually dishonest. So even if you were sitting there dressed in an SS uniform (which I know you're not, of course), I would prefer to talk rather than shout epithets at you.

3) When I accuse you of bizarre sophistry, I am assailing your opinions or behavior (or my perception of it), not you as a person. Even if I think what you are saying is stupid, that doesn't mean I think you are. I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person, but I do many stupid things (I consider myself something of an expert on it, in fact). I actually have a great deal of respect for all my fellow FReepers, even those I routinely disagree with on fundamental issues (because of their stupid positions :^). So please bear that in mind.

I am hopeful that spelling this out will help mitigate what might otherwise seem like vitriolic cat-fighting. There is no malice here.

The truth is that I love to debate ideas, it is a passion of mine, I'm not as full of myself as I may seem, and that even my "nastiest" posts are invariably accompanied by a smile, chuckle or full-on laughter as I hit the "Post" button. I love this place.

Now, back to tearing into you... ;^)