Krauthammer: "Gibson's Blood Libel"

Washington Post ^ | Mar. 5, 04 | Charles Krauthammer

[churchillbuff]

Gibson's Blood Libel

By Charles Krauthammer Friday, March 5, 2004; Page A23

Every people has its story. Every people has the right to its story. And every people has a responsibility for its story. ...[snip]

Christians have their story too: the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Why is this story different from other stories? Because it is not a family affair of coreligionists. If it were, few people outside the circle of believers would be concerned about it. This particular story involves other people. With the notable exception of a few Romans, these people are Jews. And in the story, they come off rather badly.

Because of that peculiarity, the crucifixion is not just a story; it is a story with its own story -- a history of centuries of relentless, and at times savage, persecution of Jews in Christian lands. This history is what moved Vatican II, in a noble act of theological reflection, to decree in 1965 that the Passion of Christ should henceforth be understood with great care so as to unteach the lesson that had been taught for almost two millennia: that the Jews were Christ killers.

[drlevy88]

From what I have read, some Christians find the violence of the movie uplifting

You got it exactly bassackwards. It's the SACRIFICE that Christ voluntarily made ("No one takes My life from Me but I give it of my own accord") that is uplifting to every believer. I guess you're offended that Jesus didn't just sprout a faucet labeled "blood" on His forehead, and turn it on.

[Al Simmons]

"I don't think so. I think the real truth has finally been flushed out. Tolerance is a one-way street for mostof these hypocrite Jews-mostly the liberal ethnic. "

Dude - calm down. Characterizing all Jews as hypocrites because of the works of a segment of secularized NON_BELIEVING Jews makes about as much sense as criticising all Catholics because of the works of that secularized NON_BELIEVING lapsed Catholic Teddy 'The Swimmer' Kennedy.

[BCrago66]

Hey Al - your argument, such as it is, doesn't become more convinving BECAUSE YOU END IT WITH A PERSONAL ATTACK USING CAPITAL LETTERS.

Do you know how to reason?

[wardaddy]

Good retort....I was looking for one meself.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

God help us all from the power of this movie.

God help us all understand the real message of this movie. A fair number of individuals seem to have completely missed it.

[thoughtomator]

I'm sorry, but heresy is not among even close to being a major sin in Judaism. I don't even recall any mention of it in the Torah. Jesus' "sin" was threatening the power of an entrenched ruling clique, nothing more.

[hellinahandcart]

There is simply no hatred for Jews expressed in this movie.

Glad to hear it, I'm seeing it this weekend.

I really, really wish there was some way we could all see it "clean", without all the baggage that was thrust on us.

[thoughtomator]

I think that even a lot of people who came out of it claiming to have had a spiritual experience missed it.

[eddiespaghetti]

Krauthammer "one with the ACLU?"

Boy, are you out of touch with reality.

[mercy]

Yeah, well I think Mel and for that matter most RCs have missed it to.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

I hope you are right. History indicates otherwise.

[Lancey Howard]

Ah, go ahead. Tell me how I should feel.

[BCrago66]

How can you live with the guilt? You're the guy who sinned, and yet you allowed Christ, the perfect man, to take the fall for your own sinful behavior. You're profiting from the blood and sacrifice of the better man.

[eddiespaghetti]

The Israel-first evangelicals perhaps will have their eyes opened by the anti-christian viciousness displayed by some of the neoconservatives.


Your own intolerance is showing. You seem to be studying in the Buchanan-Sobran school of history and rhetoric.

[Texasforever]

The Israel-first evangelicals perhaps will have their eyes opened by the anti-christian viciousness displayed by some of the neoconservatives

Buddy you need to go back to Liberty Forum.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

How is thinking clearly about a full 2,000 years of Christian history. No, he is not indulging in wishful thinking that no harm will come from this movie.

[Al Simmons]

"And similarly, I have agreed with people like Hugh Hewitt on most things until now, and am dumfounded to realize that he has blinders on as to the danger of this movie among the world's Christians, especially those who already continue to put on passion plays each year, in which things are no complete until blood is drawn and replicas of Pilot and the Jews are beaten. God help us all from the power of this movie."

Really? What state are such passion plays held? The Phillippines perhaps? Maybe you are thinking of the just-passed Shiite blood-letting holiday? What century do you live in?

Are you a troll or do you just need to get some help for your paranoia?

[drlevy88]

Show us the lynchings, mob or otherwise, of Jews that this movie has sparked? You can bet our liberal media would be shoving it in our faces day in and day out.

[thoughtomator]

You can. Go in expecting nothing more than a good movie. Ironically, I think being Jewish helped me see the movie for what it is - I have no vested interest in the story.

[Sabertooth]

God help us all from the power of this movie.

God help you to the power of the Gospel.