Scottish church leaders give verdict on The Passion film

Ekklesia ^ | 3.4.04

[ambrose]

Scottish church leaders give verdict on passion film -4/3/04

Religious figures in Scotland have been giving their verdicts on Mel Gibson's controversial new film which portrays the death of Jesus, reports the BBC.

About 600 members of the clergy attended private screenings of The Passion of the Christ in Glasgow and Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Christian church leaders welcomed the film and said it was a movie they would encourage their congregations to see.

But one Jewish leader said he felt the film may provoke anti-Semitic reaction.

The screenings, the first in Scotland, were organised by a London-based Christian radio station which invited Scottish ministers to see the film in advance of its general release on 26 March.

Adam Dillon, minister of Knightswood St Margaret's Parish Church in Glasgow, said after the showing: "I don't think that any anti-Semitic claims are justified at all.

"Jesus was a Jew, and its quite obvious in the film what Mel Gibson is trying to portray there is not anti-Semitic.

"All he has done is been utterly wholesome and true."

But Ephraim Borowski, director of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, warned of an anti-Semitic backlash.

Mr Borowski said: "The production is exceptionally graphic. But that is the worm in the bud: to tell a violent tale so graphically is to exploit and condone that violence.

"Is this an anti-Semitic film? Only in the eye of the beholder. Is Mel Gibson an anti-Semite? Not on this evidence. Might the film foment anti-Semitism? Undoubtedly yes.

"For that reason and that reason alone it might have been better to have left it unmade."

But Church leaders who viewed the film said they would be recommending it to their congregations.

The Right Reverend Idris Jones, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Glasgow and Galloway, said: "I don't understand why anyone would take exception to this film at all.

"I am glad that I have seen the film, and I think that as a devotional aid to people who already have a Christian faith, it might be quite helpful."

Nigel Bryant, minister at Uddingston Church of the Nazarene, said: "It was powerful - I think it brings home what Jesus really did for us.

"I think we will publicise this film among our congregation, and amongst people on the wider fringe of our congregation, and encourage people to go along to really get the gist of what Christ went through for us."

[Russ]

I finally went to see the movie today. For the life of me I can't see how anyone sees anti-semitism in this movie. In fact, the word "jew" is spoken only once and that is by a Roman soldier. It was the most powerful experience of my life, one I will never get over. It literally left me shaken...

[jaz.357]

AYE!

[VOA]

I finally went to see the movie today. For the life of me I can't see how anyone
sees anti-semitism in this movie.

I think conservative Jewish commentator Dennis Prager has summed it up the best:
In most cases, Jews and Christians will each be seeing a different film when they
see "The Passion".

Prager was the first prominent Jew that Gibson invited to view the film.
IIRC, Prager told Gibson that he (Prager) thought the film was well-done and
very acceptable; he didn't fear anti-Semitism from the film here in the USA...but was
concerned that it might spark some anti-Semitism abroad.

[ambrose]

Well, critics seem to be reduced to saying that while the movie itself isn't anti-semitic, it may provoke an anti-semitic reaction... uh yeah, whatever..

I really hate what some self-appointed Jewish "leaders" are doing with this film... we're in the Boy Who Cried Wolf territory now and it bothers me a lot...

[SwinneySwitch]

"...but was concerned that it might spark some anti-Semitism abroad."

Where, the Middle East?!

[ItsOurTimeNow]

[quote]It was the most powerful experience of my life, one I will never get over. It literally left me shaken...[/quote]

It took me quite some time before I was able to speak about it after seeing it.

There aren't enough words to describe how powerful this movie is.

[Just mythoughts]

YES!

Being of Scottish descent, please to hear their comments.

[Cboldt]

we're in the Boy Who Cried Wolf territory now and it bothers me a lot...

I looked into the criticism leveled by one Irish spokesperson, and found that he is a socialist/Marxist agitator. That makes me more sceptical of the motives of all who are leveling the anti-semitism criticism. Of course, I don't for a minute think all them are Marxists, but at least one of them is, and is using Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" to stir the pot.

[VOA]

Where, the Middle East?!

Well, I suspect some of possible places would be places like France, The Netherlands,
Germany and Austria...
where you do have mosques and synagogues in the same metro areas.

Actually, Prager (along with Michael Medved and Rabbi Daniel Lapin) are the
calming, sane Jewish voice on this issue. They pretty much dismissed the idea that
the film would cause problems here in the USA...while guys like Abe Foxmand/ADL
wailing even when they hadn't seen the film.

But now we see that Abe Foxman and his fellow-travelers bought Gibson the sort
of publicity that can't be bought.

[Eala]

But one Jewish leader said he felt the film may provoke anti-Semitic reaction.

Note to "Jewish leaders": take a look at the U.S. and its statistics on religiously-motivated (and film-related) murders of Jews, burnings of synagogues, and establishment of death camps (or even discussion of same) as a result of this movie.

Gimme a break. The only people who look good in this movie were Jews. (With the possible exception of one or two Roman soldiers.)

[Cboldt]

Eamonn McCann: The roots of revolt (1988) <-- Link

Basis of Christianity is bloodily sodden with hatred of the Jews (Leading Belfast journo on Passion) <-- Link

[Kirkwood]

There is no way this film is going to MAKE a person anti-semitic. If a person is ALREADY anti-semitic and inclined to violence, then it probably doesn't matter if they see this film or not. If anything, it might help them be more Christ-like.

[Kirkwood]

There is no way this film is going to MAKE a person anti-semitic. If a person is ALREADY anti-semitic and inclined to violence, then it probably doesn't matter if they see this film or not. If anything, it might help them be more Christ-like.

[Cicero]

My wife and I saw it last night. Excellent movie. And the violence was no more than what was indicated. Antisemitism is a complete non-issue.

[Just mythoughts]

Love your little Scot...

[marron]

I think the case could be made that the film might arouse anti-semitism among the anti-semites who stumble into the film thinking they were there to see, I'm not sure what they might be thinking when they stumble in...

I think people have got to get their heads around the fact that believing Christians are determined allies of Jews, and no one is going to drive a wedge between them, not even Jewish leftists. Not even non-Jewish leftists. Its not about self-interest, but self-interest should remind Christians that the most determined anti-semites are anti-Christian as well.

[joesnuffy]

How can a viewer of a movie determine that other viewers who see this will be anti semetic

I can understand how the viewer might feel that he is influenced to anti semtic feelings...as this is self reporting...but how could he know how the movie would make others feel?

Perhaps he is feeling guilty?

And blaming others for how he 'feels'

Naturally since he feels others will be persuaded to antisemtism...he feels they should not be allowed to watch it...he wants to intedict other peoples feelings thoughts and actions...kind of like "The Office of Pre-Crime"

[Eala]

Looks a bit like me (well not that long ago)...

[Just mythoughts]

Awesome, I dream of visiting Scotland, and getting a peek at that Stone of Scone.

My sister got a peek in England before it got returned to Scotland.

I love the colors of the clan from which I come.