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Palestinians passionate about Christ film (Aljazeera)
Aljazeera ^ | 4-2-04

Posted on 04/02/2004 5:27:11 AM PST by truthandlife

Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" is all the rage among Palestinians, curious about complaints by Jews that it is anti-Semitic.

Meanwhile, local distributors in Israel are shunning the film, which Jewish groups say demonises Jews by depicting them as pressuring the Romans into crucifying Jesus.

The film has banked more than $315 million since its release in February.

Only one percent of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are Christians while the other 99% are Muslims, who revere Jesus as a prophet but do not believe he was crucified.

The portrayal of a prophet in a film is forbidden under Islam.

Pirated copies

"People are calling me from everywhere in the West Bank –from Bethlehem, Hebron, Ram Allah and Nablus- to ask for copies of the movie," said the owner of a Gaza city video shop, which sells pirated copies of new release movies.

"The Passion of the Christ" has outsold other Hollywood blockbusters in Gaza and the West Bank's pirated video market, including "Matrix Revolutions" and "The Last Samurai."

Israel cold

In Israel, the local agent for the film's international distributor Icon Entertainment said it passed on its option to show "The Passion of the Christ," but declined to specify its reasons other than to say the movie was "sensitive."

Industry insiders in Israel say local distributors are not interested in the film because of allegations it is anti-Semitic and for expected lukewarm audience response.

Jewish groups and some Roman Catholic clerics have expressed concern the film could foment anti-Jewish attacks.

Palestinian President Yasir Arafat watched a preview of the film at his West Bank headquarters earlier this month. Aides said he found the film "moving."


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: christ; gibson; palestinians; passion
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1 posted on 04/02/2004 5:27:11 AM PST by truthandlife
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To: truthandlife; JohnHuang2; toddst; Dataman; sola gracia; George Frm Br00klyn Park; JenB; Jerry_M; ...
'Passion' bump
2 posted on 04/02/2004 5:28:36 AM PST by truthandlife ("Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Ps 20:7))
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To: All

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3 posted on 04/02/2004 5:30:13 AM PST by Support Free Republic (Hi Mom! Hi Dad!)
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To: truthandlife
Two good thoughts:

1. Muslim people who see this movie will convert. This may be the start of good things for the 1% left.

2. There were no Palestinians in the movie. They did not exist at the time of Jesus. There were only Romans and Jews in this area. So who has claims to Jerusalem?
4 posted on 04/02/2004 5:32:03 AM PST by 2banana
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To: truthandlife
The Islamics teach that Jesus is going to return to earth! Allah is going to allow Jesus to return to tell everyone that he lied. Will it be the false prophet with the anti-Christ?
5 posted on 04/02/2004 5:34:03 AM PST by TrueBeliever9
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To: truthandlife
It disturbs me that they are passionate about a movie that I too am passionate about.
6 posted on 04/02/2004 5:34:41 AM PST by LoudRepublicangirl (loudrepublicangirl)
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To: 2banana
Two good thoughts:

1. Muslim people who see this movie will convert. This may be the start of good things for the 1% left.

2. There were no Palestinians in the movie. They did not exist at the time of Jesus. There were only Romans and Jews in this area. So who has claims to Jerusalem

Excellent thoughts. Your second point will be totally ignored by the leftist media and the leftist world. But your first point --- if it happens --- will make all the difference in the world.

Although I don't know what you mean by the phrase "the 1% left". No matter. I pray for massive conversions to Christianity. (And I'm an agnostic.)

7 posted on 04/02/2004 5:41:35 AM PST by samtheman
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To: samtheman
Although I don't know what you mean by the phrase "the 1% left".

In the above article: "Only one percent of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are Christians while the other 99% are Muslims"

8 posted on 04/02/2004 5:44:03 AM PST by 2banana
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To: 2banana
Oops. I missed that. Anyway, again, I very much look forward to conversions to Christianity. I thought about that aspect of the movie... and it's obviously one of the things Mel tried to do.

The world would be such a better place if a significant number of Muslims converted to Christianity.

9 posted on 04/02/2004 5:47:39 AM PST by samtheman
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To: truthandlife


"Hey, if it makes the Jews look bad, I'm all for it!"
10 posted on 04/02/2004 5:50:30 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (So you're a feminist - isn't that cute!)
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To: 2banana
There were no Palestinians in the movie. They did not exist at the time of Jesus.

There are no "Palestinians" now, either, so far as that goes. There is not (nor has there ever been) any such fairy tale land as "Palestine": ergo, no "Palestinians."

There are, of course, virulently Jew-loathing Arab and Muslim Islamofascists murdering innocents daily, in a rabid attempt to steal Jewish land (and -- by their own repeated admission -- "push all Jews into the sea"). That some of these opt to refer to themselves "Palestinians," however, is no more to be taken seriously than if they were to start calling themselves "Narnians" or "Atlanteans."

Sorry. Personal bugaboo of mine, is all. Carry on, then. :)

11 posted on 04/02/2004 5:51:08 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (I feel more and more like a revolted Charlton Heston, witnessing ape society for the very first time)
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To: 2banana
You could probably say the same as #2 for any country that had indigenous people, if you went far enough back....Who claims Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Brasil, US, Canada....etc.
12 posted on 04/02/2004 5:52:45 AM PST by stuartcr
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To: stuartcr
You could probably say the same as #2 for any country that had indigenous people, if you went far enough back....Who claims Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Brasil, US, Canada....etc.

This is kinda of a unique situation as the "Palestinians" claim that Jews have "no right" to any of the land as it is all rightful "Palestinian Land"

13 posted on 04/02/2004 6:01:42 AM PST by 2banana
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To: LoudRepublicangirl
It shows how the sentimental Christian ideal of giving up one's life for the sake of others can easily be corrupted into the idea of a suicide bomber. It is a deadly manifestation of accepting the idea that faith is superior to reason.
14 posted on 04/02/2004 6:01:58 AM PST by reasonseeker
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To: truthandlife
I propose Korean American churches in the United States (of which there are THOUSANDS and in them, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KOREAN-AMERICAN CHRISTIANS) should:

a) Get the rights to translate and subtitle (in Korean) the Mel Gibson movie on Jesus Christ;

b) work with underground groups on the Chinese border with North Korea to start flooding the videotapes of this movie, again with Korean subtitles, across the border into North Korea.

The secret police in northern North Korea has been upset recently with the flood of videos from the West, making its way through various market places, and undermining the Korean Workers Party. There was a Party memo out about this a year ago. I say, get the Mel Gibson video into North Korea, just as it is starting to cause headaches in China these days, too.

15 posted on 04/02/2004 6:17:55 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo (Another vote here for Bush, only IF Congress ends up defeating his illegal immigration amnesty law)
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To: truthandlife
Thanks and ping back.

"It is as it was". Praise to you Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in the Gospels. The truth will set you free.

16 posted on 04/02/2004 6:20:45 AM PST by ex-snook (Be Patriotic - STOP outsourcing in the War on American Jobs.)
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To: reasonseeker
It might be difficult for the Holy Spirit to reach the hearts of a people that will be cheering on the Pharisees and the Romans. These people worship Death. To them, it is entertainment and not a blessing. Another group will see a Jew being tortured to death.

Having said this, I expect some of the seed to fall on fertile ground. And we should pray for those who hear. For a conversion from Islam is a death sentence.
17 posted on 04/02/2004 6:20:59 AM PST by Ingtar (Understanding is a three-edged sword : your side, my side, and the truth in between ." -- Kosh)
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To: 2banana
Excellent points in your #4. And I also find it interesting that:

Only one percent of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are Christians while the other 99% are Muslims, who revere Jesus as a prophet but do not believe he was crucified.

The portrayal of a prophet in a film is forbidden under Islam.

IOW, the movie goes against some of their basic doctrine, but they want to see it simply because they've heard some Jews don't like it. Who knows how many will have their eyes opened to Christianity because of it?

Irritating as some Jewish opposition has been, it's all working out for the best. No pogroms (how ridiculous!), and maybe some converted Muslims. Mel Gibson's movie wouldn't have been nearly the success it is, without that opposition, IMHO.

18 posted on 04/02/2004 6:21:23 AM PST by xJones
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To: AmericanInTokyo
Great idea. There are untold hundreds of thousands of Korean Christians in the U.S., and they often link with Baptist and other denominations to share building space for their congregations. There's a VERY vibrant Christian Korean church here.
19 posted on 04/02/2004 6:30:33 AM PST by xJones
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To: truthandlife; american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; Polycarp IV; narses; ...
Muslims, who revere Jesus as a prophet but do not believe he was crucified.

That should change, after they've seen this film.

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list


20 posted on 04/02/2004 6:36:51 AM PST by NYer (Prayer is the Strength of the Weak)
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