Jews blamed more for death of Christ after Passion

The percentage of Americans who say Jews were responsible for Christ's death is rising according to a poll taken since the release of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ."

The poll released by the Pew Research Center in Washington is the first statistical evidence that the film's box-office success may be associated with an increase in anti-Jewish feeling, although social scientists cautioned that cause and effect are not clear.

As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter week and the Jewish holiday of Passover also approaches, the poll could sharpen the focus on what some perceive as the film's anti-Semitism.

Some say the film unfairly portrays the role of Jews in Jesus' death, while Gibson and others insist the film is not anti-Semitic and is faithful to Gospel accounts. A judge in France also ruled that the biblical text was not manipulated in the film but a catholic Bishop suggesting that it presented an "incomplete theological picture".

In a random telephone survey of 1,703 adults, 26 percent said Jews were responsible for Christ's death, up from 19 percent in an ABC News poll that asked the same question in 1997.

The increase was especially pronounced among two groups. The portion of people younger than 30 who say Jews were responsible for killing Jesus has approximately tripled, from 10 percent in 1997 to 34 percent today. The portion of African Americans who hold that view doubled, from 21 percent to 42 percent.

The Pew poll found a statistical link between Gibson's film and belief that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus. But the correlation is not simply that a relatively large proportion of those who have seen the film hold Jews responsible. That view is also somewhat more common among those who plan to see the film than in the general public.

Researchers therefore say that it is unclear whether the change in attitudes is down to the film or the publicity surrounding it.

While attitudes toward Jewish responsibility are changing, the Pew poll found that Americans' views of the Crucifixion generally are not. Forty percent say the Bible is the literal word of God, about the same proportion as in 1996. Ninety-two percent believe that Jesus died on the cross, and 83 percent believe that Jesus rose from the dead - both essentially unchanged since 1997.

A poll last week suggested that people in the US are reading the Bible more as a result of the film. It also said 75% of people believe that the film was "very close" to the Bible's account of Jesus' death. 15 percent responded "somewhat close" and five percent answered "not close at all."

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia

The Sanhedrin was comprised of 69 priests plus the Chief priest. Given this from Luke, how many "ordinary Jews" made up the crowd chanting for Christ's death? Not many me thinks.

Oh??? here's the text from another veiwpoint.....

Matthew 27

13. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?"
14. But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge--to the great amazement of the governor.
15. Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. (<-- surely not the LEADERS)

16. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.
17. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"
18. For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."
20. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21. "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.   "Barabbas," they answered.
22. "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.   They all answered, "Crucify him!"
23. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.   But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"
24. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
25. All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Why is everyone upset that they got their WISH??)

The subject of this thread is whether 'The Passion' incites anti-Semitism.

And, in a broader view, 'Does the BIBLE "incite anti-Semitism"?

And, in a narrower veiw, "Does ELSIE, by posting Scripture, incite anti-Semitism?"

I'm sorry my Veronica remark has riled yer feathers so badly, but many folks who could be lurking here do NOT know about her and would have assumed, wrongly, that she is mentioned in Scripture.

If we are going to espouse our differing points of veiw, it is good for the crowd to see from where we are coming.

Do you believe that particular hostile weapon has any place in Christian debate?

Golly; I don't know..........

NIV Matthew 10:14
14. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

NIV Mark 6:11
11. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."

NIV Luke 9:5
5. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."

NIV Luke 10:10-11
10. But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,
11. `Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'

NIV Acts 13:51
51. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

Do you think these...

ludicrous, borderline irrational,

...accurately describe me?

Do you think these... ludicrous, borderline irrational, ...accurately describe me?

No. And I did not say that they did. I said that laying blame for the death of Christ on an entire people (when the allegiance to Him of so many of those very people was the reason for the Sanhedrin’s fear of Him) is ludicrous.

And I said that, the idea that, because Moses thought of the Jews whom he led out of bondage as one people, we can lump all Jews together in any other situation, is borderline irrational.

I don’t even know you, so would never attempt to describe you. But you have given everyone reading this thread sufficient evidence to make their own determinations regarding a few of your assertions.

As for your implicit assertion that the Bible itself, if read through discerning eyes, might be interpreted as inciting anti-Semitism … you consistently seek out passages in which certain Jews (politically motivated, and holding powerful leadership positions which were placed in jeopardy as a result of Christ’s teachings, and Paul’s later apostolic message) attempt to silence their voices. And you footnote those selected passages that refer to a small number of specific Jews with ‘always wanting to KILL someone’.

Those who lift arbitrary scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments with the predetermined intent of proving that a certain race of people were bloodthirsty killers at least appear to have an agenda to fulfill. The Bible is a (the ultimate) teaching source – not a propaganda manual. Christ believed in exposing wrong, but doing so in a fair-minded spirit of gentleness and humility.

I am going to be off-line for the next few days, and this thread will no doubt be stale by the time I return. May we all, in our own ways, spend time in personal reflection about the events of that Good Friday almost two thousand years ago. His love has endured through the millennia, no matter how differently His people may accept and reflect it.

On this I think we agree:

… He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross … Col 2:13-15

Best wishes to you and yours for a blessed Easter …

~ joanie

Yes Maam, we DO agree on that!!!

As to this...with the predetermined intent of proving that a certain race of people were bloodthirsty killers ..., I feel it is a bit over the top.

By reading the OT one finds just the opposite: When GOD told them to kill off ALL their opposition, they failed to do so. If they would have OBEYED, they would be living safe in their land today (IMHO).

No doubt your church will have a greater attendance Easter than normal so I pray that the ears of your guests will be open to the Gospel and hearts will be turned to Christ.

Even though we tend to see the Word a bit differently, we can still tell the simple message of Christ to others.

May GOD bring more workers into the field, for it IS ready to harvest.....

Elsie

"G-d, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, was quite explicit. All you have to do is look up in the sky and know He does not agree with the demise of Israel that some here embrace."

Oh indeed Jeremiah, probably my favorite of the prophets was quite explicit.

The wealth of information contained within these inspired words from our Heavenly Father cover a vast amount of time. Many yet to be fulfilled.

Personally, it is not what "men" claim about the status of Israel and Judah that concerns me, but what is written. Our Heavenly Father has a plan and His plan will happen just as it is written. The Song of Moses which those over-comers will be singing describes the protecting wings of our Heavenly Father.

Now the very things that were written that would happen to the HOuse of Israel and the House of Judah have in fact happened, even to the fact that the House of Israel would not know who they were. Man since the beginning does have a hard time following directions and there is nothing new under the sun.

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