After seeing “The Passion” Muslims start searching for the Gospel

Asia News ^ | April 7, 04 | Asia News

[churchillbuff]

Doha (AsiaNews) – “”Do you have the New Testament in Arab? Me and all my friends would like to read it.” This was the request of 2 students from Qatar, after seeing Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”.

Already on the second day after the film started showing in Qatar, many local newspapers are reporting the film on their front pages. According to the English language daily, The Peninsula Qatar, since the first three days of its release, 66,321 tickets have been sold –smashing the record once held by Matrix Reloaded, which had sold 59,000.

The film is becoming so popular in Qatar that some theaters have cancelled showings of other films in order to increase viewings of Gibson’s blockbuster.

Middle East Christians are spellbound by the interest Arabs have taken in the seeing the Gospel portrayed on the big screen.

The movie has sparked hours of discussion between Christians and Muslims regarding questions of faith. Many Arabs were interested in seeing the film only because of the anti-Semitic controversy surrounding it. However the movie’s theme is an unavoidable subject. “The message of loving your enemies and Jesus who, even while up on the cross, prayed for and forgave them strikes all viewers deeply,” said David and Natalie, an American married couple working in Qatar.

The American couple said they were amazed the government had permitted the film to be released in an Islamic country like Qatar. “In the next few weeks tens of thousands of people living here will go and see this powerful retelling of Christ’s suffering and death. Many moviegoers react to the film. For example, those sitting next to us in the theater were moved and breathless. Others wept or had looks of disgust on their facers when watching the brutality Jesus underwent,” they said.

"This film is generating huge interest in Jesus and the Bible,” said David and Natalie. “All this has never happened before!”

[churchillbuff]

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[churchillbuff]

Wasn't it Ann Coulter who said we should convert the Muslim middle east to Christianity? Maybe Mel Gibson heard her?

[ZULU]

I think they like the parts about the "evil" Jews.

According to Islam, Christ was a prophet, not the Son of God, and He was never crucified. They believe somebody else died in His place.

Christians should be careful of the Islamic fascination with this film. They are watching the same thing we are watching but seeing something very different - ditto when they read the gospels.

[churchillbuff]

ping

[GhostofWCooper]

The Lord works in mysterious ways...

[DCPatriot]

Yeah, but she said first we had to CONQUER them.

[churchillbuff]

Christians should be careful of the Islamic fascination with this film.

According to this article, they're asking for copies of the New Testament. Why should Christians --- who are charged by Christ with proclaiming His Word to all nations --- be "careful" or concerned that His Word is getting to Muslim nations?

[churchillbuff]

“The message of loving your enemies and Jesus who, even while up on the cross, prayed for and forgave them strikes all viewers deeply,” said David and Natalie, an American married couple working in Qatar.

Why should Christians be "concerned" that this message is being transmitted to non-christians?

[mudblood]

Actually, despite my general distaste for people saying "we need to understand them, they need to understand us", I can't help but think that its a good thing for them to understand this particular facet of Christianity. It shows them religion in a way that I don't think they know it: a personal relationship and love for God. I'm pretty sure Islam is about duty and proceedure, ritual, etc. This movie could be like a bullet into their society.

[No Blue States]

Interesting, bump.

[churchillbuff]

The Lord works in mysterious ways...

True, but evangelizing isn't that "mysterious." For some reason, evangelical christians often don't seem interested in evangelizing the arab world - - - some talk as if they'd just as soon see it blown up, as if there aren't souls to be won. Maybe Mel Gibson's movie will do what some evangelicals don't seem interested in doing ?

[A. Pole]

"This film is generating huge interest in Jesus and the Bible,” said David and Natalie. “All this has never happened before!”

It might be that Gibson singlehandedly will soften Muslim hearts more that all Western/Israeli troops could have ever do.

As Stalin said "give me Hollywood for few months and I will rule the world". If American movie industry were more interested in promoting virtue and religion (instead of undermining them), maybe the big army would not be needed.

[churchillbuff]

I can't help but think that its a good thing for them to understand this particular facet of Christianity

Or maybe there will be some conversions - - which is a whole lot more meaningful than simply coming to "understand this particular facet of Christianity". GOD BLESS MEL GIBSON.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39081


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[churchillbuff]

If American movie industry were more interested in promoting virtue and religion (instead of undermining them), maybe the big army would not be needed.

BUMP!!

[Sam's Army]

There were Christian missionaries in Afghanistan that were a concern post 9/11. I beleive they were held against their will for a while. Heather Mercer was the name of one I want to say?

[adam_az]

"Christians should be careful of the Islamic fascination with this film. They are watching the same thing we are watching but seeing something very different - ditto when they read the gospels."

What, like they will hate us MORE?

Worst case is they keep hating us.

Best case, it changes some hearts.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Mel Gibson spreads the word better than those pesky Jahova's Witnesses.