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!”

[Aquinasfan]

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

Absolutely. Historically, the theater leads cultural change.

[churchillbuff]

Actually she said we should "bomb their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity" (she was speaking of the people in middle eastern countries where people celebrated in the streets at the news of the attacks on us.)

Maybe Mel's movie will fast-forward Ann's timeline.

[blanknoone]

I've read a lot of history. What is Tiune? The part I don't get is that Christ's primary message was clear: "I am the Son of God" The revelance of everything else he said depends on that. How do they look on a prophet whose primary prophecy they consider a lie? What's the point?

[MineralMan]

"The same does not apply in Islamic Countries. Its considered a capital offense under Sharia to attempt to convert a Muslim and a capital offense for a Muslim to allow himself/herself to be converted."

This is not true in all Muslim countries.

[aruanan]

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.

Ha ha. That someone is willing to read the gospels is a long part of the way home. The same goes for the film, too. They'll have in their heads the images of what they saw to compare with what they did not see. I think the former will resonate more compellingly than the latter.

[churchillbuff]

bump

[Migraine]

Stories about people's lives being changed by this movie are many these days. Every one of them causes me to weep. This one is no exception. The tears are tears of worship, adoration and gratitude. I'll never cease to be amazed at the POWER of the Gospel. And of Gibson's film (God's blessings and protection surround him).
I've also heard from those who are intimately involved in reaching the Muslims that it is not uncommon for Muslims to have dreams about the Lord Jesus, and from there, to develop a hunger and thirst for the Gospel. This is said to be a common, though unheralded, phenomenon. May there be a great outpouring of God's grace upon them while there is still time.

[churchillbuff]

"The Passion" takes Italy by storm
Wed 7 April, 2004 21:20

By Shasta Darlington

ROME (Reuters) - Mel Gibson's controversial "The Passion of the Christ" has taken Italy by storm after it opened across the Roman Catholic country two days before Good Friday.

The movie was shown on 700 screens around the country on Wednesday, about one third of the total, including cinemas in the southern town of Matera where much of it was filmed.

In many cinemas, tickets sold out hours after going on sale.

"Not even 'Lord of the Rings' raised expectations this much," Leandro Pesci, director of one of Rome's biggest cinemas, told reporters.

"So many people have come to make mass purchases. One man bought up two hundred tickets."

In the Vatican's backyard, no viewer restrictions have been imposed on the graphic film about Jesus Christ's last hours and crucifixion, giving it a further boost.

The "Passion" was given an R rating in the United States, prohibiting minors from seeing it.

The movie has been a box office smash, grossing more than $260 million in just three weeks in North America alone.

But it has stirred controversy in virtually every country where it has been shown, with critics denouncing it as anti-Semitic and a distortion of Christian teaching.

In Italy, it was no different.

"This film has utterly shocked me. I've never seen such a cruel film in all my life," said pensioner France Funaro, visibly shaken and his voice trembling as he left a Rome cinema.

Gibson, a devout traditionalist Catholic, denies the film is anti-Semitic and says the bloody scenes of Christ's scourging and crucifixion are accurate reflections of his suffering.

The movie portrays the last 12 hours before Christ's death, which is commemorated on Good Friday.

Last month, James Caviezel, the actor who plays Christ, was received by Pope John Paul. The pontiff saw the film in December and the Vatican denied reports he had endorsed it.

The Vatican's president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Monsignor John Foley, met the foreign press in Rome before the film's release.

"I've seen the film several times. I personally did not find anything anti-Semitic. I found the film very impressive, very moving," Foley said.

"Even with its terrible violence I thought to myself 'this is the price of our sinfulness... I am to blame for the death of Christ, not any particular group'."

[churchillbuff]

The Vatican's president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Monsignor John Foley, met the foreign press in Rome before the film's release.

"I've seen the film several times. I personally did not find anything anti-Semitic. I found the film very impressive, very moving," Foley said.

"Even with its terrible violence I thought to myself 'this is the price of our sinfulness... I am to blame for the death of Christ, not any particular group'."

[cupcakes]

Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing if the rantings of anti-semitism of the left actually somehow brought some Muslims in to see the film who eventually converted? Wow, what a statement that would be on our awesome God taking messages of hate and turning them around for good.

[CajunConservative]

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.

Don't underestimate the power of God to reach the world. After 9/11 a lot of christians started praying for the muslims salvation. Most in the Middle East haven't been able to hear the gospel. We should be praying that God works in the hearts of these people because that is their only true hope of change.

[churchillbuff]

Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing if the rantings of anti-semitism of the left actually somehow brought some Muslims in to see the film who eventually converted?

I think that may be happening.

[kaylar]

For that matter, right after 9/11, the sale of Korans increased fourfold. Islamic clergy cited this as proof of mass conversions to Islam in the west-apparently they couldn't figure out any other reason why someone would want to read that thing except to convery. "Know thy enemy" must not be a catch phrase in the Islamic world.

[boxerblues]

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?

In many Muslim countries it is a crime to own a bible with the punishment being beheading. Why are they willing to risk it might be a better question.

[graf008]

I think Coulter said convert them or kill them. Since we are not barbarians, we should convert them with Christian Compassion. The rest will follow...

[churchillbuff]

In many Muslim countries it is a crime to own a bible with the punishment being beheading. Why are they willing to risk it might be a better question.

It suggests a strong longing for Truth on the Arab "street". This ought to be encouraging, not discouraging, to christians and westerners

[CarryaBigStick]

I have never gotten the Islamic take on Christianity. They consider Him a prophet...but not the Son of God, so apparently they consider Him a prophet who lied. I get cognitive dissonance just thinking about it...and I'm an atheist.

That needs repeating! BUMP!

[junaid]

don't muslims also say convert them or kill them? is coulter borrowing from the muslims?

[graf008]

I think they conveniently ignore the parts where Jesus said he was the Son of God. And if you look at the parts where he does, his public disclosures as the Son of God where limited. He was more focused on teaching and setting a good example. So, really they are ignoring about 5% of what Christ said (although for us it is a significant omission).

Wasn't there a Jewish Sect that had the same ida about Jesus??

[graf008]

Perhaps she was and was making a point. I hope she was and didn't mean such a barbaric statement - but then I haven't been too impressed with many of the statements she has said.