Critics say Gibson film mimics a hateful book

Detroit Freepress ^ | February 19, 2004 | David Crumm

[madison10]

Despite Mel Gibson's effort to disavow any anti-Jewish influence in his film about Jesus' death, his critics are firing back with fresh evidence that the movie closely follows an anti-Jewish book by a 19th-Century German nun.

In a nationally televised interview this week, Gibson said he based his violent portrayal of Jesus' torture and crucifixion on the Bible. He acknowledged that he has read Anne Catherine Emmerich's 1833 book about Jesus' death, but said he was unaware of anti-Jewish references in it.

[Fury]

Is this scene described in the book ?

I don't believe so, but I have not seen the movie. I objected to what was written in the article as being described in the book. The link that was so kindly provided, around pages 125-132, is a good reference.

[cpprfld]

I am starting to get pissed off about these Jews saying that my beliefs are hateful, and that I am bad person because I believe in the Bible.

[Fury]

This man is not a Catholic priest and it is debatable whether he is a Catholic, or even a Christian. In fact, he is not a Christian by any normal definition.

"John Dominic Crossan is a preeminent historian and biblical scholar, perhaps best known to the public at large for his controversial suggestion that Jesus was not buried and that his body may have been eaten by dogs and crows. "

From http://dannyreviews.com/h/Who_Killed_Jesus.html

[af_vet_1981]

• Annas was delighted at the thought of our Lord being brought before him, and was looking out for his arrival with the greatest impatience. The expression of his countenance was most repulsive, as it showed in every lineameat not only the infernal joy with which he was filled, but likewise all the cunning and duplicity of his heart. He was the president of a species of tribunal instituted for the purpose of examining persons accused of teaching false doctrines; and if convicted there, they were then taken before the High Priest.
  
  Jesus stood before Annas. He looked exhausted and haggard; his garments were covered with mud, his hands manacled, his head bowed down, and he spoke not a word. Annas was a thin ill-humoured-looking old man, with a scraggy beard. His pride and arrogance were great; and as he seated himself he smiled ironically, pretending that he knew nothing at all, and that he was perfectly astonished at finding that the prisoner whom he had just been informed was to be brought before him, was no other than Jesus of Nazareth. ' Is it possible, said he ‘is it possible that thou art Jesus of Nazareth? Where are thy disciples, thy numerous followers? Where is thy kingdom? I fear affairs have not turned out as thou didst expect. The authorities, I presume, discovered that it was quite time to put a stop to thy conduct, disrespectful as it was towards God and his priests, and to such violations of the Sabbath. What disciples hast thou now? Where are they all gone? Thou art silent! Speak out, seducer! speak out, thou inciter of rebellion! Didst thou not eat the Paschal lamb in an unlawful manner, at an improper time, and in an improper place? Dost thou not desire to introduce new doctrines? Who gave thee the right of preaching? Where didst thou study? Speak, what are the tenets of thy religion?
• Caiphas made use of the most insulting language, and the archers again struck and abused our Lord, vociferating at the same time, ‘Answer at once! Speak out! Art thou dumb?’ Caiphas, whose temper was indescribably proud and arrogant, became even more enraged than Annas had been, and asked a thousand questions one after the other, but Jesus stood before him in silence, and with his eyes cast down. The archers endeavoured to force him to speak by repeated blows, and a malicious child pressed his thumb into his lips, tauntingly bidding him to bite.
• It is extremely difficult to explain these facts, for fear of scandalising those who have no knowledge of such things; but persons who see feel them, and they often cause the very hair to stand on end on the head. I think that John saw some of these apparitions, for I heard him speak about them afterwards. All whose hearts were not radically corrupted felt excessively terrified at these events, but the hardened were sensible of nothing but an increase of hatred and anger against our Lord. Caiphas then arose, and, urged on by Satan, took up the end of his mantle, pierced it with his knife, and rent it from one end to the other, exclaiming at the same time, in a loud voice, ‘He hath blasphemed. what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy: what think you?’ All who were then present arose, and exclaimed with astounding malignancy, 'He is guilty of death!’ During the whole of this frightful scene, the devils were in the most tremendous state of excitement; they appeared to have complete possession not only of the enemies of Jesus, but likewise of their partisans and cowardly followers. The powers of darkness seemed to me to proclaim a triumph over the light, and the few among the spectators whose hearts still retained a glimmering of light were filled with such consternation that, covering their heads, they instantly departed. The witnesses who belonged to the upper classes were less hardened than the others; their consciences were racked with remorse, and they followed the example given by the persons mentioned above, and left the room as quickly as possible, while the rest crowded round the fire in the vestibule, and ate and drank after receiving full pay for their services. The High Priest then addressed the archers, and said, ‘I deliver this king up into your hands; render the blasphemer the honours which are his due.' After these words he retired with the members of his Council into the round room I behind the tribunal, which could not be seen from the vestibule.

I think they are saying this was one of the main sources for the movie script. I wouldn't be surprised if the bridge scene is in this book.

[af_vet_1981]

I am starting to get pissed off about these Jews

What are you going to do about your anger ?

I recommend prayer.

[Protagoras]

Crossen denies the divinity of Christ, he therefore is not a Christian.

[joesnuffy]

Had not the Jewish religious leaders, their followers and the Romans not all conspired to
falsely accuse, falsely judge, falsely crucify our Lord....

The rest of us who would be saved...would not be.....

Jesus could have at any time ask His Father in Heaven to send down a legion of Angels...the most terrifying creatures in the Universe (if you were on the wrong side of them)...to wipe out all of Christs enemies...Jesus Himself said so...

Jesus also said that He laid down His life willingly...that NO man would take it from Him....
Jesus also said it was God the Father's WILL that He (Jesus) be beaten, tortured, spat upon, falsely accused,crucified dead and resurrected...

All that He (Jesus) might be the appropriate sacrifice for the sins of the saved....

There is no one to be blamed....in fact some of Jesus last words were
"Father forgive them, for they know not, what they do...

Jesus also taught us to pray the words "Forgive us our sins ..in accordance to how we..forgive others their sins...for if you do not forgive others... neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your sins...

[af_vet_1981]

Have you read the NEW TESTMENT?

Muskogee New Testment by American Bible Society Availability: Out of Print--Limited Availability

I can't say that I have.

The Bible, King James Version Old and New Testaments, with the Apocrypha is available here without cost to you.

You can thank my forefathers (and mothers I suppose).

[anoldafvet]

I believe the LIEberals are truly terrified of what this film may do to people. The last thing they need is millions more people believing in the word of Christ and demanding an end to the "Anything Goes" attitude of the LIEberals. They're using anti-semitism as a smokescreen.

[Just mythoughts]

Practice what you preach.

[madison10]

According to the link someone provided above to Emmerich's book, there is a bridge scene (p. 135), but most of us don't know if the exact "bridge scene" is in the movie.

[Twinkie]

I think the article was talking about the book that was
written by the German nun. I doubt they've read the
New Testament.

[madison10]

Wish there was an "edit" feature...it is page 131, NOT 135.

[marshmallow]

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!"

All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

Matthew, 27: 24-25.

How's that for hateful language. A Jewish crowd, screaming for blood. That's the reality. There's no escaping it. To do so is to deny scripture.

In the liberal mind, however, the hate comes not from those who cry for blood, but from those who either record the scene or reproduce it cinematographically.

The good news, however, is that God's mercy is infinite. If we turn to Him and humbly request it. As Mel said in the interview, all of us are responsible for the Crucifixion of Christ. Spiritually speaking. Yet the physical instruments of the act in time and history were Roman soldiers egged on by a Jewish mob.

What I'm getting at here is the distinction between the physical and the spiritual, which seems to be lost on the critics of this movie. All sin is hateful and a turning of one's back to God. And Jesus took upon Himself the sin of all the world in His passion and death. The hatred of the mob symbolizes this sin, but sin is not confined to the mob. It is found with all of us.

[Just mythoughts]

Then you do not know what you are talking about.

As Christ said many times "Have you not read?".

Have you ever read Psalms 22?

I thank my Heavenly Father for Him giving His instruction.

[af_vet_1981]

Practice what you preach.

I pray that he does not sin because of his anger against Jews.

[Just mythoughts]

What about your own anger, and what you are accusing others of doing and being because they do not do what you demand?

[Ciexyz]

It's unrealistic for the Jewish leaders today to expect films on Christianity to cater to their wishes and perceptions. They apparently want all the blame to be placed on Pontius Pilate (and thru him, the Romans). But the Bible is clear that the Jewish authorities plotted against Jesus. This doesn't mean that the entire Jewish populace at that time should be blamed, and it certainly doesn't mean that Jews throughout history should be blamed as a people. What is the big deal here? It was history, it was preordained by God to happen, and we are ALL guilty because of our sin nature. You and me and everybody on the planet are the reason that Jesus was crucified. WE are the cause.

God loves all of the people on this planet equally. God is grieved by anti-Semitism. That said, let me add: Mel's movie is NOT anti-Semitic. I wish the media would stop fanning this issue.

[cpprfld]

I have been praying that this movie will be a huge success. But, I think that Abe Foxman and the ADL, has done more to ruin Jewish-Christian relationships than this movie would have.

[af_vet_1981]

According to the link someone provided above to Emmerich's book, there is a bridge scene (p. 135), but most of us don't know if the exact "bridge scene" is in the movie.

I found this one in the link.

The archers still held the ends of the ropes with which Jesus was bound, but it would have been difficult to drag him out of the water on that side, on account of a wall which was built on the shore; they turned back and dragged him quite through the Cedron to the shore, and then made him cross the bridge a second time, accompanying their every action with insults, blasphemies and blows. His long woollen garment, which was quite soaked through, adhered to his legs, impeded every movement, and rendered it almost impossible for him to walk, and when he reached the end of the bridge he fell quite down. They pulled him up again in the most cruel manner, struck him with cords, and fastened the ends of his wet garment to the belt, abusing him at the same time in the most cowardly manner. It was not quite midnight when I saw the four archers inhumanly dragging Jesus over a narrow path, which was choked up with stones, fragments of rock, thistles, and thorns, on the opposite shore of the Cedron. The six brutal Pharisees walked as close to our Lord as they could, struck him constantly with thick pointed sticks, and seeing that his bare and bleeding feet were torn by the stones and briars, exclaimed scornfully: ‘His precursor, John the Baptist, has certainly not prepared a good path for him here;’ or, ‘ The words of Malachy, " Behold, I send my angel be/ore thy face, to prepare the way before thee," do not exactly apply now.’ Every jest uttered by these men incited the archers to greater cruelty.