I DETEST THIS FILM ..WITH A PASSION [Christopher Hitchens on the Passion of the Christ]

The Mirror ^ | February 27, 2004 | Christopher Hitchens

[BlazingArizona]

Again, here's an opportunity for us to show how we are NOT like Islamic fanatics. The opportunity is this: condemn the statement "the Jews killed Jesus". Condemn it because it's stupid. Condemn it because it detracts from the true meaning of the cross. Condemn it because it damages the soul of those who believe it. And condemn it because it shows the Islamic world the correct way for people in a religion to react to extremists in their midst.

Best comment in this thread, so far as I'm concerned.

[sauropod]

If it is a church billboard and it makes me angry, I would probably look up the verse to see what it says and see if it was taken out of context -- just to refute it.

[LucyJo]

I think you are right about Hitchens. I feel very sorry for him. Christ died for him, as well as for all of us, of course. I pray he comes to recognition, acceptance, and obedience of the Savior before it's too late.

Regarding this film: I think it is very sad that it has taken a movie to stir "Passion" for Christ, when we've had His story revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures for generations. I heard a sermon by a gospel preacher named Neil Pryor when I was much younger that transported me - heart, mind, and soul - to that chain of events in history, and made me vividly experience many emotions that must have been coursing through those who were there and loved the Lord during that time, and perhaps through those who watch this film, but it wasn't something that I had not already known from reading it for myself. When all is said and done, this isn't about a movie, or entertainment, or emotions, one way or another. It comes down to individual acceptance and obedience to the truth that will determine where we each spend eternity. If it takes a movie to motivate some to pick up the Bible and read the inspired words that lead to salvation, then more power to it, and to Mel Gibson for making it. May he work out his own salvation as well.

[Matchett-PI]

"His parent or parents committed suicide? How awful....no wonder he is warped....but his brother isn't."

I wonder if some of the religious people of his day made the same sorts of hasty remarks about The Prodigal Son and his fair-haired, brown-nosing, jealous brother.

[Katya]

You're right as a writer he has an agenda....so do all writers....sheesh.

[Qwinn]

What I don't like about the comment is that requiring Christians to condemn it is like asking them to apologize for it. I mean, yes, Christians will certainly condemn it, they don't have a problem with doing that, but when you elevate it to the point that they are -required- to condemn it, as if they don't condemn it that means they support it, that reaches the level where it's effectively a demand for an apology - an apology that they have no more obligation to make than Jews today are required to make an apology for killing Christ. That's my only problem with it.

Somebody was trying to make that point to samtheman earlier, by demanding that he condemn child molestation or stand assumed of being in support of it, but he missed the point being made.

Qwinn

[Ebony and Ivory]

A few years ago Hitchens, as i recall, was charged with being an anti-semite himself. Perhaps this is his way of easing any liberal guilt he may have about being an anti-semite by supporting the jewish critics of the film.

[Trinity_Tx]

See this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1086201/posts?

And this one...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085368/posts

Note the replies. Most were wonderful... Perfect. Others were not, and deserved rebuke. Coming off of reading those, as well as the ones about the Hollywood Jews, I understood exactly what Sam was saying.

I really enjoyed your other post, btw.

[Jaded]

I saw the movie last night. I must have missed all the anti-semitism.

Not all of the Jews portrayed (apart from the Disciples) were blood thirsty. Not all of the Romans were blood thirsty through out the entire movie.

[LucyJo]

...condemn the statement "the Jews killed Jesus"

Anyone who claims to be a Christian and doesn't know that he/she is as guilty of the death of Christ as anyone else needs to study the inspired word and pray for a better understanding of it.

[Houmatt]

What do you expect from a guy who has the balls to bash Mother Teresa on the day of her funeral?

And people are calling this man a conservative.

Like hell.

[Cronos]

Purging of the Jewish roots. Like what?

[sauropod]

Salvation is freely given. Not "worked out."

[carton253]

One billboard does not the Christian community make...

If I had seen it... I would have called the church and made my displeasure known.

I understand where Sam is coming from too... that's why I replied the way I did.

[carton253]

Cronos...

I'm sorry, but I don't have time to write up a history of the Church for you...

But, if you will do some rudimentary reading, you will find that there was a systematic purging of the "Jewish roots" of Christianity in the Church. How else do the Jewish people become the enemy of God and worthy of the pograms and persecution against them?

[fish hawk]

Hitchens hates the violence of the lashing of Christ by the Romans then turns around and lashes Mel with his own cat of nine tails tongue. Must be the Gin.

[Matchett-PI]

"And people are calling this man a conservative."

Hitchens is a rare breed. He's an honest liberal [like Alan Colmes and Susan Estrich].

[Future Snake Eater]

And Republicans elected Hillary to the Senate.

LOL Well, let's hope there're fewer of them than there were Jews who wanted Christ crucified.

[Cronos]

I'm sorry, but I don't have time to write up a history of the Church for you...

I asked you that question because I wanted to know on what basis you say that the Jewish roots were purged. They were NOT.

How did the Jewish people become the enemy of God?
You take an illiterate and he asks who killed God? Well, you see he was killed by Jews. Oh. And these Jews are the traders who look different from us, right? These foreigners. Xenophobia. it's no wonder that as nation states came into being anti-semitism spread.