Mel Gibson & Passion: Does the New Testament in the Bible Constitute "Hate" Literature?

February 20, 2004 | Comte d'Maistre

[ComtedeMaistre]

We all need to resolve the controversy over Mel Gibson's movie, "Passion", once and for all.

Mel Gibson used the storyline in the New Testament, as the basis of the script for his movie. Abe Foxman & the ADL consider Gibson's movie as being hateful and anti-semitic.

What is next? Is Mr. Foxman going to call on all hotels all over the country, to remove copies of the Gideon Bible in their hotel rooms? He certainly would not want all those hotel visitors exposed to the "hate" in the New Testament. Didn't you know, according to Foxman's reasoning, a crazed hotel customer may attack Jews after spending one night in an American hotel, because of the "anti-semitic" content of the hotel room Bible?

[ComtedeMaistre]

An even better suggestion. Publishing companies that publish Bibles, should submit sample copies of their bible versions to the ADL. This would enable Mr. Foxman and the ADL to edit stuff out of new editions of the Bible, to ensure that the Bible is totally cleansed of racism, sexism, anti-semitism, homophobia, specism, classicism, and all other material that is offensive of Foxman and the ADL.

Heck, Mr. Foxman should be allowed to write material that he thinks is deserving of inclusion in new versions of the Bible, to make the Bible more tolerant and multi-cultural.

Then we can all celebrate "tolerance" "inclusion", and "pluralism".

[Phantom Lord]

In Canada it is legally considered hate literature. Infact, a priest was convicted of a hate crime for quoting the bible in a letter to the editor holding an opinion opposing homosexuality.

[Sursum Corda]

Don't give them any ideas.

Sursum Corda

[AD from SpringBay]

In some respects it feels as though Mel's movie is receiving as much resistance as the sodomite weddings in San Fran.

[Salman]

... Abe Foxman & the ADL ...

These days, Abe Foxman IS the ADL.

[DentsRun]

Foxman is relentless. He will never give up. My prediction: There will be a press conference to release some wild horrible charge about Gibson a few days before his movie opens, just as was done with Schwarzenegger.

[TheDon]

Does a history of the Nazis constitute hate literature against the Germans?

[isthisnickcool]

The ADL is a nonprofit that has taken in 100's of millions of dollars in the past few years. And GOBS of money since it's inception in the early 1900's.

Foxman is just, as usual for him, making as much noise as possible to increase donations. Abe is paid $500K or so a year in salary, benefits, etc. See guidstar.org for more info.

Foxman is in the Joo Bashing business. It's how he makes his money. He's just another Jesse Jackson or Sarah Brady or Larry Klayman.

Gibson is about to release the most watched movie in world history. He is goping to make a fortune. With which I hope he keeps making more of the same type of movies.

[DentsRun]

That's unbelievable!!! Not that I'm arguing that it isn't true, I'm sure it is. Do you have details of that priest story?

I've heard that too--that quoting the Biblical passage about homosexuality being an abomination is a hate crime in Canada.

Not that we're so great down here. Several years ago a woman I know was threatened with jail for posting fliers on election day quoting the section of the California penal code that makes it illegal for non-citizens to vote. She was flabberghasted. "You mean it's a crime to quote the law in California?"

[muawiyah]

Foxman should bother to find out something about the religion of so many of his fellow countrymen.

But, he's not going to. He's a professional bigot.

[cwb]

This is a great point...especially if we are going ban or revise history to not offend someone. How would the Jews feel if they weren't allowed to tell the story of the Holocaust because it might cause anti-German sentiment? Should we ban the movie "Roots" or the subject of slavery since it may cause anti-white/America hatred? Hell, when Jerry Bruckheimers, Pearl Harbor came out, you had Japanese groups who protested the subject matter because they feared an anti-Japanese backlash. If you can't revise history...demand that it be removed.

[Skooz]

Within my lifetime, I fully expect Christians to be intered in "re-education camps."

The New Testament will be banned as "intolerant" and "hate literature."

[Clintons a commie]

Not only isn't it hate literature, but it's the greatest message of love in the history of humanity.

Let's pray for all who oppose this movie and the Gospels that inspired it. I think the Lord is going to use this film in a very powerful way, and will bring many souls to Himself.

[aimhigh]

If this movie is anti-Semitic, then:

Roots is anti-white,
Shindler's List is anti-German,
The Ten Commandments is anti-Egyption,

The list could go on forever,...

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Within my lifetime, I fully expect Christians to be intered in "re-education camps.",

Same here. Remind me again how this all ends? :-)

[Skooz]

Gloriously!

[Salman]

And GOBS of money since it's inception in the early 1900's.

The ADL was a fine organization at one time. It didn't really turn flaky until Foxman took over and severed the organization's ties with B'nai Brith.

[MainFrame65]

Abe Foxman & the ADL consider Gibson's movie as being hateful and anti-semitic.

Actually, no. In his latest interviews, Foxman has admitted that the movie is NOT antisemitic. I am certain that he was gritting his teeth as he said it, but he clearly understood that he had lost that battle utterly and completely. His current bleat is that the movie might inflame and provoke an antisemitic response among a few who would interpret it incorrectly.

As a Jew, I try not to interpret Christian scripture to Christians, a simple lesson that Idiot Foxman seems unable to grasp. I will see the movie to deepen my understanding of the seminal event of Christianity, the environment I live in.

Gibson makes no claim to have filmed a "fifth gospel." What he does claim is that his film is consonant with the four gospels that were his reference and inspiration, and that it represents his view and interpretation of events described therein.

Questions of historical accuracy that do not arise directly and EXCLUSIVELY from those gospels are simply not valid, and do not deserve consideration as criticism of the film. To unbelievers, this is little different from warp drive, time travel, alien invasion, ghosts, dragons, or other fantasies. You either suspend disbelief and appreciate what is presented for its entertainment or illustrative value, or call it balderdash and walk out.

But stories can tell us a great deal, because the imagination is perhaps the greatest of laboratories for human ideas, thought, and interaction ever conceived. It has been exploited since ancient times by great authors. So whether you consider the gospels to be fiction, fact, or somewhere in between (another ancient writing technique,) they remain "the greatest story ever told", and certainly worthy of exposition.

Foxman be damned. He does not speak for me, or for any but his small clique.

[The Cuban]

Your a little late for that buddy. I has already happened and it will continue to happen. What do you think happens to Christians in Communist Countries? What do you think happens to children in public school? What do you think happened to Christian children in Muslim countries?