The Passion Of Christ

[UWSojourner]

As a film, it seemed to us to be an excellent portrayal of the New Testament accounts. Most of the events were direct representations. There were a few embellishments ...

I say the movie yesterday. Here's some other "embellishments" ...

1. Simon the Cyrene standing up to the Roman guards on behalf of Jesus.
2. Jesus being the inventor of the dinet set (flashback).
3. Any scene in which Satan is directly present.
4. Animalistic hatred shown by Roman soldiers. Although they taunted and struck him in scriptural accounts, their depictions were too monster-like IMHO.
5. Any flashback of Jesus living with his mother.
6. The entire set of Judas/Satan/Child-Demon interactions.
7. The perpetuation of Jesus as the tall-good-looking messiah. Scripture says he had no beauty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

There may be others.

All in all I thought it was 1) a good conversation generator (which is what I think most devout Christians were appreciative for), 2) a sympathic depiction of a Christian theme (rare in Hollywood) and 3) to a lessor extent an informative movie allowing non-Christians to witness what Christians hold so dear.

I don't know why, and I feel almost heretical to say it based on the reactions of some people I've discussed this with, but I was much more personally moved by the much less popular "Luther" movie (see lutherthemovie.com ). But that's just me; I'm not trying to detract from the experience of those of you who may have been affected so profoundly.

 

[simbrooks]

The rending of temple veil and earthquake are both written of in several accounts and the earthquake in particular as well as Jesus's crying out before he died where what caused those roundabout (soldiers and others) to say "truly He was the Son of God", i havent got my Bible with me at work to pull out specific passages though.

As for the emotional theme of the film, the Biblical account is written in a lot less detail, its less grim mainly for the reasons that God didnt want to people to believe on His Son for the sake of emotions which can ebb and flow (rise and fall) because that will mean that when the emotion has gone, so the people might also fall away (I am thinking parable of the mustard seed here). He wants true believers, those who have come to Him through His Son and believe what they read in their heads and hearts, not just some fly by night fickle "believers". The movie does give a visualisation of the kind of thing that Jesus went through, but IF people think towards Christianity due to this film, then they should pick up the Bible and read it to see the context of this sacrifice, how to be a Christian and also what are the promises and curses that are talked of by Jeses and the apostles throughout the NT (just like He told Moses to tell the Isrealites in the OT before they went into the promised land).

As for anti-Semetism, the Jewish leaders have blown it all out of proportion and really were calling a stoning before realising they were wrong anyway. It can do them no good at all by putting up this fuss in the way they did.

 

[fins wake]

As for anti-Semetism, the Jewish leaders have blown it all out of proportion and really were calling a stoning before realising they were wrong anyway.

You mean 'anti-semitism'. At the moment, there's certainly quite a bit of anti-semanticism on the forum ... :54:

Seriously, let's not discuss if or who has blown what out of proportion, that could get really ugly in itself. Let's not go there.

I haven't seen the film and I also believe in artistic freedom. Thus, I'm willing to give Mr Gibson the benefit of the doubt. I do, however, also understand that there is a very real risk that a graphic and violent hollywoodized depiction of a Passion Play - with slow-motion camera and special effects -may ignite racial hatred if not treated very sensitively. We all know how the 1934 Oberammergau Passion Play was misused by truly evil men.

Anyway, I won't be drawn into a discussion on religion, so I'll just leave it at that.

Peace, brotherly love and happy bubbles,
Fins

 

[H2Andy]

i understand why, historically, Jewish leaders would be concerned. There is a history
of "blaming the Jews for Christ's death" to incite anti-Jewish sentiment (mostly in
Europe).

I think times have changed a great deal. While historically a valid concern, I think the greatest enemies of the Jewish people today are highly unlikely to resort to the "Christ killers" argument.

but, again, in a historical context, i can see the Jewish leaders' point. unfortunately, the only thing they are likely to accomplish is to come across as over-reacting and pro-censorship (i understand this is NOT their goal).

 

[UWSojourner]

You mean 'anti-semitism'. At the moment, there's certainly quite a bit of anti-semanticism on the forum ... :54:

Personally, I'm not anti-semantic, I'm agnostic-semantic ... not convinced of the need of correct semantics in a forum.

From all evidences, our President is agnostic-semantic is ALL forums :cheeky:

 

[simbrooks]

Semantics of Semitism:
my spelling isnt always up to scratch, particularly if i type quickly - but i could say the same about a lot of people on here.

As for the actual acts written of in the NT gospel accounts, they show that the Jewish leaders (sanhedrin, called the "Jews" in the gospels) were the ones who pushed for Jesus' death through the Romans, there is no disputing that. The Jewish nation (called the "multitudes" in the scriptures) were distinct and apart from the leadership. So the actions at that time, depicted in this age arent anti-Semitic! As for passion plays and what happened in the past with some truly wicked people, that is and will always be a sad time, not just for the Jews, but also those others around the world who lost their lives during that war that followed.

As for my personal opinions, i believe i have already stated (a few pages back) that i get along with those people of other faiths and religions with their "gods", i dont agree with their religions, they dont agree with mine either. I still get along with them, my office is a multi-cultural and multi-theistic place, mostly Muslim, Hindu, Buddist and i believe a few others, not to mention the multi-denomination of "Christians" here too, we all get along quite merrily.

 

[caymaniac]

The film does come off as quite brutal, there were times when I wanted to stand up and yell "Stop!" but of course it was a movie, the depictions (if they were true) are almost to the point where a normal man would have died far before the "cross" scene. I agree with simbrooks about the movie.
Christ did give the greatest sacrafice.

Caymaniac

 

[IndigoBlue]

As for my personal opinions, i believe i have already stated (a few pages back) that i get along with those people of other faiths and religions with their "gods", i dont agree with their religions, they dont agree with mine either. I still get along with them, my office is a multi-cultural and multi-theistic place, mostly Muslim, Hindu, Buddist and i believe a few others, not to mention the multi-denomination of "Christians" here too, we all get along quite merrily.

That is the key to world peace, if there is going to be world peace.

 

[GDI]

Having seen the film I have no doubt as to the actuality or realism of the brutal nature to which Christ was punished. Yes a normal man may have died prior to the cross. If not then later by infection that would have followed. The Romans were not noted for more mercylike forms of punishment. In the streets of the time it would not have been uncommon to have seen a cross with a man hanging from it, or the corpse of a stoned person rotting in the streets. The Romans did have laws but they often used terror as a means of control. Many of the Roman soldiers were not Roman they were cohersed into the Roman army or their families would be killed. Lets not forget that the Romans made a sport out of killing at the hands of Gladiators. The scenes of the beating of Christ are most authentic for that time of human history. Yes there was some dramatic license that Mel Gibson used to set the point of Christ's Cruxifiction. The presence of the devil perhaps. The Bible does have satan and Jesus confront each other for the purpose of temptation. We as humans have for years sheltered ourselves from the horrors of our ways, our history. We still do this today,Bosnia, Rwanda and many other places. The movie is very graphic on this brutality. Pilot was portrayed as a man of conscience. I believe he may have been that way or perhaps tired of the position he held. BUT he did not debate for long the life or death of a man, people were put to death by him for merely failing to praise Ceasar or any symbol there of.
I can see where Pilot would have played the High Priest. Jesus was a threat to Roman rule as he was to the control of the people by the High Priest. Pilot satisfied Rome's concerns and avoided a uprising by the people by playing to the High Priest's requests and "washing his hands" of any involvement with the death of Christ. The movie does not show the Jews as a people murdering Christ, I did not see this. We as human kind murdered Christ. With this in mind, this is why as stated in the New Testament one cannot receive salvation unless they accept Christ. The scene of the last supper where Jesus tells the disciples how they get to heaven, to the Father (GOD) - it is only through him. Mel Gibson told the story at a time and in a way that it needed to be told. Thumbs up Mel and may GOD bless you.

 

[simbrooks]

Jesus was a threat to all those in charge, both the Roman rule and the Sanhedrin's religious rulership. The multitude of Jews had been lead to believe that the Messiah they were looking for was a leader/king in their age, some one to take them out of their captivity (not for the first time). Jesus came as a spiritual leader, one to rule over them in eternal life after the resurrection on the final day - even the multitude werent quite ready to hear that message and that is why when He foretold his death and how people were to follow Him some could not take that and turned away - i am not even sure that some hear the message today.

As much as the scenes are graphic and the words in the gospel accounts indicate the suffering that Jeus went through, it was all part of the Father's plan for eternal salvation. As much as we killed Him, due to our sins, that perfect sacrifice was all that could atone for them before God. It must have been truly horrible for Him at that time, but His love is shown and the way to the Father is also given to us in the Bible.

I thank you for starting this thread GDI, as much as i would not want anyone to rush into Christianity on the back of emotions due to this film, hopefully the film and the subsequent discussions on here have opened people's hearts and minds to the way through Jesus.