Articles that Give an Overview
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GIBSON. Mad Mel
by Paula Fredriksen in The New Republic, July 25, 2003.
Expresses the some of the scholars’ viewpoints concerning the historical weaknesses and potential anti-Semitic impact of The Passion of the Christ’s script of in the context of what happened from her perspective.
The Jesus War, by Peter J. Boyer
archived from The New Yorker, September 15, 2003
How Mel Gibson defied Hollywood and mobilized churches for . . . The selling of 'The Passion', Chicago Tribune (free membership - sign up!)
By Mark Caro and Lou Carlozo, February 8, 2004
Although "The Passion of the Christ" is, on the surface, a collision of blatantly non-commercial elements, it is racking up the kind of advance sales recently reserved for movies about hobbits or boy wizards. Gibson's cinematic interpretation of the Gospels -- spoken in Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew and, by all accounts, drenched in blood -- has been the beneficiary of an unprecedented, aggressive marketing campaign aimed almost exclusively at the country's evangelical Protestant and conservative Catholic communities.
In Defense of Mel Gibson
By Cynthia Grenier, August 29, 2003
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Nominally, we are supposed to be this Christian country, although even a glancing look over some of the media's recent treatment of religious themes in popular culture does make you wonder. Right now, Mel Gibson's getting it in the neck for, as Time Magazine of Sept. 1 refers to it, his "eccentric film project" – the "eccentric" project being of course, "The Passion of the Christ," the filmed recounting of the last day in the life of Jesus Christ.
Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ': Most offensive film ever made
By Elizabeth Farah, August 27, 2003
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Have you heard of the controversy and heated debate swirling around Mel Gibson's yet to be released film, "The Passion of the Christ"? Just to be clear, I will summarize: Detractors, supposedly leaders of Jewish groups, as well as Catholics and Protestants, are concerned that this documentation of the final hours of Jesus Christ's life and His resurrection "will fuel hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism." Since this portrayal is arguably one of the most accurate of all movies ever made about any aspect of Christ's life, we should be asking what these concerned "leaders" are saying about the Gospel of Christ.
"Passion": A Step Back for Jews and Christians
By Rabbi Michael Lerner
Mel Gibson unlocked the secret of why Americans have never confronted anti-Semitism in the way that we did with the other great systems of hatred (racism, sexism, homophobia) when he told a national t.v. audience on February 16 that "the Jews' real complaint isn't with my film (The Passion) but with the Gospels." Few Christians today know the history of anti-Semitism and the way that the Passion stories were central to rekindling hatred of Jews from generation to generation. Many are embracing Gibson's movie and not understanding why Jews seem to be so threatened. |
Other Important Articles:
ADL director calls Gibson 'anti-Semite'
Abraham Foxman lashes out at actor over statements about 'The Passion of the Christ'
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com, September 19, 2003
The controversy over Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," an epic film about the last 12 hours of Christ's life, has ratcheted up a notch with the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, calling the actor-director an "anti-Semite." Foxman's latest comment contradicts earlier statements he made to the New Yorker magazine recently. In that interview, he said he did not believe either Gibson or the film is anti-Semitic.
Abraham H. Foxman, National Director, Anti-Defamation League Letter to the Editor of USAToday regarding Michael Medved’s July 22, 2003 article in defense of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
Becoming Rational About Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ,
by Christopher J. Patton (the webmaster)
Many in the Jewish community are legitimately concerned about the possible social consequences that might be inspired by Mel Gibson’s new movie, The Passion of the Christ. History is on their side. In fact Christians would do well to reflect a little on the history of religious warfare and persecution between themselves over issues of passionate faith. A little mutual understanding might go a long way on this topic.
Billy Graham Praises Mel Gibson's 'Passion'
FOXnews.com, November 30, 2003
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Rev. Billy Graham gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to Mel Gibson's biblical epic, "The Passion of Christ," after a private screening with the movie star. "The film is faithful to the Bible's teaching that we are all responsible for Jesus' death, because we all have sinned," the 85-year-old evangelist said. "It is our sins that caused his death, not any particular group."
Church tries to cool row over Mel Gibson's film about Christ
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington, Thursday February 19, 2004, The Guardian
The Catholic church in America was yesterday set to release church teachings on Jews and reconciliation in an attempt to cool religious passions before the release of Mel Gibson's film about Jesus.
Conservative Jewish Leader Denounces ADL for Gibson Critique
By Marc Morano, November 10, 2003
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - A conservative Jewish leader has blasted the Anti-Defamation League for the group's alleged "hysterical rantings" over the upcoming Mel Gibson-produced movie, The Passion of the Christ.
Orthodox Rabbi Daniel Lapin, president of the Seattle-based Jewish group Toward Tradition, said the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) panel discussion last week criticizing The Passion of the Christ might end up jeopardizing relations between Jews and Christians.
Gibson's Film 'Passion' Inflames Tempers
Director wants Jewish-Christian dialogue, says spokesman
CNN, August 14, 200
Gibson: I was 'spiritually bankrupt'
'Passion' producer opens up as film generates unprecedented buzz
January 31, 2004, WorldNetDaily.com
Amid accusations of anti-Semitism against him and his father, Noonan asked Gibson to state on the record whether he believed the Holocaust happened, the New York Post reported. "I have friends and parents of friends who have numbers on their arms," he said. "The guy who taught me Spanish was a Holocaust survivor. He worked in a concentration camp in France. Yes, of course. Atrocities happened.
PARIS (Reuters) - It's hard to imagine a movie provoking such contrasting reactions among Jews and Christians as Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," the story of the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ.
It sounds like they're watching two different films -- and, in a way, they are. As Gibson gives one pre-release showing after another to selected religious audiences, a "pro and contra" pattern is clearly emerging in their comments.
Gibson Seeks Olive Branch From ADL,
By Tom Tugend, The Jerusalem Post, February 1, 2004
Gibson's sin: Faithful film?
New Yorker article concludes 'The Passion of the Christ' is Gospel-true
By Joseph Farah, © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
The Gospel Untruth
By Shmuley Boteach, Nov. 12, 2003
Mel Gibson's movie the The Passion brings to the big screen the New Testament allegation that Jews are possessed of such dark power that they orchestrated the murder of the Creator, something that even Satan was too weak to achieve. The same Jews who couldn't drive the Romans out of their homeland, and who were being massacred by legionnaires in their thousands, took a break from their revolt against Caesar and decided to slaughter the supreme Source of all existence. Whoa. Now that's an allegation.
Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ'
By Joseph Farah, July 23, 2003
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
I saw a movie this week that moved me, changed me, inspired me and deepened my faith. I was blessed to be part of a small group of people invited to a screening in Washington of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
But let me tell my Jewish friends: You have nothing to worry about in this movie. Drop it. Forget it. Don't waste another minute concerning yourselves with it. It is a wonderful, inspirational Christian movie that in no way takes any potshots at the Jews as a people.
'It Is as It Was’
By Peggy Noonan, Wednesday, www.opinionjournal.com, December 17, 2003
Mel Gibson's "The Passion" gets a thumbs-up from the pope.
Here's some happy news this Christmas season, an unexpected gift for those who have seen and admired Mel Gibson's controversial movie, "The Passion," and wish to support it. The film has a new admirer, and he is a person of some influence. He is in fact the head of the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church. Pope John Paul II saw the movie the weekend before last, in the Vatican, apparently in his private rooms, on a television, with a DVD, and accompanied by his closest friend, Msgr. Stanislaw Dziwisz.
Mel Gibson Agrees to Change 'Passion' Film to Combat Anti-Semitism
By Mike Evans, © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com, January 29, 2004
Paleojudaica.com, a weblog by Dr. James R. Davila, a Lecturer in Early Jewish Studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, that is following Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ movie.
Paleojudaica.com is a blog on ancient ("paleo-") Judaism ("Judaica") and its historical and literary context from roughly the beginning of the Second Temple period (late 500s B.C.E.) to the rise of Islam (early 600s C.E.). I have intentionally phrased this fairly broadly: I am interested not just in ancient Jewish history in the Land of Israel and the Diaspora through late antiquity, and in ancient Jewish literature (late biblical texts, Dead Sea Scrolls, Jewish Pseudepigrapha, Josephus, Philo, Mishnah, Tosefta, Talmuds, Midrash, Targumin, Piyyutim, etc.), but also in ancient sources, ancient history, and methodological developments which increase or show promise of increasing our understanding of ancient Judaism.
So items pertaining to, say, early Christianity, Christian Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, Roman history, archaeological techniques, etc. may be relevant as long as they have (either explicitly or implicitly) some connection with ancient Judaism. If an item involving First Temple Israel, medieval or later Judaism, or something even more tangential happens to strike me as especially interesting, I may throw it in as well.
‘Passion’ and Intrigue
By Peggy Noonan, January 22, 2004
The story of the Vatican and Mel Gibson's film gets curiouser.
On the matter of the pope, "The Passion" and the famous papal quote, you are perhaps perplexed. You are not alone. This is a story marked by, among other things, a certain amount of intrigue, and some of it is like something out of "The DaVinci Code."
'The Passion of the Christ': 2 films in 1
Dennis Prager, October 28, 2003
© 2003 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Early this past summer, Mel Gibson invited me to see "The Passion," his film on the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. The invitation was significant in that I was the first practicing Jew and active member of the American Jewish community to be invited. He did so because he believed, correctly, that he could trust me. I have long worked to build trust between Jews and Christians, especially traditional Christians.
The increasing tension over this film has reinforced impressions I offered Mel Gibson that day. When watching "The Passion," recently renamed "The Passion of the Christ," Jews and Christians are watching two entirely different films.
'The Passion of the Christ' Revisited
By David Limbaugh, July 30, 2003
© 2003 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
And the way Gibson has decided to share that message is to focus on the price Christ paid to redeem mankind. We are so removed from Christ's suffering that we could, if not careful, view the Gospel as a mere mathematical equation. The sacrificial death of the sinless, God-incarnate cancels out the past, present and future sins of all those who place their faith in Him. But this is real life, not an abstract exercise.
God didn't just zap out man's sinfulness by divine edict. Being a God of perfect justice and unlimited mercy, He had to deal with sin – that is, physically and spiritually deal with it. The Son, while still 100 percent God, humbled and demeaned Himself to become man, to suffer all the indignities of human existence, to become separated from the Father with whom He was united in perfect love and harmony, and to suffer His full wrath for the sum of all mankind's sins.
'Passion' Scene Cut, but Debate Simmers
By Scott Bowles, USA TODAY, 2-4-2004
Mel Gibson's decision to remove a controversial scene from his movie The Passion of the Christ did little Wednesday to temper debate over whether his film will fuel anti-Semitism.
PASSIONATE THOUGHTS
By William F. Buckley, 1/28/2004
Paul Maier, professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University, comments, as reported by The Christian Science Monitor, that "a tremendous number of Jews never turned against Jesus during Holy Week," and records that "the Gospel use of the phrase 'the Jews' referred to Jesus' Jewish opponents, not all Jews. It was a common construction of writing of the time."
Protesting Gibson's Passion Lacks Moral Legitimacy
By Rabbi Daniel Lapin, September 22, 2003
President, Toward Tradition
Never has a film aroused such hostile passion so long prior to its release as has Mel Gibson's Passion. Many American Jews are alarmed by reports of what they view as potentially anti-Semitic content in this movie about the death of Jesus, which is due to be released during 2004.
As an Orthodox rabbi with a wary eye on Jewish history which has an ominous habit of repeating itself, I fear that these protests, well intentioned though some may be, are a mistake. I believe those who publicly protest Mel Gibson's film lack moral legitimacy. What is more, I believe their actions are not only wrong but even recklessly ill-advised and shockingly imprudent. I address myself to all my fellow Jews when I say that your interests are not being served by many of those organizations and self appointed defenders who claim to be acting on your behalf. Just ask yourself who most jeopardizes Jewish safety today, Moslems or Christians?
The Real Problem with “Passion”
By Amy-Jill Levine
I don't know if the film is anti-Jewish. But the response to criticism of the movie smacks of anti-Semitism.
Who killed Jesus?
By Joseph Farah, September 16, 2003
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
If anyone doubts the suffering Jesus went through, "The Passion of the Christ" will set you straight – and then some. But the finger-pointing is strange, indeed. It's not Christian to shift blame to the Romans any more than it would be to shift it to the Jews. Followers of Jesus believe we are all responsible – all human beings, alive, dead or yet to be born – for crucifying Jesus. That may sound weird to nonbelievers, but it is an absolutely essential tenet of our faith.
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