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What kind of an idiot makes a blog that he never updates? And why do you still come here to read it? Ah, my friends, I miss you and love you all.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
It seems only appropriate that as soon as I determine to begin a new habit, that circumstances arise to specifically frustrate that decision. I am speaking of blogging in particular. My hard drive is damaged and inaccessible, which has made it impossible to use my computer. Oh well, problem solved.
I’m amazed at all the fuss over the Passion of the Christ movie. I’m especially amazed at the amount of people who were sure that it would be a catalyst in the proliferation of anti-Semitic sentiments. What amazes me even more is the fact that many people, after watching the movie, STILL believe this to be the case. I have seen it twice now and have tried to remain as unbiased as possible (which is a fruitless endeavor to be sure, but I won’t go into that now).
The fear is that the movie shows that the Jews killed Jesus. The facts are simple. The understanding that the Jews killed Jesus is an unwarranted interpretation of history, of the Biblical Gospels’ account of history, and of Mel Gibson’s movie. For now, I am only speaking of the movie. If you want proof that the Bible isn’t anti-Semitic, don’t wimp out and look to my opinion for an overview. Read it yourself. Chances are, Christian or non-Christian, most of us haven’t truly read the Bible.
Let me outline some of the Jews in the movie that nobody could confuse for the antagonists. Jesus himself was Jewish. Mary the mother of Jesus was Jewish. Jesus’ closest friends, John and Peter were Jewish. In the trial before the Jewish leaders in the middle of the night, it is two of the leaders who oppose the trial and speak of Jesus’ innocence. Simon of Cyrene, the man who helped him carry the cross when he was no longer able to carry it was specifically labeled as “JEW!” by one of the Roman soldiers. The woman who brought her cloth and water to him along the way to the hill was Jewish. These were the Jewish characters that were focused on in the plot. Does it not seem ironic that out of all of these mentioned, only one was absolutely determined that Jesus needed to be crucified. There was only one of these mentioned who was completely willing to let Jesus be crucified. That Jew was Jesus, himself.
Oh, of course there was Caiaphas, the high priest. He was not determined to kill Christ until he heard what he had been taught was blasphemy. According to his religious tradition, a blasphemer was to be put to death. So, Caiaphas was within his beliefs to think Jesus deserved death. There was the Jewish “mob” who seemed bloodthirsty, but they (at least in the movie) were spurred on by the ‘piety’ of Caiaphas. Some would say that the Romans killed Jesus, and I suppose literally they were directly responsible for the physical actions causing his death. However, Pilate was not eager to kill him. It seems only a handful of crude soldiers actually enjoyed punishing and killing him.
I do not think that the movie was anti-Semitic or that it promoted such sentiments. If someone was not anti-Semitic when they walked in to the theater, it is unlikely that they would be when they walked out.
The question remains then, who actually was responsible for the death of Jesus? If not the Jews, then who? In any execution, who is most responsible for the death? The judge who sentences? The jury who condemns? The executioner? Where does responsibility lie? Did my sins kill Jesus, or was it Jesus who made the choice?
I’m amazed at all the fuss over the Passion of the Christ movie. I’m especially amazed at the amount of people who were sure that it would be a catalyst in the proliferation of anti-Semitic sentiments. What amazes me even more is the fact that many people, after watching the movie, STILL believe this to be the case. I have seen it twice now and have tried to remain as unbiased as possible (which is a fruitless endeavor to be sure, but I won’t go into that now).
The fear is that the movie shows that the Jews killed Jesus. The facts are simple. The understanding that the Jews killed Jesus is an unwarranted interpretation of history, of the Biblical Gospels’ account of history, and of Mel Gibson’s movie. For now, I am only speaking of the movie. If you want proof that the Bible isn’t anti-Semitic, don’t wimp out and look to my opinion for an overview. Read it yourself. Chances are, Christian or non-Christian, most of us haven’t truly read the Bible.
Let me outline some of the Jews in the movie that nobody could confuse for the antagonists. Jesus himself was Jewish. Mary the mother of Jesus was Jewish. Jesus’ closest friends, John and Peter were Jewish. In the trial before the Jewish leaders in the middle of the night, it is two of the leaders who oppose the trial and speak of Jesus’ innocence. Simon of Cyrene, the man who helped him carry the cross when he was no longer able to carry it was specifically labeled as “JEW!” by one of the Roman soldiers. The woman who brought her cloth and water to him along the way to the hill was Jewish. These were the Jewish characters that were focused on in the plot. Does it not seem ironic that out of all of these mentioned, only one was absolutely determined that Jesus needed to be crucified. There was only one of these mentioned who was completely willing to let Jesus be crucified. That Jew was Jesus, himself.
Oh, of course there was Caiaphas, the high priest. He was not determined to kill Christ until he heard what he had been taught was blasphemy. According to his religious tradition, a blasphemer was to be put to death. So, Caiaphas was within his beliefs to think Jesus deserved death. There was the Jewish “mob” who seemed bloodthirsty, but they (at least in the movie) were spurred on by the ‘piety’ of Caiaphas. Some would say that the Romans killed Jesus, and I suppose literally they were directly responsible for the physical actions causing his death. However, Pilate was not eager to kill him. It seems only a handful of crude soldiers actually enjoyed punishing and killing him.
I do not think that the movie was anti-Semitic or that it promoted such sentiments. If someone was not anti-Semitic when they walked in to the theater, it is unlikely that they would be when they walked out.
The question remains then, who actually was responsible for the death of Jesus? If not the Jews, then who? In any execution, who is most responsible for the death? The judge who sentences? The jury who condemns? The executioner? Where does responsibility lie? Did my sins kill Jesus, or was it Jesus who made the choice?
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Last night I watched The Passion of the Christ. I'm still formulating my opinions about it. Things have been very busy lately, but when this week is out of the way, I will definitely have something to say. I'm going to see it again on Friday night.
