Entropy Gate

Passion and such...

So...I've been away from blogging for a while and I've hardly visited any other blogs...

The Jesters have performed their two shows at the university and we're getting ready for the big show at the Embassy...I'll blog about that later. What I really want to talk about is something I have been excited about and mentioning and defending for a year now...

The Passion!

I finally saw it last week...last Wed. actually and there are several issues that I want address...1) the Mel Gibson hates Jews charge 2) the violence 3) the criticism and 4) the movie as a meditation

1)
First off (and I pointed this out many times) most of the charges that the movie would promote hatred of Jews came from people who had not yet seen the movie. When I left the theater I felt no anger towards Jews...in fact, the only ones I felt anger towards were the Roman soldiers who flogged and tortured Jesus. I actually came away from the movie with the feeling that the priests who were demanding the death of Jesus were feeling that he was truly a threat to their belief in God and and their way of worship. I felt a sympathy for them (spoiler alert...though a very small one). At the end, when the curtain in the temple was ripped, one of the high priests broke down and cried...now, was that because of the curtain ripping and the temple being damaged...or...was it because he realized what had truly happened...

To say that the movie should not be seen because it would create hatred of Jews would be like saying that "Saving Private Ryan" should not be shown because it would generate hatred of Germans or that "Last of the Mohicans" should not be shown because it would generate hatred of French and Indians (native Americans for the PC crowd). Recently at our local Art House Movie Theater, there was a movie called "The Sisters of..." well, the name escapes me, but here's the run down. It was a "true-story" movie about nuns in Ireland abusing young girls. Perhaps this film, which was praised by local college profs and critics, should not be seen due to the fact that it might generate hatred towards nuns.

When you break it down, I believe it comes to this...1. Mel Gibson made an incredible film that depicts the final events in Jesus' life prior to his crucifixion from a christian standpoint...unlike "Last Temptation of Christ". 2. The movie has ticked off a lot of non-Christians (and regrettably some Christians as well) and they do not want to see it become a hit (sorry...too late). 3. People don't want the movie seen because there is TRUTH to learned, discussed or meditated on. 4. If you hate Jews, this movie won't incite you to kill any because you probably won't waste your time watching it in the first place.

next blog...Violence and Blood...Should Christians see an R rated movie?