I DETEST THIS FILM ..WITH A PASSION [Christopher Hitchens on the Passion of the Christ]

The Mirror ^ | February 27, 2004 | Christopher Hitchens

[wimpycat]

I hear silence coming from mainstream Christianity...

Then you're obviously not listening. Cardinals, bishops and evangelicals are saying it every time I turn around. Here's just one example...one of many:

Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, left, and Pastor Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelical Christians, get together to discuss Mel Gibson (news)'s film 'The Passion of the Christ,' during a news conference held at the Museum of Tolerance, in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004. The film officially opens in 2,800 theaters Wednesday. (AP Photo/Stefano Paltera)

[BCrago66]

Most of the posters on this thread seem pretty insecure about what they believe, else you all would be bursting into girly tears.

But if you want to defend a snuff film, have fun.

[samtheman]

One more note about the whole Christian-Moslem aspect of this controversy:

We are all so quick to find fault with Islam. We make fun of the "religion of peace" (I do too, I have at least 50 posts with my name on it in FR that say exactly those words), and we all jeer when they ignore their own terrorists and we all are very quick to point out that in the Islamic world, you're either a Muslim or you're a piece of garbage (which is sadly and sickeningly true).

But we're not so quick to jump on any of those tendencies in Christianity. You say they don't exist. Bullsh1t. They exist. They are there. And it is precisely on this question of The Jews where they rear their ugly heads.

The Jews are condemned --- historically and by some Christians today --- for not converting. How is that condemnation not like the garbage-treatment that non-Muslims get in the Islamic world? It might be quantitively less fierce (Christian civilization being so much more civilized than Islamic barbarism) but it is qualitively the exact same thing.

Again, here's an opportunity for us to show how we are NOT like Islamic fanatics. The opportunity is this: condemn the statement "the Jews killed Jesus". Condemn it because it's stupid. Condemn it because it detracts from the true meaning of the cross. Condemn it because it damages the soul of those who believe it. And condemn it because it shows the Islamic world the correct way for people in a religion to react to extremists in their midst.

[longtermmemmory]

I think he knows exactly what he is doing. He is trying to get fewer people to see "the passion". He does not realize the critics have been discredited.

Those critics that speak against this movie are exposed as leftists, homophiles, jealous, or just plain anti-christian. They do not want the public to reawaken a notion of right vs wrong.

This is especially during an election year, especially during a time when homosexual marriage is so close, especially when children will be removed from the insitutuion of marriage. Evil always knows what it is doing.

[AmericaUnited]

Good God! What a tortured, twisted, and pathetic person. The venom toward things of God is scary indeed. Hicthens has what it takes to be a Roman "Crucification Prep" Soldier.

[sirchtruth]

I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of someone who thinks anti-semitism is the lesson to be learned from the cross. No way, brother.

I agree and understand that. However, who lead Jesus to the Roman authorities?

[Qwinn]

Please find me a single thread where you have seen someone make an anti-semitic statement and it has -not- been thoroughly condemned.

Qwinn

[Huck]

I learned one thing, though. I didn't know they spoke Aramaic and Latin in Poland and Russia.

I think he is saying that since only the English subtitle was removed, not the spoken lines, the subtitles is more jew baiter friendly countries will be there. Only America will get the less jew baiter friendly version. That, I think, is his point.

[Aquinasfan]

This review shows that his harsh criticism of Mother Theresa was no accident. Christopher has chosen sides with the Father of Lies. Here's one:

HE showed the film at the Vatican, and then claimed that the Pope had endorsed it - a claim that the Vatican has flatly denied, but then every little [bit] helps.

God help him.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He hates the world because it isn't Communist.

Well, not exactly. But he is very hostile toward religion and religious people. He doesn't understand them. How can you sacrifice like that? Indeed how can you love like that?

By his lights you can't. Therefore there must be some evil hidden motive.

[ECM]

Err, what...?

[11th Earl of Mar]

This very questionable episode - it is mentioned in only one of the four gospels

Only once?

How many other truths are only mentioned once in the Bible?

What a moronic statement.

[leadpenny]

What's a "snuff film?"

[Aquinasfan]

Gibson recieved a PROLONGED standing ovation on Leno last night...

Tell us more!

[hellinahandcart]

This very questionable episode - it is mentioned in only one of the four gospels

Don't you see? If it were repeated over and over like DNC talking points, THEN it would be true.

[Sloth]

Mel Gibson got himself into an argument after uttering a series of crude remarks that were hostile to homosexuals... the more questionable bits of the Gospels... Gibson claims that the Holy Ghost spoke through him... He doesn't go as far as his father, who says that the Holocaust story is "mostly fiction" and that there were more Jews at the end of the war than there were at the beginning... Yesterday, as the movie opened, a Pentecostal church in Denver, Colorado, put up a big sign on its marquee saying: "Jews Killed The Lord Jesus." ... Gibson is well known to be a member of a Catholic extremist group that rejects the Pope's teachings and denounces the Second Vatican Council... Then he ran a series of screenings for right-wing fundamentalists only, and refused to show any tapes to anyone who wasn't a religious nut... Having secured a huge amount of free publicity in this way, and some very lucrative advance block bookings from Christian fundamentalist groups... This very questionable episode - it is mentioned in only one of the four gospels... Gibson knows very well that this will happen, and he'll be raking it in from exactly those foreign rights to the film.

Gosh, It's a good thing Hitchens confines himself to reviewing the movie's content instead of bashing Mel personally, dismissing the veracity of the Gospel accounts, or bringing in irrelevant material. < /sarcasm >

[samtheman]

Christians are among the strongest supporters the Jews have. The Left, who are the true anti-semites and who have been posing as protectors of the Jews ever since it became convenient once Hitler broke his pact with Uncle Joe, know this, and rather than lose their status as "protectors of Jews", they're waging this massive propaganda campaign. That's -all- this is about.

The anti-semite Christians are such a miniscule fraction of the population these days, you'd have to dig deep to find one. Like I said, I haven't seen a single poster like that here. The only expressions of hostility towards Jews that I've seen on this board has been a -response- to the incredible bigotry and hostility that parts of the Jewish community are displaying towards -them-, and quite frankly, I find that much to be completely understandable. In no case have I seen overreaction.

I'm not talking about FR anti-semitism. I agree that there are few like that here. Though there are a few. I've read them.

But that's not the point. They are out there, they exist. I certainly have met a fair amount of them.

And I have seen churches with the sign up "The Jews Killed Jesus".

Are you denying that the idea is still alive and well?

I do agree with you that Conservative Christians are the strongest supporters of the state of Israel outside of the Jews themselves. And I do agree with you that the worst anti-semites (besides the Arabs) are the left-wingers of the western world, including many Jews themselves. And I've said as much over and over here in FR. I am a very strong conservative who has been defending the Christian faith against the idiot attacks of the judicial left and the education-establishment left and the media-left... but on this single issue, the idea that "the Jews killed Jesus"... I just think it's time to put it to bed. Forever. We have the power to do that. We don't have the power to influence Arabs or Commies... they are pretty much beyond our reach.

But to those in our own ranks who believe "the Jews killed Jesus"... it's not good for our group and it's not good for the individual who holds that belief and it should by openly and loudly denounced, by us. Now. During this time of controversy over the film.

By the way, to the person who said I will not see the film. I will see the film. This weekend.

And notice: there is at least one person in this thread who claims I "don't have a clue" when I say the lesson to be learned from the crucifixion is not anti-semitism. So without calling names, I call your proposition into question: that FR is totally pristine on this subject.

[xsmommy]

The opportunity is this: condemn the statement "the Jews killed Jesus". Condemn it because it's stupid.

do you know why you don't hear ME condemning the statement? because I DON"T KNOW ANYONE THAT BELIEVES THAT THE JEWS SHOULD BE BLAMED FOR KILLING JESUS. honestly. i grew up in a largely catholic community attended catholic schools, as do my children today, and NO ONE BELIEVES that. our belief, and that of the Church is that Christ died for all of us. so you are asking me to condemn something that is too ridiculous to even contemplate.

i had this discussion, with respect to anti-semitism and this movie with a good friend and Jewish colleague yesterday. and i think he thinks the same way. one thing you need to understand is that people are coming at this from different directions. i understand that Jews are going to see all of this differently than i, because we all see things through the prism of our own experience. i ask you not to judge me, or other Christians, for not making this statement you seek from us. NOT because we don't believe it, but because in our realm of experience it doesn't seem NECESSARY. do you understand what i am trying to say?

[Leroy S. Mort]

Another pint of scotch and Hitchens would have been able to make the case for a Kissinger - Passion connection. I'm disappointed.

[dawn53]

But didn't the Pope say, "It is as it was."

I wouldn't call that an endorsement, but it is a recognition of the Biblical accuracy of the film.