Krauthammer: "Gibson's Blood Libel"

Washington Post ^ | Mar. 5, 04 | Charles Krauthammer

[churchillbuff]

Gibson's Blood Libel

By Charles Krauthammer Friday, March 5, 2004; Page A23

Every people has its story. Every people has the right to its story. And every people has a responsibility for its story. ...[snip]

Christians have their story too: the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Why is this story different from other stories? Because it is not a family affair of coreligionists. If it were, few people outside the circle of believers would be concerned about it. This particular story involves other people. With the notable exception of a few Romans, these people are Jews. And in the story, they come off rather badly.

Because of that peculiarity, the crucifixion is not just a story; it is a story with its own story -- a history of centuries of relentless, and at times savage, persecution of Jews in Christian lands. This history is what moved Vatican II, in a noble act of theological reflection, to decree in 1965 that the Passion of Christ should henceforth be understood with great care so as to unteach the lesson that had been taught for almost two millennia: that the Jews were Christ killers.

[wardaddy]

Indeed, I have followed Lapin since I think around 1990 when I first saw him speak on C-Span and was mightily impressed.

[swarthyguy]

The Hidden Hand manipulates.

The youknowwho's are now going to finance a movie on the Life of Mo'.

All your deities belong to us. Om.

[rbmillerjr]

"I think that arch-Christian conservatives had high hopes that this movie would silence all the critics of the Christian Right. That it would shame the liberals and secular critics of the Christian Right into conversion and silence "

You think incorrectly and in a conspiratorial manner.

Christians are flocking to this movie about their Lord and Savior and his painful sacrifice for us.

[Al Simmons]

"How about today's Germans that, with Clinton, bombed Belgrade for 78 days."

Germans? NATO yes, but I don't think German planes did any bombing - that would have been 'too close to home', so to speak. As far as their liberal politicians, I hold them in the same contempt as I hold The Rapist. But not the German people as a whole.

"Face it, Germany and Turkey were instrumental in the bombing of Yugoslavia in the 90's. Today Kosovo has been purged of Serbs, repopulated with Islamists and administrated by a German. I get the feeling, they, to this day, still don't like you. "

You are all over the map. Turkey? They were not involved in the bombing either. It would also have been 'too close to home'. And they have been (with last year's exception) one of our most steadfast allies. I am an American first and last. My problems are with all liberal politicians and their policies - not with any national group.

[The Hound Passer]

I think many of you are overreacting to the commentary and vastly misinterpreting it.

Krathhammer's point is that:

1) If one is going by the Gospels, there are historically inaccuracies in the film.

2) These inaccuracies, he believes, are inserted for seemingly no other reason that to make some subliminal statement since they are minimal, or not mentioned in the Gospels.

3) The way Gibson told the story of the Passion could have been done in a manner consistent with Vatican II, but it was not. Had it been he would not have had any issues.

Rather than to intellectually and calmly refute what Krathammer is saying, and point out where and why he is mistaken, many of you choose to delve into bigotted ad-hominem attacks on him and Jews in general. A move that only gives credence to the idea that maybe what Krathammer wrote has some truth to it, and that the Passion of the Christ, does, on a subliminal level, act as a catalyst for anti-semitic feelings.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I wonder what it would take for everyone to be a gunfreak. It's crazy to put your personal safety in the hands of the state.

[af_vet_1981]

By the fruits....So far the fruits of this movie have not been so good if this forum is any example. It seems to have torn open old wounds and fostered not love but division. Mostly political division. I think that arch-Christian conservatives had high hopes that this movie would silence all the critics of the Christian Right. That it would shame the liberals and secular critics of the Christian Right into conversion and silence so that the Christian Right would finally get the "respect they deserve." Instead nothing much has changed and the frustration is palpable and ugly -consisting of throwing good men like Krauthammer over the side. You could not find a better man than he is. Probably the movie has helped foster private piety. But the public fallout in some applications such as ecumenism has been damaging.

I concur. The hatred is palpable and extremely disappointing. The movie may make alot of money but I don't see it producing good fruit yet, at least not on FR. I am keeping my eyes and ears open.

[Just mythoughts]

"A move that only gives credence to the idea that maybe what Krathammer wrote has some truth to it, and that the Passion of the Christ, does, on a subliminal level, act as a catalyst for anti-semitic feelings."


Nice try to smooth over what is plainly written.

[hellinahandcart]

Place marker, so I can follow this thread into the Back Room later today...

[veronica]

Hey, Gorin should replace the out-of-date Kraut.

His name is Krauthammer.

[rbmillerjr]

"I concur. The hatred is palpable and extremely disappointing. The movie may make alot of money but I don't see it producing good fruit yet, at least not on FR. I am keeping my eyes and ears open."

The hatred that is spewing is from the Jewish viewers and critics of Christianity. Accusing Gibson of blood libel for telling the story of Jesus' Crucifixion is ugly business.

The good fruit and message of Christ only has to be taken, accepted and eaten.

[Antoninus]

Charles Krauthammer

[Sabertooth]

Indeed it is. But the prejudices of the useful idiots who served the master race theorists were all informed by Christianity.

Despite your anti-Christian libel, I'll remain a friend of Jews and Israel.

The other one that springs to mind is Islam--another offshoot of Judaism that just can't seem to coexist with Jews.

Islam's holy book explicitly calls for the killing and persecution of both Jews and Christians.

The New Testament doesn't call for the killing or persecution of anyone.

"He who has an ear, let him hear," even if he is a Jew whose ear was reattached to his head by Jesus.

[veronica]

BTTT.

[GraniteStateConservative]

This is a praise movie. Some Christians don't like certain praise songs. Some people like Jews or Muslims or Buddhists or whatever wouldn't much like Christian praise songs.

[Mamzelle]

You forgot your smirk.

: )

[betty boop]

I am a great admirer of Krauthammer; but this piece is a stunning disappointment. I guess this just goes to demonstrate the general rule that people will tend to find -- in a work of art or literature -- what they think they are going to find. Krauthammer was looking for "interreligious aggression" and anti-Semitism; and by gum! he found it. Same deal with Frank Rich (I do not much admire that guy).

[GraniteStateConservative]

The good fruit and message of Christ only has to be taken, accepted and eaten.

Amen.

[Servant of the 9]

The idea of a 'master race' is pointedly evolutionist, not Christian.

Indeed it is. But the prejudices of the useful idiots who served the master race theorists were all informed by Christianity.

Oh come on - just Christianity thinks it is the only way?

The other one that springs to mind is Islam--another offshoot of Judaism that just can't seem to coexist with Jews.

With one or two exceptions, anytime in history you find a religious war, Jews, Christians or Muslims will be at least one of the participants. The "People of the Book", members of one of the religions of the Arabian Peninsula are the only ones who consistently try to kill non-believers.

The Jews were the first. When they returned to Israel from Egypt, they sacked towns and killed everyone, man woman and child. And that kiddies was the invention of Genocide.

So9

[Sabertooth]

Rather than to intellectually and calmly refute what Krathammer is saying, and point out where and why he is mistaken, many of you choose to delve into bigotted ad-hominem attacks on him and Jews in general.

Since you addressed this to "All," I suggest you remove the plank from your own eye, and more thoroughly read the thread.

A move that only gives credence to the idea that maybe what Krathammer wrote has some truth to it, and that the Passion of the Christ, does, on a subliminal level, act as a catalyst for anti-semitic feelings.

Keep your own blood libel in your throat, and off the tip of your tongue.