Why you SHOULD see "Passion of the Christ"...

[Donny]

quote: Originally posted by nofx

I just think its hilarious that some of you guys/girls went to go see passion of christ being adult webmasters and all.

I don't see anything at all funny about it. I think that adult webmasters that DON'T go see it are being stubborn and hard headed.

If a person is educated, he/she will realize that the Bible should be considered an historical work, similar to anything written by Homer, Shakespeare, etc. It is a very influential piece of literature.

Simply because I don't agree with the idiots that think they should base their life on mostly-fictional literature (I say "mostly" because I'm sure there are a FEW things that are real --- just as Steven King books mention real events from time to time), does NOT mean that I won't go see a good movie from an historical book.

To avoid a great movie because you don't agree with Bible Thumpers is to let those same Bible Thumpers influence your life. Go see it because it is a good movie. Or because it is educational just as a Shakespearean Play is educational. Don't let the Bible Thumpers take it from you, even if it was a Bible Thumper that made the movie.

[Donny]

Damn, I made some really good points in that post. LOL.

[dready]

Funny thing is how badly Mel Gibson raped the bible and gave this Violent American slant to the whole story.. it's pathetic really, especially for a guy who built his own personal church.

[Libertine]

One problem with your reasoning... the Passion of the Christ wasn't a good movie at all. In fact, it sucked. It was like porn, but with the sex substituted by violence.

[Donny]

Originally posted by punkworld
One problem with your reasoning... the Passion of the Christ wasn't a good movie at all. In fact, it sucked. It was like porn, but with the sex substituted by violence.

It was fantastic. The actors deserve awards. Superb acting. And the fact that the dead language spoken in the movie is the actual language used at that time... another exceptional feat!

Sounds like somebody is allowing the religious to win again, by overlooking the great job that was done making that movie simply because of a dislike for Christianity.

I hate Christianity too. But I love movies. This one was great.

[graphicsbytia]

I haven't see it yet.. which reminds me.. going to ask my sons to download it for me

you think it's ok for a couple of 13 yr old boys to watch Donovan?

[nofx]

lets not forget that catholic priests molest little boys! GO SEE THE PASSION OF CHRIST!

[sexeducation]

Quite simpley it's boring.

And I believe in "God".

It's a wanna be "Private Ryan" of the crusification.

"Ultra - reality".

[Donny]

Originally posted by graphicsbytia
I haven't see it yet.. which reminds me.. going to ask my sons to download it for me

you think it's ok for a couple of 13 yr old boys to watch Donovan?

If you let them watch violent, shoot-em-up, bloody movies: Yes.

If not: no

It's very violent. Flesh is tore from his back, nails are pounded into him. He's a bloody pulp by the end. Then he dies.

But it probably depends on the kid. I think I would have wanted to see it when I was 13 and would have loved it from a historical perspective, because it was supposed to be real.

[emthree]

"oh just shut up allready"

[nofx]

Please, no one spend any money on this movie.

http://ircspy.com/search.asp?searcht...sortby=Network

or

http://search.suprnova.org

[Donny]

Originally posted by nofx
lets not forget that catholic priests molest little boys! GO SEE THE PASSION OF CHRIST!

You keep proving that you let the religious influence you. There are MANY people that believe in Christ, not just Catholics.

Some people, such as me, believe that he is a good example like Ghandi. I admire the man in the (highly possible) myth that is Christ.

And, it simply a good movie.

How many people that have watched it on this board are going to start giving money to the Catholic Church? I'd say probably... hmmmm.... ZERO. So seeing it does not help Catholic Priests, now does it.

How old are you anyway? I'm trying to dissect your way of thinking.

[graphicsbytia]

Originally posted by DonovanPhillips
If you let them watch violent, shoot-em-up, bloody movies: Yes.

If not: no

It's very violent. Flesh is tore from his back, nails are pounded into him. He's a bloody pulp by the end. Then he dies.

But it probably depends on the kid. I think I would have wanted to see it when I was 13 and would have loved it from a historical perspective, because it was supposed to be real.

thanks, I may think on it for a while then

[NoCarrier]

Please don't spoil the movie. I don't want to know how it ends.

[CDSmith]

One thing this movie does do, better than most others in the past is that it has people talking.


I'm gonna see it.

[sexeducation]

Originally posted by NoCarrier
Please don't spoil the movie. I don't want to know how it ends.

I heard Jesus dies on the Cross.

[dready]

William Alberts
The Passion of the Christ-Makers

The current stirring of religiosity is not about ?the passion of the Christ,? but about the passion of the Christ-makers?those who have recreated Jesus in the image of their own need for certainty, security, rightness, power over others, and domination. It is especially about correct theological belief and not about just, ethical behavior; about having the right belief, not doing the right thing; about a personal, other-worldly destination, not about an interpersonal journey with others?unless they are like- minded; about believing in Jesus, not doing what he believed in.

To the Christ-makers, Jesus died for the sins of the world, and whoever believes in his sacrificial act of atonement, as the only Son of God, will not perish but inherit eternal life. Thus, may an otherwise hell-bent humanity escape the eternal damnation of an otherwise loving God.

The centrality to Christianity of belief, and of such a belief in Jesus, is the enthusiastically received message of Mel Gibson?s The Passion of the Christ. From the film?s biblical introduction?(?He was wounded for our transgressions,? Isaiah 53:5a) through the almost movie-long violent scourging (that would have killed Jesus many times over), to the piercing of his side with a spear after he was already dead?comes the resounding message of vicarious suffering for everyone?s inherently sinful human condition and that accepting him as one?s personal savior is the key to everlasting life.

What Jesus actually believed in?and died for?is effectively, if not intentionally, obscured by the passion of the Christ-makers. He did not die for a theological abstraction, i.e., for ?the sins of the world,? but because of the sins being committed against his Jewish world. He died to liberate the Jewish people from the Roman Empire, which had violated their national sovereignty, occupied their country, and crucified thousands of Jewish ?insurgents? and bystanders?for whom belief in a Messiah was grounded in the political realities of Jewish nationalism, freedom, justice, and peace.

The anti-Semitism of The Passion of the Christ is seen in its distortion of historical reality; in its portrayal of brutal Roman administrator Pontius Pilate as agonizingly sympathetic to a would-be liberator of Jews from Roman domination; in Pilate washing his hands of responsibility for Jesus?s death, even though he had the power of life and death over Jesus (John 19:10).

The ahistorical violence the film does to Jewish reality is also seen in a ?whole battalion?-backed, yet uneasy, Pilate giving in to the ?will? of subjugated, powerless priests, elders of the people, and other Jews who repeatedly cried out, ?Crucify him? (Mark 15:12-16). Portraying the Roman empire in such a favorable light, in New Testament books written 50 to 100 years after the fact, may have advanced the evangelizing of Romans by the early followers of Jesus; but it cast a horrible curse on the Jewish people by putting into the mouths of their oppressed descendents, ?His (Jesus?s) blood be on us and on our children? (Matthew 27:25).

The argument that The Passion of the Christ is true to the gospels? accounts of Jesus?s crucifixion does not make it any less anti-Semitic. The New Testament has been used not only to justify anti-Semitism, but also the enslavement of black people (Ephesians 6:5ff), patriarchy?s subjugation of women (Ephesians 5:22ff), physical and spiritual violence against gay and lesbian persons (Romans 1:26, 27), and world domination in Jesus?s name. Enter President Bush.

When asked during the 2000 presidential campaign, ?What political philosopher or thinker do you most identify with and why?? George W. Bush replied, ?Christ, because he changed my heart.? When asked later how Jesus changed his heart, Bush responded, ?When you accept Christ as a savior, it changes your heart, it changes your life? (?60 Minutes II,? April 14, 2004).

President Bush?s belief-centered faith in Christ apparently provides him with the spiritual blinders needed to remain oblivious to the behavior of the U.S. and his own administration?s behavior.

To violate another country?s national sovereignty and impose ?freedom? on its people and call it an historic spreading of ?democracy? in the Middle East, is to turn reality inside out. Here behavior defies belief. Never mind reality?the overwhelming evidence against ?mission accomplished?; the warning of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, ?a major Arab ally,? who ?said yesterday that hatred of Americans in the Arab world is stronger than ever because of the war in Iraq? (Boston Globe, April 21, 2004). That hatred intensified with revelations of the torture, desecration, and murder of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. military personnel, though President Bush has tried to dissociate his Administration from the culture of abuse its pre-meditated war policy and his ?bring ?em on? mentality have fostered. But the far greater abuse is the U.S. invading and occupying Iraq in the first place.

President Bush is ?staying the course?: not guided by reality, but by his ?strong belief that freedom is not this country?s gift to the world but the Almighty?s gift to every man and woman in the world? (news conference, April 13, 2004). In the violent wake of ?staying the course? have come pre-emptive war-supporting, evangelizing carpetbaggers, carrying Bibles and water, calling Islam an ?evil? religion, (St. Petersburg Times, April 20, 2003), and intent on converting Muslims to Christ.

The interpretation of history by the passion of the Christ-makers does violence to the reality of oppressed people?Jewish and Iraqi?and obscures what Jesus was really about. He was not about dying for the sins of the world so that believers could inherit eternal life, but about setting at liberty the Jews, who were oppressed in his world (Luke 4:18). In fact, he emphasized an often overlooked way to eternal life: by behavior, not by belief. When a lawyer tested him by asking, ?Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?? Jesus confirmed that the two greatest commandments were the way: love of God and one?s neighbor as oneself (Luke 10:25-28). When tested further to define who one?s neighbor was, Jesus said any person stripped of life and in need of a Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37).

Jesus used the very institution of religion, the sabbath, to emphasize the sacred worth of every human being: ?The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath? (Mark 2:27). The democratic spirit of these words should be the foundation of Christian organizations and might also help guide the mission statements of political, economic, and social institutions as well.

In teaching love of one?s neighbor as oneself and in intervening on behalf of his oppressed Jewish neighbors, Jesus set an example for the behavior of those who would follow his pathway to eternal life. It is here that the dynamic of belief may come into play.

It is much easier to worship what Jesus did than to do what he worshipped. It is safer to believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world than to join in seeking to rid the world of political, corporate, and military sins that deny neighbors? their birthright of freedom and fulfillment.

Institutionalized religion often immortalizes its saints in order to immobilize them. A way to neutralize the threat posed by the example of prophets and patriots is to turn their liberation movement into a monument and worship it. Vicarious identification with their struggles may be substituted for involvement in similar ethical struggles today. The stature is found in the statue. The right is remembered in the rite. The power is in the prayer. The radical footstep is encased in a freedom trail. The ethic is observed as a memory and avoided as a model.

Belief in Christ as one?s personal savior can also invite a narcissism that encourages self-centeredness rather than identification with one?s neighbors. Such narcissism may even reinforce obliviousness to the neglect or unjust treatment of neighbors by the government, for example, in our name. The aim of belief is certainly to affirm, comfort, and empower?but not at the expense of one?s neighbor.

Religion is about behavior not belief?just as the truth is reflected in what one does. Religion is about setting people free, not imposing sectarian or political beliefs on them. It?s about empowering people, not gaining power over them. It?s about people?s inalienable right to believe as they choose and be who they are. It?s about honoring people in calling them by their own name, in experiencing their reality not interpreting it. It?s about loving one?s neighbor as oneself?here and on any Jericho road.

Rev. William E. Alberts is hospital chaplain at Boston Medical Center, Newton, MA. He is both a Unitarian Universalist and a United Methodist minister. He has written essays and articles on racism, war, politics, and religion.

[nofx]

Originally posted by DonovanPhillips
You keep proving that you let the religious influence you. There are MANY people that believe in Christ, not just Catholics.

Some people, such as me, believe that he is a good example like Ghandi. I admire the man in the (highly possible) myth that is Christ.

And, it simply a good movie.

How many people that have watched it on this board are going to start giving money to the Catholic Church? I'd say probably... hmmmm.... ZERO. So seeing it does not help Catholic Priests, now does it.

How old are you anyway? I'm trying to dissect your way of thinking.

so you admire a man/woman that may or may not exist.

it's too late you already gave your money to that catholic church. mel gibson(a die hard christian) funded the making of this money himself, so in a way, you are funding the catholic church.

kinda funny, i just thought of this. the movie Lethal Weapon, 'thou shalt not kill" ?!? then years later makes the POC...

i'm 21, and you?

[Libertine]

Originally posted by DonovanPhillips
It was fantastic. The actors deserve awards. Superb acting. And the fact that the dead language spoken in the movie is the actual language used at that time... another exceptional feat!

Sounds like somebody is allowing the religious to win again, by overlooking the great job that was done making that movie simply because of a dislike for Christianity.

I hate Christianity too. But I love movies. This one was great.

The acting was mediocre and over the top, shooting was trite and unoriginal, the music was ridiculous.

Oh, and the language spoken in the movie is not the actual language used at that time.

[sexeducation]

It's a good movie to THIS COMMUNITY because it is highly graphic.

The sub-captions encouraged me to turn it off as soon as I realized the WHOLE friggen movie was "sub-captions".

It's not a work of "cinema" it's OVER-ultra-reality on the truth.

YAWN ...

Even Einstein believed in God.

[Thomas1007]

Excellent Movie
Bought the dvd the other day
I do think the scourging was brutal and the punishment
Christ went through had to be more than for his own life.
No man could withstand that.
My opinion on kids seeing this movie is NO.
I have 2 daughters that have been begging me to see it,
they are 13, and 11. I refuse on the grounds they do not
need to witness more violence than the PS2 can give them.
This being perhaps a historical religious event has no bearing on my views, I enjoy history and this movie enthralled me.
On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 9. Great movie, makes you think and feel compassion and rethink your own values in life.
ok any religious freaks jump in, after all this is gfy.

[sexeducation]

Originally posted by punkworld
The acting was mediocre and over the top, shooting was trite and unoriginal, the music was ridiculous.

Oh, and the language spoken in the movie is not the actual language used at that time.

Ditto - BORING ....

[sexeducation]

Originally posted by Thomas1007
Excellent Movie
Bought the dvd the other day
I do think the scourging was brutal and the punishment
Christ went through had to be more than for his own life.
No man could withstand that.
My opinion on kids seeing this movie is NO.
I have 2 daughters that have been begging me to see it,
they are 13, and 11. I refuse on the grounds they do not
need to witness more violence than the PS2 can give them.
This being perhaps a historical religious event has no bearing on my views, I enjoy history and this movie enthralled me.
On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 9. Great movie, makes you think and feel compassion and rethink your own values in life.
ok any religious freaks jump in, after all this is gfy.

A person wishing the "Superman" affect of faith.
There is no super human affect of faith - oh - yes there is it's the all encompassing - "have faith".

[Thomas1007]

Originally posted by sexeducation
A person wishing the "Superman" affect of faith.
There is no super human affect of faith - oh - yes there is it's the all encompassing - "have faith".

ya know what, fuck you!
Ya I do have Faith, and ya I do care what my children believe and watch, if thats wrong so be it. Without "Faith" and something to
believe in what do we have? a bunch of bare monkeys running amuck killing each other for sport. You live your life as you see fit,
I will live mine and try to give my children something to believe in.
Do not mistake me for some religiious fuck because Im far from that, but I do want my children to have faith and live in a better place in eternity. Each to his own.

[Joe Citizen]

I thought the film was badly conceived and poorly executed.

Here's a review that mirrors my thoughts on it: http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=5711

[Winterverse]

That movie was a fucking joke. Gibson seems to have a real hardon for violent films. He said it was going to tell the "true story" of Christ. There was no story. It should have been "the ass whooping of Christ" as the movie was 95% violence and 5% storytelling. Honestly, where was the 'story' and all this 'research' he and his people supposedly did? Must have been hidden behind the tub loads of blood and flesh everywhere..

Violent, yes.
Mildly entertaining, yes.
Award winning? Not in the least.

[Indeed]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/passion_of_the_christ/

Most people did not like it.

[stev0]

I saw it last week... i thought the acting was really good, but the movie itself is slow.

[freeadultcontent]

I will not see it. Not because it is religious or may have a given slant to it.
I will not see it for the following reasons.
1. I refuse to watch snuff films.
2. I refuse to endorse or support hypocracy;
a. Any other movie this violent would of gotten an NC-17 or X rating. This got an R since it was religion themed.
b. Churches for decades have paraded, boycotted, protested, and at times lead strikes against violent movies, always saying the portral of violence is never acceptable. Well apparently except in this case.
c. Theaters were gladly allowing minor's into this movie.
3. If it is a movie with a message and not just an attempt to make money. Why the merchandising, why is there no donation of profits after cost, why were no coupons allowed at the ticket office?
4. Since they claim it was how it was. Why is it no held to the same standards and disclaimers at other supposidly true life inspired movies?

[boobmaster]

Originally posted by Joe Citizen
I thought the film was badly conceived and poorly executed.

Here's a review that mirrors my thoughts on it: http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=5711

He died for you, Joe!

[Joe Citizen]

Originally posted by boobmaster
He died for you, Joe!

booby, your religion is an accident of your birth.

If you were born in the middle-east you would be praising Allah instead of Jesus.

All religion is equally as stupid.

[boobmaster]

Originally posted by Winterverse
That movie was a fucking joke. Gibson seems to have a real hardon for violent films. He said it was going to tell the "true story" of Christ. There was no story. It should have been "the ass whooping of Christ" as the movie was 95% violence and 5% storytelling. Honestly, where was the 'story' and all this 'research' he and his people supposedly did? Must have been hidden behind the tub loads of blood and flesh everywhere..

Violent, yes.
Mildly entertaining, yes.
Award winning? Not in the least.

The message was simple. He died for our sins. Accept God's gift and be saved, or reject it and parish.

[boobmaster]

Originally posted by freeadultcontent
I will not see it. Not because it is religious or may have a given slant to it.
I will not see it for the following reasons.
1. I refuse to watch snuff films.
2. I refuse to endorse or support hypocracy;
a. Any other movie this violent would of gotten an NC-17 or X rating. This got an R since it was religion themed.
b. Churches for decades have paraded, boycotted, protested, and at times lead strikes against violent movies, always saying the portral of violence is never acceptable. Well apparently except in this case.
c. Theaters were gladly allowing minor's into this movie.
3. If it is a movie with a message and not just an attempt to make money. Why the merchandising, why is there no donation of profits after cost, why were no coupons allowed at the ticket office?
4. Since they claim it was how it was. Why is it no held to the same standards and disclaimers at other supposidly true life inspired movies?

YOUR SINS caused the death of Christ.

[boobmaster]

Originally posted by Joe Citizen
booby, your religion is an accident of your birth.

If you were born in the middle-east you would be praising Allah instead of Jesus.

All religion is equally as stupid.

Ya think? There are pockets of Christians in those muslim lands.

[freeadultcontent]

Originally posted by boobmaster
YOUR SINS caused the death of Christ.

You did not address a single thing I said.
I do not accuse others of sin, it is not my duty.
Lastly that should read Christ died for my sins, not my sins caused the death of Christ. I was not around when he was staked up. I also would be lead to believe that since God is all knowing and omnipotent, God would of knew what was to happen to him as Christ and choose that route in the first place, so therefore God caused the death of Christ.

[Joe Citizen]

Originally posted by boobmaster
Ya think? There are pockets of Christians in those muslim lands.

...and there are pockets of muslims in Christian nations.

But if you were born in a muslim country you'd be a muslim because you are obviously a conformist and would go along with whatever religion you were indoctrinated with.

[boobmaster]

Originally posted by Joe Citizen
...and there are pockets of muslims in Christian nations.

But if you were born in a muslim country you'd be a muslim because you are obviously a conformist and would go along with whatever religion you were indoctrinated with.

You know SOOOO much about me, don't you? You are going to hell.

[Joe Citizen]

Originally posted by boobmaster
You know SOOOO much about me, don't you? You are going to hell.

[fr8]

I saw it. Cant say it effected me in anyway though.

[GatorB]

The movie should be called "The Passion Of Wanting To See Someone Get The Shit Beat Out Of Them: In Subtitles"

[Kalifornia]

Ive seen it and its a great movie

[mal]

this was one of the best fictional movies ive ever seen. i cant wait to see mel's next movie The Passion of Allah.

[Pornweaver]

Violence? I have a feeling that if the story of "Jesus" is actually true, that this movie is very close to what actually happened to him. I bet if they made a move that was a close adaptation to the things that happened in the Jewish Concentration Camps during Hitler's rein, you would say it was a violent movie also. So, if it's too violent for some of you, maybe you should consider this...

Imagine that you claimed to be the "New Son Of God", and go across a few different countries claiming this fact, and you developed a group of followers. Nobody of any religion even in today's times would believe it. They believe in their all mighty, yet would deny his son, even now. You would be persecuted just as Jesus was in the Bible.

You would have a target on the back of your head larger than Bin Laden's.