Defense of "The Passion of the Christ" Against Charges of Anti-Semitism

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So it was thought there was nothing more to be written or said about Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Wrong. The controversial motion picture The Passion of the Christ has been at the height of discussion since first word of its inception. Throughout history both Christians and Jews have been at odds and many have taken their passions, perceptions, and perversions of the Cross of Christ to the extreme. The core issue is that the Jews have been blamed for the death of Jesus Christ. The movie Passion of the Christ portrayed the last twelve hours of Christ's life before and up to the crucifixion. Religious leaders around the world where petrified that this re-enactment on the big screen would fuel the fire of hatred towards altering religions. The belief was that there would be an uproar of Christians putting forth anger towards the Jewish communities. The movie The Passion of the Christ did not by any means portray Anti-Semitism, nor was this re-enactment too violent or unscriptural.

The Passion of the Christ revealed to us the death of Jesus Christ, but nowhere did it show us that the Jews alone where to blame. Jewish leaders call the Passion of the Christ anti-Semitic claiming that it will cause violence between religions (Assist News Service 2003). There's no doubt that the Bible says who is responsible for Jesus' death. God ordered the crucifixion as part of his plan for humanity's salvation, and Jesus allowed it to happen. The chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, John Maxwell said, "Anyone who sees this film and thinks that the Romans and Jews killed Jesus missed the point" (Assist News Service 2003). Those of us who are believers in and followers of Jesus Christ must always be very attentive a...

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...racticing Semitism, but to educate in the life, the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The violence in the Passion was merely an interpretation of what the scriptures tell us, but it was a day that is unbelievably unimaginable to re-enact the torture that Jesus was held too. This film was just an image of what took place on that day. Gibson held the script of the Passion as close to the teachings by the four Gospels as anyone has ever done trying to recreate the Passion. It is true to believe that in this day and age that mankind that is so desperately falling into darkness and has the utter most difficulty excepting the truth, gets satisfaction from criticism. The Passion of the Christ is the most spirit moving, factual, eye opening, life changing depiction of the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ ever conceived by man.

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