Penetrating examination of Mel Gibson's "The Passion"

[starroute]

http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_02_08_dneiwert_archive.html#107639249267653657

This discussion makes it clear that Gibson's line of "traditionalist" Catholicism is not only profoundly anti-Semitic but also anti-Catholic. It quotes from a speech from Mel Gibson's father, in which he claims that the Papacy has been subverted by Jews and Freemasons, and that all the Popes since John XXIII have been heretics.

The real target of the film is mainstream Catholics, with the hope that they can be drawn away from their adherence to the Church. But meanwhile, Gibson is marketing it heavily to fundamentalist Protestants -- people whom his brand of Catholicism regards as "false" Christians.

It's a fascinating argument, and I'm not doing justice to it, but the whole setup seems extremely disquieting. Go read the blog.

[ArkDem]

1. It's kind of hard to discuss it without seeing it

.

[Strapping Buck]

2. I will also suspend judgement...

until I see the film. Too much has been said by too many people before the film is even out. I'll be looking to see if Gibson really stayed true to the Gospel accounts as he claims.

[mseang]

3. It's only a Movie.

Let us not forget that this is one man's interpretation of this story. Just like Janet's boon was only a boob, this is only a movie and it is made to entertain us. If you see this and you are entertained, then your money is well spent, if not, then it is like 90% of the movies out there and a complete waste of time and money. I will cretainly reserve judgement until I see the movie, but that may have to wait until the DVD is released as I would prefer to see the directors cut, before the latest rounds of editing to quiet the massess. O8)

[newyawker99]

10. Hi mseang!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[LeahMira]

4. Read the article you referenced, and...

... apparently the elder Gibson also thinks that the Holocaust didn't happen.

I'd imagine that growing up in that sort of environment would tend to make a person suspicious of Jews and anxious to cast them in the role of persecuters and murderers of the Christian saviour. But certainly, Mel Gibson should not be held responsible for what his father says... unless he says the same things.

The Christian gospels are anti-Semitic. There are historical reasons for this, which have been discussed in other threads but basically large numbers of the Jewish people of Christ's time were not interested in the sect that Jesus started and the apostles and disciples continued. It was necessary to recruit followers to that sect from outside the Jewish people, from among the Romans and others, if it was to continue to survive and grow. In order to recruit, a lot of Jewish traditions (i.e. circumcision) had to be eliminated and an honest portrayal of the Romans as cruel executioners needed to be downplayed and/or "excused" by making it seem that the Romans of the time were somewhat taken by Jesus and would have let him off, but it was the "evil Jews" who insisted that he be executed. The gospels and epistles, in addition to the real value they have for some as inspirational works (Jesus, after all, preached Judaism), are also plain and simple anti-Jewish propaganda, written to flatter prospective Roman converts. No one should be surprised if Mel Gibson's strictly bible-based film comes off as anti-Semitic. The original text is also anti-Semitic.

It is sad that in the post-Holocaust times in which we live, when so many people (including Catholics) are coming to understand how the Christian gospels have been used as justification for some of the most degraded impulses of which mankind can be guilty, that Mel Gibson has chosen to dredge up the old libels and slanders. I can't believe that he really doesn't know what he is doing. Perhaps he doesn't, but I just can't believe that. IMO, he either intends to use his film to make a whole lot of money for himself, preying on the bigotry of some Christians and the stupidity of others, or else the man is a callous criminal... in which case, what goes around usually comes around and he'd best change his plans before it's too late for him to turn back from the edge. From Pharoah to Haman, and continuing on into the present, the Creator has dispatched those who would persecute the Jewish people. It has never been pretty.

[ArkDem]

5. or not

.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

7. If the Gospels are anti-semetic

than the Torah is anti-gentile. Personally, I think everyone is playing right into Gibson's hands here - the more controversy, the more everyone will want to see it. Now I can't wait to see it.

[Silverhair]

6. Mel Gibson's father is NOT Mel Gibson.

I think that Gibson should be judged by his own statements and by his work, not by his father's beliefs. My own father, during the MLK civil rights crusades thought that the demonstrators should be machine gunned in the streets. I hope you would not automatically think that I would hold to that same opinion!!!

Let Mel speak for himself. It is intellectually honest.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. What's with the Freemason conspiracy theory?

Everyone knows that Mason's don't exist - the entire organization is fictional. :eyes:

[Riptide]

9. I read today that Mel said that his wife may be going to hell...

because she is not a Catholic. (She is an Episcopalian). He says she is a great person, better than him, but because she is not a Catholic, she will probably not get past the pearly gates.

That's just insane.

[MissB]

12. The same article suggested that Gibson was ready to commit suicide

and that making this movie saved him.

[brainwashed_youth]

11. quit with the father angle

one thing about this that really makes me mad is when people try to smear Gibson by going after his father. leave his father after it and stick to gibson.



p.s. ALL of us should wait till the film comes before we pass judgement