West Texas TV covers "Jesus" and a family member views it...

[wellstone_democrat]

Actually the "reporter" on our local NBC station(I use quotes because the report was a strange mix of review, revival and report) said:

"Is "the Passion of the Christ" anti-semitic? Sure. But no more than Schindler's List was anti-German"

I thought that an amazing statement.
The premiere of this film got most of the evening news with many movie goers advocating that we all be "forced if necessary" to see the film.

I have not seen the film and doubt that I will, my husband however returned just now---he went with two friends. He found it appalling and made one observation that I found stunning. I asked if Jesus was indeed more "Anglo" than Semitic. He said that not only was that true, but he was struck by how stereotypically Jewish the condemning Jewish figures were. He made the statement that more insidious than the framing of the story to reduce the role of Roman officials, the visual images showed a decidedly "European" (or Anglo---we are in the Southwest) Jesus persecuted by (and I quote) "jews straight out of every stereotypical facial type you've ever seen."

[Crachet2004]

1. I'm afraid to go...

I'm not very religious (although given creation, I admit a creator), and I might laugh or something and get mobbed! I think I'll wait until some of the 'passion' dies down. These kinds of events-although this is the first cinematic example I can think of-have a potential to really stir the fundamentalists up.

Oh well. It will be fun for them. I loved Gibson in "Braveheart". I just hope waves of revivalism don't begin sweeping the country! That's all we don't need!

[wellstone_democrat]

2. Well, reportedly in Odessa TX

the theatres are sold out until next Tuesday. Everyone on the news this evening was either urging people to go or demanding that we all be "forced" to view it. Why? "everyone who sees it will become a Christian"

Don't know about your neck of the woods but the revivals are reving up out here---fortunately, I leave this end of the state tomorrow night and head back east to Dallas where "materialism" is still edging out every other consideration. I'm no longer sure which is worse to be around. Guess I just don't like "one note" people.

[Crachet2004]

3. That revivals are revving is not good news.

I worked in Texas-Houston-in the mid-70's. Before fundamentalism had become a political force, I guess. People weren't as extreme back then. I remember Texans being pretty big on work and self-reliance; and there was a lot of beerdrinking and partying going on. But preachers had kind of a bad name around the country, not just Texas.

Valery Putin, in Russia a few weeks back, told their business union (evidently an association of millionaires and billionaires) to stay away from power...and ceded the economic arena to them-but stay out of politics-or go to prison! He caught hell for that over here. But I think what he saw over here is why he did it.

And I think we need to do something similar in this country. Probably not throw them in jail, but business should NOT be represented in Congress or the White House...and neither should the Christians.

Business should come BEFORE Congress to argue it's case. And Christians have no case. Seperation of church and state is fundamental for us to remain "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". Once one religious group gains dominance in the political arena, polarization will occur...wars have been fought many times between Catholics and Protestants, for example. I don't need that.

Revivalism combined with politics is dangerous. The last Crusades were fueled by just such a combination of religious fervor and greed. I am afraid history may be repeating itself, to our great eventual sorrow. There were ups and downs during the course of the last Crusades, over a period of hundreds of years, but in the end, the west lost bigtime. At the very least, the west lost Byzantium.

Revivalism combined with voter registration drives are the danger we face today, in this election year, vis-a-vis the "Movie"...that and the energizing effect it may have on the fundamentalists. You know, somehow we need to get the word out that Jesus was a democrat. He was, you know. His one violent act was to chase the merchants from the Temple, and were the Carpenter from Nazerath alive today, I am sure he would be carrying a union book! And what was that about "rich men" and "camels" and "the eye of a needle..."

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Hope Michael Moore's new movie, plus The Corporation

get us a revival going on the left-wing side of things.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

6. perhaps a Constitutional Amendment banning Christians from voting?

or holding office?

[Crachet2004]

7. Lol...well, or we could just throw them to the lions!

But no, I think they have gone too far! Talk of "forcing" people to do anything turns me off! And it will most Americans.

The GOP is weak that way...it is an avenue of attack for us.

Our "revival" should center around a strong defense of the Constitution...the one document that just might trump the Bible in this country, in a political sense!

Given Patriot, the Arnold amendment, DOMAmendment, the recent attack on the 1st amendment disguised as "decency" and the like, I believe they are open to charges of hating the Constitution!

The chickenhawks have beat us to death with the flag for decades-and I would like to get some back! With a war hero heading our ticket, now is the time to strike.

I think the GOP's assault on the Constitution is indefensible, and if they try to hide behind the Bible...well, like I said, If Jesus Christ were alive today, He would be a Democrat! BRING IT ON!!!

[Ilsa]

5. NBC just ran a teaser for their news or Dateline

claiming The Passion was changing America.

What? They can say that after one night?

I don't care if people behave better because they've seen a movie. But I'd rather they learn more about the life of Christ, not just a violent death. And I'm concerned about this issue of people trying to twist everyone's arm into going. I have no inclination to enrich Mel Gibson for his efforts, nor do I wish to spend my time seeing this.

[spanone]

8. Between reporting on the "passion" CNN is hawking their "Jesus" show.

It's really the marketing of christianity. What if the muslims decided to do the same? Could they in America?

[Step By Step]

12. From all the errors in the passion,

that is just marketing the ignorance and greed and hatred of Mel Gibson.

BTW, y'all hear a woman died of a heart attack at a premiere? She was in her 50's; too young. Wonder who died today in a showing.

Wonder what stirring up of the White Aryan Resistance et al this is going to do. Here comes Kristallnacht, the sequel.

[plcdude]

9. excellent point

we should be learning more about his life and his values as he lived them out than the detailed and erroneous description of his torture and death.

[Mari333]

10. The Irony of this is:

an angry MOB swells outside the theaters, and demand more Jews be killed...odd isnt it..
ergo, the people who would use this film as a stepping off point to maim or hurt jews, gays, liberals have literally BECOME the angry MOB themselves.
ergo, they become exactly the OPPOSITE of what Jesus said and did in his life and are now crucifying and scapegoating the same as the angry mob in the movie.
Go figure.

[sugarcookie]

11. I knew this would be the hot topic

on right wing radio yesterday. I tuned in to listen. To be fair, at first it was mostly witnessing for the movie. It wasn't long though before the comments about the movie took on an anti-liberal theme. One caller pointed out left=evil in the bible. A few frustrated liberal believers got through, but the host always got the last word.

[Step By Step]

13. Did you know fundie groups have

bought out entire showings?

First a church group and recruits can watch the movie and then they attend a 'bible study' on it.

SCARY!