Mel Gibson's "Passion"

[ClarionCall]

I think Mel Gibson was well-meaning, but a big problem with his movie and book about the last 12 days in the life of the Christ is that he injects a lot of misguided interpretation, speculation and opinion, and presents it as truth.

But a MUCH bigger problem is that it's based on the doctrine and dogma of the Nicene Creed, fabricated in the 4th Century to elevate and enhance the status of the Christ and Christianity for the then-new "Holy Roman Empire." And, by the way, that doctrine was used to justify many centuries of theocratic imperialism, oppression and cruelty we now call the Dark Ages.

The biggest problem is that the same doctrine is used now to justify the bigotry of the Religious Right, which claims that "only by accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior can you receive salvation," because "Jesus died for the sins of humanity." Even worse, the Religious Right uses it to claim that everyone must agree and march in lock step with them or else be damned to eternal hell. And by making this movie and book Mel Gibson has aligned himself with the Religious Right.

The thing is, it's really a question of why Jesus did what he did. And it WAS NOT to justify religious bigots and hypocrites who claim only they know The Way and anyone who disagrees is in league with Satan. And it WAS NOT to create a religion for imperialists who seek worldly wealth and power and live by the sword (gun and bomb).

The real truth is that Jesus allowed himself to be arrested knowing he would face death to show us a perfect example of the loving and forgiving pacifist and martyr, who would rather judge not, resist not evil, love his enemies, and turn the other cheek. THAT is real Christian doctrine.

In contrast with that, the doctrine about Jesus "dying for our sins" and being "the only source of salvation" makes little sense, if you really think about it. After all, our sins are certainly our own, and we certainly live with the consequences of our sins. And our salvation is in asking for forgiveness from God, and achieving the feeling of being forgiven by God.

Granted, most Christians hold the Nicene Creed as true to the gospels. But it now raises many questions: Are the gospels as we now know them true to the actual teachings of Jesus? Were they embellished and redesigned by the writers of the gospels when the oral tradition was finally written down between 40 and 70 years after Jesus died? Were certain things added to the gospels in the 4th Century to justify and suit the purposes of the "converted Christian" emperor Constantine who lived by the sword to rule the then-new "Holy Roman Empire?" Is it not in fact a man-made doctrine designed to justify the building of a theocratic empire that holds all other religions as false?

I believe in Jesus and his Golden Rule, which is the true core principle of Christianity and all other genuine religions. I do not believe he ever said or implied in any way that "unless you believe in me you will suffer eternal damnation in hell." I think that is the man-made doctrine of the hypocrites that Jesus warned us about. And the idea that only by professing belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior can you receive salvation is a big part of that false doctrine. I learned that from the messenger for the Spirit of truth that Jesus said would come, in the message entitled Real Prophecy Unveiled, and in my heart I know it is true.

[packerssuck]

1. I kind of agree...

I know that the fundamentalist Christians believe that either you're with us or against us. You can't go to heaven if you don't believe Jesus was the messiah etc. It's very fascist and resembles sharia law ironically.

[Quixote1818]

2. Faith, Hope, Love, these three; but the greates of these is Love.

I agree and as Paul said in Cor. xiii Love is greater than faith and how you live your life and if you love your fellow man is more important than if you actually believe Jesus to be God. As he said:

"Though I spake with tongues of men and of angels, and have not Love, I am become as a sounding brass, or tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all Faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Love, it profiteth me nothing...."

[MikeGalos]

3. but the greatest of these is hop

(Sorry, just had to get that in there for all the Red Dwarf fans)

[amber dog democrat]

4. I agree

and tend to equate organized religeon with organized crime - at its worst level.
Doctrines, creeds, sects, denominations, all those elements that tend to create divisions as well as barriers to the religious experience - I tend to think they are not needed.

I wonder if Jesus would not have intended that one evolves into one's own
Chirst, instead of following an exclusive doctorine modled on THE Christ.
This is not very far off from what Martin Luther was declaring when he expressed contempt fot having the church act as the official intermediary between one and god.


I am reminded how dangerous it was in the 15th century to simply translate the bible into a vernacular language - which lessened the strangle hold the church had on the controll of information.

I am not going to see this movie.

[Lars39]

5. Good post. You said:

"....Jesus allowed himself to be arrested..."

Jesus allowed himself....is being translated into obeyed by the fanatical. I think this is how the film becomes truly dangerous. It is teaching blind obedience to "christian" authority. And this is why their perception that bush* is their spiritual leader is so dangerous.

Willingly giving up critical thinking is unfathomable to many here, but this is what the fanatics in charge want. In the case of the Southern Baptists, whatever the SB Convention decrees is what will be taught from the pulpit.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but for the most part there is conformity in spreading the latest interpretation of scripture. The question is, What will be the next resolution to come down the pike?

The biggie that really pointed to the changes in the SBC was stating that the Bible was inerrant, or without mistakes. "If the Bible stated it, that settles it.", is a much repeated mantra. Remember the church sign stating that the "Jews killed Jesus. Settled"? This sign came up after Mel's movie was released.

Because the Bible is inerrant now, or without mistakes, whatever the SB Convention comes up with is of course the "Truth", and obeyance boils down to "your either with us or against us".

One of the next decrees the SB Convention handed down was that women are to be submissive. Translated: the man rules, woman obey. Women are to know their place. Women to women peer pressure to obey and know their place is becoming the norm among SB's, and is truly a most disheartening thing to see.

Women learning to "obey" is effecting the children, who must also learn blind obedience, starting while infants in most cases.

Many here know all this and see the danger. I wanted others to see a little bit about the inner workings of the Southern Baptists, so they'll see why many of us are concerned.

On edit: How soon will the fanatics view Mel's movie as inerrant?