Follow up on the release of POTC (no, not that one)

[heidi]

There's been discussion of whether the movie will generate or stir up anti-semitism, and I had the feeling, given Gibson's removal of certain lines which had been in the script but which were not in the film. that it would be less likely to generate it, but not wholly unlikely to stir it up where it was already present. In the NY Times' article, I found two quotes of interest:

Lovingway United Pentecostal Church in Denver posted a sign on its marquee yesterday saying, "Jews Killed the Lord Jesus." It was quickly denounced by the Colorado Council of Churches and the local Anti-Defamation League, and partly dismantled by a passer-by. But the church's pastor said in a telephone interview that the sign was having the effect he intended.

"It is getting people to go back and look at their Bibles," said the Rev. Maurice Gordon, whose church is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International in Hazelwood, Mo. "It's there to show what the real debate is about. Actually all of us are guilty in some way if we reject Christ."



In Richmond, Va., Adrian Ordogne, 46, a real estate agent who saw the film by himself, said, "I was prepared to see Jews as the blame, but I didn't see it that way in the movie."

Comments

[gwendolyngrace.livejournal.com]

Just as we were leaving this morning, my mother heard that Joel Siegel was going to review the film today on GMA. We set a tape. Should be interesting.

[debellatrix.livejournal.com]

*Why* do so many crazies end up in Denver?

[leiabelle.livejournal.com]

Did all these Christians miss the part where Jesus died for their sins? Christians believe that all our sins throughout time (past, present, future) are what caused Jesus to die on the cross. Not Jews, not people who reject Christ, but Christians. -.-

[malachan.livejournal.com]

all of us are guilty in some way if we reject Christ

...so they single out Jews.

[jessryn.livejournal.com]

Well I know that at least one of the lines that was removed is still said, but just not shown in the subtitles which makes me wonder if it won't be included later, in the DVD version or something.

whose church is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International in Hazelwood, Mo

Why would a church headquarter itself in Hazelwood, MO? I live near there and seeing the name, made me think I had read something wrong.

another relevant quote

[ginsu.livejournal.com]

"If there's one thing we know about God, it's that he's not named Mel."

Nora Ephron
Heartburn, 1983

[storm-maven.livejournal.com]

He gave a review yesterday and he thought the violence was over the top but other than that, he didn't think it was anti-semetic.

[lilypiper.livejournal.com]

The sins of the world put Christ on the cross, not any group of people. I can't understand why any Christian would try to pin the blame on anyone when we believe he died to save us. I think these people need to brush up on their history; Jesus, his mother, his followers, his apostles, Simon of Cyrene - all were Jewish. It's sad that the crazies in our faith attract all the attention.

Besides, why would anyone try to pin blame when the man in question, according to the Christian faith, rose from the dead three days later?

I won't be seeing the movie until tommorrow, but those friends of mine that have seen it said the only way they thought one could find evidence of anti-Semitism in the film would be if they were really, really stretching and looking for it. They said that if it hadn't been for all this controversy, it never would have crossed their minds.

[sinisteral.livejournal.com]

I'm about to watch Gibson's film soon but there are just so many things going on that is really changing my mind about it. It's alll over the news and all.

[tobymalfoy.livejournal.com]

Completely OT:

I tried to reply to your last email, but it bounced. Twice. So did the last one, but you did get it. Let me know if you got this one too or if I should keep trying.