Re: Why?
 

Really? :confused: I haven't heard this one aside from a comment in this thread.

Were you informed that the movie was filled with Caucasians???

If not, do not assume. I've seen the movie and the only obviously Caucasian people were the Romans. So, if that is your reason, there is nothing to worry about.

Christ was portrayed as a Caucasian-ish looking Jew so that I wondered about. But it didn't change the message of the movie for me. If portraying Christ that way is what will spread him message to a greater number of people, then so be it. I believe the message takes precedence in this case.


It was a great movie. I think that all Christians (at least) should watch and support this movie. It wasn't as violent as I'd been led to believe compared to some of these movies that come out. The violence in the movie was as described in the Bible - it was more hurtful because He was being punished for OUR wrong-doings. It was hard to watch sometimes.

The credits have to be the most watch credits ever. No one moved until the credits were over. People were quietly sobbing, etc. It made His sacrifice very real. I'm definitely buying the DVD.
It was definitely a powerful movie. Props to Mel Gibson for sticking it through, and making this movie.

And oh yeah, if I had any anti-Semitic thought, it was "what is so anti-semitic about this film???" Had the media not mentioned anti-semitism, I wouldn't have thought that at all. It happened as it was supposed to. The Pharisees were the strongest voices in favor of the crucifixtion, but at the same time, those that helped carry the cross, gave Him water, etc were Jews as well.

Re: Why?
 

^5 to you delph for making such a remark. Jesus did not care what color people were when he laid his life down. He cared about the salvation of souls. Who are we then to care what color he was when he was on this earth fulfilling God's Will?

I plan on taking a Mental Health day next Thursday. On that day I will go see The Passion.

Re: Re: Why?
 

Ok, I stand corrected. I just heard on the radio (BBN) that a black panther group and other black leaders are protesting the movie because of its inaccurate portrayal of Jesus.

ETA: Here is an article I found...

Jesus Was Black, Not White, Group Says
By Melanie Hunter
CNSNews.com Deputy Managing Editor
February 24, 2004

(Clarification: Corrects reference to Bible verse in third paragraph.)

(CNSNews.com) - One day before it debuts in theaters, a black activist group is protesting the Mel Gibson-written, directed and produced "The Passion of the Christ" film, not because of the film's violent depiction of Jesus Christ's final hours. Instead, they say the film is historically inaccurate because Jesus is portrayed as a white man, not a black man.

"Strangely absent from the debate is one very basic inaccuracy which has been long promoted in order to bolster white supremacy and maintain a revisionist history that is beneficial to only people of European descent," said Malik Z. Shabazz, national chairman of the New Black Panther Party in a statement Tuesday.

"This purposely omitted fact is that Jesus was not a European white man. Jesus Christ was a black man - a dark skinned Hebrew Israelite from Northern Africa and even the only Biblical physical description confirms this (Rev. 13:20)," said Shabazz in a statement..

Chapter 13 of the Book of Revelations only ends with verse 18. After CNSNews.com contacted the New Black Panther Party to clarify the Bible verse they referenced, Imam Akbar, national minister for the New Black Panther Party, explained that the original reference was a typo on their original press release.

Akbar instead, pointed to Revelations 1:14 and 1:15 as well as Daniel 10:6.

"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters." (Rev. 1:14 and 1:15)

"His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude." (Daniel 10:6)

"Not only does this film wrongfully depict Christ as white but all the disciples and Israelites are people of European descent, which presents a historical and physical impossibility," Shabazz added.

The New Black Panther Party and other black activists plan to stage protests nationwide over the controversy. Not only does the group claim the movie is "false," but also "harmful and racist."

The Anti-Defamation League recently expressed to Gibson its concern that the film would drum up anti-Semetism. Shabazz said his group disagrees with the ADL's claims that the film is "anti-semetic" and challenged the ADL to "deny the historical accuracy of the Jews' attack on Christ."

But Shabazz says, the "true controversy" surrounding the film "lies in the maligned history of African people through the world and the continual inaccuracies presented in every Hollywood production to date of any Biblical story from the 10 Commandments to the Christmas Story."

"These false images presented are 'anti-black' and these false images and interpretations only seek to further the racist and white supremist idea that God and Jesus Christ 'The Messiah' or 'Savior' is European and white," he added.

"This is clearly one more example of how black people in this country are treated unfairly. Black/African history has and continues to be misrepresented, black people worldwide are subjected to the psychologically abusive images of white supremacy and have no collective voice to defend or promote a Black agenda," Shabazz concluded.

Movie 'not racist,' says black conservative

But Rev. Jesse Peterson, president of the black conservative group, B.O.N.D. (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny) said claims that Jesus is black takes away from the overall message.

Peterson said he saw the movie last weekend and "there's nothing in this movie that is racist at all."

"It was inspiring spiritually," he said. "I think that it's gonna reconfirm the faith in many Christians and it's gonna encourage those who had doubt about Christ. There will be many, I believe, that will believe in him. I knew that this thing would come out that 'he wasn't black' and that 'it's racist.' It's not."

Peterson explained that "the Bible clearly states that Christ was in Israel and that he was a Jew." The movie, he said "clearly points that out as well."

Peterson said to "cry racism is a non-issue. This is an attempt for attention. It's shameful to make that kind of assertion about this movie."

When asked specifically whether Shabazz's physical description of Jesus and his birthplace of Northern Africa was accurate, Peterson said, "I've heard that over and over again, and at one point when I resented white Americans, I believed that too."

But, he said, "in all honesty there is no, I think, perfect description of what Christ looked like anyway, and I think that each race…the white race at one point said that he looked white [with] blue eyes and blond hair. That wasn't true. The blacks are trying to claim him…Hispanics, everybody are trying to claim him as their own."

Peterson said that's why the Scripture clearly states "'do not create a graven image of him, because it will divide and cause confusion.'

"The most important thing is that he was a spirit. It's the spirit of the man, not necessarily what he looked like. And that's the focus that this movie brings out," Peterson said, adding that he thinks blacks and white are likely to focus on Jesus' "spirit rather than the color."

He said the Bible does point out that Jesus was "born in that area, but still he was a Jew, and at that time, maybe they didn't have the straight hair, but it doesn't mean he was…a black, African man."

Peterson said in the movie, Jesus is a dark-skinned man, not white with blue eyes, but a dark-skinned man. "He's not black, but he's not white either," he said.

Race not an issue

Peterson took the New Black Panther Party to task for making Jesus' race an issue.

"It's a shame that you have racist organizations like the New Black Panther Party that will come out and allow the devil or darkness to use them, because that's what's happening," he said. "It's a distraction. It's a trick of the devil to come out and call this movie racist…that he was black, he had nappy hair. That's a distraction."

Peterson believes the group is taking away from the spiritual message of the movie, a message, he said that can possibly help people that are hurting spiritually.

"I think that when people go to this movie, they need to look beyond the color. And I think most will, whether they want to or not…look at the spirit and the suffering that Christ went through," Peterson said.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.a...20040224f.html

I saw the movie last night. It was VERY, VERY powerful to me. I haven't even collected my words to say exactly what I want to say. I was speechless throughout the entire movie.

Now, the Jewish characters were somewhat light skinned but they did not look that Caucasian to me. They look like most of the present day inhabitants of that area. I actually spotted one or two black Jews in the movie and although that's not a lot, I was glad they were in there at all. The Bible mentions black Jews so they could've have included more of us.

The message is STILL VERY POWERFUL regardless.

I don't know if this helps, but I saw an interview with Mel Gibson. He said he wanted the person who portrayed Jesus to CLOSELY reflect how he is described in the bible. He said he wasn't satisfied with how Hollywood portrayed (the looks) the blonde/blue-eyed type.

:confused:

I am going to see it. I consider myself agnostic (was raised Catholic). I would love to see the portrayal


The man who plays Jesus is a local boy from Mt. Vernon, WA (not to mention he ain't too bad looking)

Another motive is to tick off my Pentacostal mother in law :D (her congregation is against the film)

I have always thought that Jim (the guy that plays Jesus) was cute ever since I saw him in Angel Eyes. :)

he was in Angel Eyes. Dang!!! Apparently I've seen many of this guy's movies and I've never recognized him as the same person. He was in Count of Monte Cristo, Frequency, Pay It Forward, High Crimes, ... hmph - I need to get my eyes checked

Yes. He looks TOTALLY different in The Passion. They even changed his eye color (they're naturally blue) to brown.

I saw it this afternoon. It was extremely graphic, very powerful, moving even. It touched me as a mother, more than in a religious sense. I could just empathize with Mary as a mother. It is worth a watch, I wouldn't see it again just because it is so graphic and heavy. It was good though- two thumbs up.

That shows that someone is a good actor, when he completely takes on that role to the point where you don't recognize him!

I want to go see this movie this weekend.

Re: Why?
 

DEL,
I am so glad you wrote what you did. I just came from seeing the Passion..and was interested to see what other GCers had to say. I was literally SICKENED TO MY CORE to see that the conversation has to be reduced to discussing the fact that Jesus was or wasn't portrayed as a black man...or that other people were "melanin challenged." If a person is that hung up on color that they won't support a movie about Christ's life because he's portrayed by someone that is NOT black...or even further won't even consider that the Galilean Jesus Christ was white....I think that person should question their understanding of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

I wanted to share my views about the movie, but I changed my mind because I am just THAT disgusted that people MUST ALWAYS bring race into the discussion.

I REALLY WOULD HATE TO SEE THE REACTION OF SOME OF MY BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS IF ON JUDGMENT DAY JESUS IS WHITE! WHAT ARE YA GONNA DO...GO THE OTHER WAY??? :mad: :rolleyes: :confused: That goes for errybody else too.

Saw the movie.....
 

My overall thoughts are summed up by