What You May Hear

What You May Hear / What You Can Say
1. The Jews killed Jesus. / 1. The Romans crucified Jesus with the collusion of the High Priest and some of his retainers, and some Jews who came under their influence. Crucifixion was exclusively a Roman punishment.
2. Pilate was a weak ruler, who was manipulated by the High Priest, Caiaphas, to call for the death of Jesus. / 2. The High Priest was appointed and controlled by Pilate. Historical records show that Pilate was a stubborn, strong, and cruel leader. The gospel writers, who wrote later, portrayed him sympathetically because they wanted the Roman rulers of their own day to accept the followers of Jesus, rather than think of them as enemies of Rome.
3. The High Priest Caiaphas persuaded the Jews to ask for the death of Jesus. / 3. There was much diversity among the Jewish people of Jesus’ time. It is incorrect to imply that “all the Jews” called for the death of Jesus. Jesus must have had a great following from among the Jews for the High Priest and Pilate to be so concerned about executing him in order to maintain control and calm.
4. Jesus was brutalized by the Jews as well as by the Romans. / 4. The gospels indicate that Jesus was mocked and manhandled when in custody of the High Priest, but the brutality in the movie goes way beyond the accounts in the gospels.

MEL GIBSON’S THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

5. What the Jews did to Jesus is not so different from what the Jews are doing to the Palestinians today. / 5. Israel’s response to suicide bombings, and its policies that affect Palestinians, which even some of its citizens disagree with, are actions of an independent, democratic state dealing with political realities and its own survival. On human rights, it rates as well as, or better than, any country with similar threats.
6. What is in the movie is taken from “The Gospel.” / 6. There are four gospels, not just one. Each of the four gospels differs in how it tells the story. The movie portrays scenes that are selected from all four Gospels in a manner that emphasizes Jewish “guilt”. It has also added many scenes and details not in any of the Gospels nor supported by historical knowledge.
7. Christians have a right to tell their fundamental story, which involves the crucifixion of Jesus. / 7. Telling the story of the Passion does not require that the gospels be read in a way that blames the Jews for it. Many churches today teach just the opposite.
8. The movie renewed my faith in Jesus. / 8. With renewed faith in Jesus it is hoped that Christians will remember Jesus’ message of love and to be prepared to counter remarks that might encourage hatred of Jews today.
9. What’s the problem? It’s only a movie, after all. / 9. Dramatizations of the Passion have historically led to violence against Jews. Film is a particularly powerful medium that can be translated into DVD’s, video and TV and distributed around the world. A recent renewal of anti-Semitism in many countries creates particular concern. In Mel Gibson’s film the Jews are portrayed in a particularly negative way and in several scenes they are associated with Satan.
10. Other / 10.

Do you anticipate any other statements that should have clarifying responses?

Fill in number 10.

What You May Hear / What You Can Say
1. The Jews killed Jesus. / The Romans crucified Jesus with the collusion of the High Priest and some of his retainers, and some Jews who came under their influence. Crucifixion was exclusively a Roman punishment.
2. Pilate was a weak ruler, who was manipulated by the High Priest, Caiaphas, to call for the death of Jesus. / The High Priest was appointed and controlled by Pilate. Historical records show that Pilate was a stubborn, strong, and cruel leader. The gospel writers, who wrote later, portrayed him sympathetically because they wanted the Roman rulers of their own day to accept the followers of Jesus, rather than think of them as enemies of Rome.
3. The High Priest Caiaphas persuaded the Jews to ask for the death of Jesus. / There was much diversity among the Jewish people of Jesus’ time. It is incorrect to imply that “all the Jews” called for the death of Jesus. Jesus must have had a great following from among the Jews for the High Priest and Pilate to be so concerned about executing him in order to maintain control and calm.
4. Jesus was brutalized by the Jews as well as by the Romans. / The gospels indicate that Jesus was mocked and manhandled when in custody of the High Priest, but the brutality in the movie goes way beyond the accounts in the gospels.

MEL GIBSON’S THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

(Activity Version)

5. What the Jews did to Jesus is not so different from what the Jews are doing to the Palestinians today. / Israel’s response to suicide bombings, and its policies that affect Palestinians, which even some of its citizens disagree with, are actions of an independent, democratic state dealing with political realities and its own survival. On human rights, it rates as well as, or better than, any country with similar threats.
6. What is in the movie is taken from “The Gospel.” / There are four gospels, not just one. Each of the four gospels differs in how it tells the story. The movie portrays scenes that are selected from all four Gospels in a manner that emphasizes Jewish “guilt”. It has also added many scenes and details not in any of the Gospels nor supported by historical knowledge.
7. Christians have a right to tell their fundamental story, which involves the crucifixion of Jesus. / Telling the story of the Passion does not require that the gospels be read in a way that blames the Jews for it. Many churches today teach just the opposite.
8. The movie renewed my faith in Jesus. / With renewed faith in Jesus it is hoped that Christians will remember Jesus’ message of love and to be prepared to counter remarks that might encourage hatred of Jews today.
9. What’s the problem? It’s only a movie, after all. / Dramatizations of the Passion have historically led to violence against Jews. Film is a particularly powerful medium that can be translated into DVD’s, video and TV and distributed around the world. A recent renewal of anti-Semitism in many countries creates particular concern. In Mel Gibson’s film the Jews are portrayed in a particularly negative way and in several scenes they are associated with Satan.
10. Other

Do you anticipate any other statements that should have clarifying responses?

Fill in number 10.