For those who have seen The Passion:
Read this and tell me if I’m right in thinking that this guy is a putz. I sent this email to him after reading the review:
You are probably going to get people calling for your resignation because of how poorly you reviewed “The Passion”. Heck… you might even get people emailing you to convert you to Christianity (it’s pretty clear that you aren’t a believer from the utter obliviousness to the plot) and tell you of your sinfulness. I’m not going to do either. I’m simply going to say this about your feeble attempt at reviewing this film:
YOU MISSED THE POINT ENTIRELY.
I doubt you’ve actually read Matthew (or any of the other Gospels) because if you had, you would have understood that this is a re-telling of the events from which 2 billion people derive their salvation. For many of those who have seen the movie, it was convicting and powerful. For some others, it gave them an understanding of their Christian brothers and sisters. And of course, some saw the movie so they could whine about anti-Semitism. (Jesus was a Jew. If you didn’t know that, you apparently failed History at some point in high school.) You also completely missed the point of who killed Jesus. Christians believe that He died in atonement for the sin of the world. This means that the Jews, the Romans, and everyone else in the world is responsible.
I really wonder if you even attempted to understand the mindset of many of the people watching the film with you. Maybe it’s too much for me to expect an objective review of the film from a critic in the Bay Area. If nothing else, your callousness is a reminder of why I moved away 3 years ago.
I hate to say it (I really do because I wanted to love this film), but Glenn Lovell is right. ‘The Passion of the Christ’ is as shallow as it is violent.
Perhaps it’s because we have very different views of Jesus. This isn’t just them putting Him to death for me — this is my salvation shown on film.
this wasn’t the only review that mentioned needing more of a context to tell what story’s really being told. his tipping to “antisemitism” is probably more to sell papers than anything else. but at the same time, it’s my view in knowing the story that it’s all of us who forced God’s hand here and made a Savior necessary.
i like the scene where Jesus tells pilate that He lays down His life, that the gov’t has no real authority except as given by God. then on the cross, He commends His Spirit to the Father – not being killed by anyone, but giving Himself willingly and with finality. until He gets up again (which i thought worked really well, too).
You said: “And of course, some saw the movie so they could whine about anti-Semitism. (Jesus was a Jew. If you didn’t know that, you apparently failed History at some point in high school.)”
Jen, that is fantastic, and I have been dying to say that in my journal for weeks. However, I have a very Zionistic friend and I would get killed/labeled Anti-Semetic for daring to put that. It’s true though. Geez.
Also, you said: “You also completely missed the point of who killed Jesus. Christians believe that He died in atonement for the sin of the world. This means that the Jews, the Romans, and everyone else in the world is responsible.”
Uh huh. THANK you!