superyooser's Journal: Postscript for The Passion - Sign Petition to Mel Gibson

I intend to post a number of journal entries in the coming days about the movie The Passion of the Christ. There are many issues that come into play, and it will be difficult for me to put everything into proper context without unnecessarily offending anyone.

For now, here is something simple that I can stand behind. On the one hand, I think that the fears of anti-Semitic attacks as a result of the movie are overblown. On the other hand, I want it known that Christians such as myself empathize with these genuine fears and want Mr. Gibson to take an extra measure (explained below) to prevent viewers of the movie from perceiving the unintended message that contemporary Jews are to be hated for crucifying Jesus of Natzeret, the Christ/Messiah. Below are the petition and an e-mail sent out by the founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team.

Letter of Thanks to Mr. Mel Gibson

To Mr. Mel Gibson, Director of the Movie "The Passion of the Christ"

Dear Mr. Gibson,

As one who opposes anti-Semitism, I wish to thank you for producing "The Passion of the Christ." I pledge to pray for you and for the Jewish people.

Since the film will be shown worldwide, I humbly appeal to you to insert a postscript:

During the Roman occupation more than one-quarter million Jews were crucified by the Romans, but only One rose from the dead.

Mr. Gibson, in doing this you would be communicating the suffering of the Jewish people under Roman occupation, so that those who desire to use the film to incite hatred toward the Jews would be deterred. This could well turn any controversy between Christians and Jews into compassionate understanding.

History records that Passion movies have been a tool used by anti-Semites. We support you Mr. Gibson, and "The Passion of the Christ." However, we want to make it difficult, if not impossible, for bigots to use this precious movie for evil purposes.

Since September 11, 2001, anti-Semitism has risen in Europe to a level not seen since the days of Hitler. It has risen in the former U.S.S.R., from where one million Jews fled in just over a decade; also 800,000 Jews have fled Muslim countries because of anti-Semitism.

We humbly ask forgiveness of the Jewish people for the Jewish blood that has been shed in the name of our Savior, and want to do all we can to ensure it doesn't happen again.

With this postscript, "The Passion of the Christ" would be the first Jesus film ever produced to fight anti-Semitism by telling the true story of Jewish suffering during the time of Christ.

><> Add your name to the list HERE <><

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:46:45 UT
From: Jerusalem Prayer Team
Subject: Take Action: Arabs Celebrate Jewish/Christian Controversy

Pray for Mike and call your friends to watch him on Fox News Network's Heartland with John Kasich, Saturday, February 21 around 7:30 pm (CST). [Too late now. Catch a rerun. - superyooser]

Let's turn this controversy into compassion!

Thank you...27,370 people [now 28,051 - superyooser] have signed the letter to Mel Gibson asking him to include the postscript - During the Roman occupation, 250,000 Jews were crucified by the Romans, but only one rose from the dead.

Will anti-Semites use the soon-to-be-released movie, "The Passion of the Christ", to incite Jew-hatred? Do we take anti-Semitism too lightly? It is critical that we do not! It could well be a matter of life and death.

Take action NOW! Your letter could save a Jewish life.

Christians are called to comfort the Jewish people, and to show compassion, not controversy. The fears of the Jewish people are just as real as the fear Americans faced on September 11th as the poison of prejudice belched like black, apocalyptic smoke through the streets of New York City.

Instead of demonizing, degrading or patronizing the Jewish people, I truly believe that Christians need to ask forgiveness for the terrible sins committed against the Jewish people throughout history in the name of Christ.

"I understand the pain and the anxiety that the Jewish people are feeling, and will raise my voice." (Franklin Graham)

The movie will be released Ash Wednesday, February 25, and Mr. Gibson still has not included the postscript to which he committed on August 19, 2003 in Dallas, Texas at AMS Productions.

I am not concerned about the movie in the U.S. Evangelical Christians are not anti-Semites. My fear is that he will not include this line in the overseas release. For that reason, I am asking one million Christians to write Mr. Gibson to thank him for the movie, to commit to pray for Mr. Gibson and the Jewish people, and appealing to him to include this simple postscript. Millions of Jews living in the midst of a sea of bigotry could then know that Christians - real Christians - do not hate Jews, but rather love them.

Send this message to Gibson now. Time is running out!

Mike D. Evans

Jerusalem Prayer Team
PO Box 910
Euless, TX 76039
1-800-825-3872
http://www.jerusalemprayerteam.org

Dr. Tim LaHaye, Mrs. Anne Graham Lotz, Dr. Pat Robertson, Dr. Paul Crouch, Dr. Adrian Rogers, Mr. Pat Boone, Dr. John Hagee, Dr. Jerry Falwell, Mr. Bill McCartney, Ms. Kay Arthur, Rev. Tommy Tenney, Dr. A.R. Bernard, Dr. Stephen Olford, and Dr. Jay Sekulow are just a few of the more then 300 Christian Leaders who are part of the Jerusalem Prayer Team.

The Jerusalem Prayer Team is a non-profit organization with 501c3 tax exempt status. The Jerusalem Prayer Team is a prayer movement of people around the world. It is a non-denominational organization. It receives no support from the Nation of Israel. Donations are tax deductible.

The mission of the Jerusalem Prayer Team: To guard, defend and protect the Jewish people and Eretz Yisrael until Israel is secure, and until the Redeemer comes to Zion.

________________________________________________
HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Make a secure online credit card donation.

________________________________________________
HOW CAN I TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Send a personalized version of this message to your friends.

I appreciate your point

[pizzaman100]

But if Gibson puts a postscript at the end of the movie he is admitting that there is something wrong with it. IMHO

Re:I appreciate your point

[superyooser]

Two people can look at the same thing and interpret it in different ways. The postscript indicates which interpretation is (basically) correct. (Actually, my views are more nuanced than what the postscript indicates, but it's better to err on the side that results in peace instead of senseless bloodshed.)

My motivation for wanting this postscript is to assuage the anxiety of Jews who fear renewed accusations of "deicide" and being "Christ killers." Many people believe that anti-Semitism in Europe is at the

Postscript changes the message

[MaxBlue]

Adding such a postscript will change the message of the movie. The movie is about the suffering of one individual and, IMHO it is to point out what we current christians have glossed over and forgotten.

The violance is the message.

Re:Postscript changes the message

[superyooser]

Adding such a postscript will change the message of the movie.

The postscript would do two things.

1. It would deflect a traditional interpretation of scripture within the Church that the Jews are categorically guilty of "deicide."
2. It would leave us with the concluding thought that the awful passion (suffering) is now over; we have hope because the Messiah overcame death.

Both are perfectly in line with the message of the movie.

The movie is about the suffering of one individual and, IMHO it is to point ou

Interesting Spin

[cyranoVR]

First of all, have you seen Jesus de Montreal [imdb.com]? It offers a well-researched portrayal of what the cruxifiction of the historical Jesus was probably like (interesting fact: Romans didn't nail their condemned crosses - they tied them with cord).

Second, no I haven't seen the movie - I'm going to wait to borrow it from somebody on DVD.

Anyway, regarding the Petition: It is an interesting spin the movie, as it re-casts The Passion of the Christ as as being about the persecution of all Jews under the Roman Empir