The Chronicle of Anthony K. Valley

There is a lot that is historically inaccurate and Gospel inaccurate about the traditional story and probably Gibson’s film. Jewish leaders would never have conspired with Romans in the death of Jesus. We know from the ancient historian Josephus that this kind of thing was never done.

As for the Gospels, here is a quick tidbit: The Greek Gospels do not say that Judas betrayed Jesus. “Betray” is a mistranslation of a neutral word, having no connotation of betrayal, as most scholars now admit. See William Klassen’s book “Judas”. I discuss all this and more on my blogspot (and my site which is linked there).

What is historical?
Scholars know well the difficulty of accessing exact historical facts concealed in the scriptures. The gospels were not exact historical documents but expressed the faith, concerns, hopes and aspirations of the early Christian communities. What Jesus meant to them and should mean to us is at the center. I therefore find it odd to evaluate a Hollywood artistic achievement on the base of historicity. This is Gibson’s view of the passion and he has the right to express his faith freely.

Hi,

Im from Melbourne Australia. I obviously havent seen Gibsons film yet. But I have seen lots of photographs. I would suggest that the film is an exercise in sado-masochistic pornography.

John Forth

Gibson certainly has the right to do whatever he wants, but Hollywood films are frequently criticized for being historically inaccurate. Gibson does not get a free pass. Spielberg’s film “Amistad” was criticized for changing the historical facts. I was outraged when I heard that Ken Burns’ documentary (!) on baseball changed a couple of facts about Jackie Robinson’s career because Burns thought he could make his film more dramatic this way.

If Gibson puts things in his film which are not in the Gospels and which contradict the Jewish historical context, we have a right to criticize him for this. Putting the devil in many scenes is not from the Gospels. Neither is a scene where Jesus’ cross is made on the grounds of the Temple. There may be a lot more like this. We can only tell from the final film.

I am a Christian and I had not heard about this move “The Passion of Christ” until tonight…and looking at the trailer I sensed a deep feeling from it, I think this movie WILLLL CAUSE PEOPLE TO THINK..and maybe even bring others back to God…we have coated the truth about God and Jesus Christ for tooo many years. Its about time someone is able to portay the true about Christ’s death…I do hope this show His Resurection too, otherwise it would not be an accurate account of the Saviour of the world..

If you are ashamed of Him, then he will be ashamed of you before God! Behold the lamb of God… I will definately go see this film. It is laughable that some consider it anti-semetic. Just how many movies have been made about the Jewish Holocost? Catholics shouldn’t be critisized for their faith especially when put into a film such as this. God Bless the faithful.

The only anti-Semitism I see, is in the future when the ADL further tightens their grip on an already lit firecracker. Maybe if the Jews weren’t so abundantly clear, given the choice of Jesus or Barrabas, they may have not had such a clear position in that page of history. Sure the Romans carried out the sentence but, had the Jews yelled out “BARRABAS”, these issues woudn’t exist. “Mel…I’m gonna see your flick whether it be at the theaters, or in the comfort of my humble abode( on DVD ).[I hope its got good sound]

Mel,
I thank you for putting out a film about our Savior Jesus Christ. I just pray that God will use you and this film in a mighty way. I also pray that people will come to know the Savior that I love so much. Good Job Mel. As soon as it comes to America I WILL BE THERE!!!!

Mike Raybon

I will have to see the film before making a final judgement. But from all that I have heard about the film to date, there are 99 who talk about the biblical accuracy of the film to every one paranoid who is afraid of a second holocost.

What scares me about the film is that the ‘libs’ are not being truthful about Mel. My daughter came home from college telling me that she has been told that Mel Gibson denies there ever was a holocost. I’ve never heard anything like it from anybody but a fruitcake.

Interesting that Gibson, a Catholic portrays Jews as those wanting Jesus to be crucified, while Romans are ambivalent. Interesting that thousands of Catholic priests have brutally raped children. Now we know that it is true that these Catholic priests raped little boys and girls. But we don’t reallly know what happened to Jesus, since there was no account of his ordeal, other than written many years later by elderly men, who didn’t even know what happened to Jesus as a young boy, teen or young man. NADA. One story is likely fantasy, the other is truth. Waiting for Gibson to portray priest after priest raping little boys and girls while Bishops do nothing but send them to other churches to have them perpetrate their abuse on other children. Wonder what people would say if ONE Rabbi did this….but here we know thousands of priests are guilty of this sin. One “sin” is make believe and one sin is truth.

HI
I have seen the film and It took me about 2 days to get over it, I was impressed to see in what way our sweet lord died
I am proud to be a christian, and I want to also to congratulate Mr. Gibson for his brillant work It was the best gift that God sent us trough him sharing his passion

By implying, as you did this morning on ”Good Morning America” , that Mel Gibson insulted Jews in his “Passion of the Christ” you may have avoided slandering him, but you nevertheless were beyond the bounds of the so-called “journalistic ethics” you pretend to uphold. Pretty cute! Just show a clip of the movie and comment only as much as makes a strong implication—- avoid any literal comment, but give just enough editorial information as to make it abundantly clear – Gibson and (by another implication, the Catholic Church) used the movie “The Passion of the Christ” to insult the Jewish people of the world.

Mel Gibson has given away much of the BILLION dollars he made on the movie to charity, something you obviously refuse to comment upon—“gods” forbid he should look like anything but a prejudiced-crazed lunatic. You over stepped your bounds and you owe him and all Catholics an apology at the very least. Personally, I hope he sues you for liable. How dare you drag Gibson into the controversy that is about to be waged by a Catholic cardinal over the Da Vinci Code? By the way, hold on to your newscopy. If I am correct, this particular cardinal is a big gun, and the Church is not fooling around.

First of all, the Jews who made such a stink about that movie did so before it ever hit the screen. Therefore, they were crying foul without giving the movie a fair viewing.
They do not represent the vast majority of thoughtful Jewish people who saw the film, and who praised it for being a fair and unprejudiced representation of the facts. These are facts accepted by distinguished historians of every creed or philosophy. The Romans killed Jesus Christ, egged on by certain high priests in Palestine. It really happened. So what’s the big deal?

The Christian gospels pass the test of being historically accurate, unlike the Gnostic gospels written 100 years later which were airy, fairy and silly. Dan Brown has made such a mess of his own sources—not only misquoting the Gnostic gospels (through the mouths of his overbearing and prolixic characters), but just about every other feminist and universalist historian as well, that his book “The Da Vinci code,” is a joke insofar as its being historically accurate.

Understand this, the Catholic Church that you attack represents a billion people. You are an infinitesimal minority of agnostic journalists. Get over yourselves, and please stop trying to misrepresent the theology of a religion that established the universities in the West, that has a pope with three PhD’s who speaks twenty or more languages, and that is by far more erudite in its thinking that a few mangy copy writers on your staff. You may personally disagree with the Catholic Church, but you look pretty stupid sometimes, and today, you were downright vicious.

Mary Clementine Trani
Aurora, Colorado

Is there a way to contact Mel GIbson personally.