Passion of the Christ--Accurate? No religion or politics, please

[MEG Hal]

Ok, just watched it and I am Jewish, without having religion bashing, was Passion of the Christ historically accurate according to the New Testament? Please try and behave I am curious about this, did the Jews pressure the Romans into killing Jesus?

If mods think this is taboo you may close, I just thought people here would be able to discuss it historically with out any religion bashing coming into play.

 

[WayneLigon]

As far as I'm aware, there is no archeological proof Jesus even existed, much less that the events depicted happened as described. I think there's evidence of the Roman officials mentioned by name in those sections of the Bible. The magazine Bibical Archeology Review might be a better source; there are dozens of other Biblical archeology societies but discovering which ones do legit science as oppossed to pushing whatever agenda from whatever side might be a more daunting task than discovering the truth behind the various claims.

 

[Planesdragon]

Ok, just watched it and I am Jewish, without having religion bashing, was Passion of the Christ historically accurate according to the New Testament?

It's accurate according to one reading of the New Testament.

This website goes into more detail than I will here.

Please try and behave I am curious about this, did the Jews pressure the Romans into killing Jesus?

From a purely historic note, it's important to remember that the New Testament was formalized by Romans, and it may have been worded in such a way as to paint them in the most favorable light possible. OTOH, the Council of Trent might have been willing to blame the "bad pagan Romans", and so have left the gospels as they were writen during the time of Christian persecution.

Theologically, of course, the issue is oftentimes sensitive. Some people read a line like "the jews called for Christ to die" (I'm paraphrasing) as an admonition against post-biblical jews, when most Christians, including Mel Gibson, interpret "the jews" as "all people, by way of the jews." And, thus, they interpret a placing of blame on "the jews" as placing the blame on all believers in God.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Ok, just watched it and I am Jewish, without having religion bashing, was Passion of the Christ historically accurate according to the New Testament? Please try and behave I am curious about this, did the Jews pressure the Romans into killing Jesus?

If mods think this is taboo you may close, I just thought people here would be able to discuss it historically with out any religion bashing coming into play.

Giving the climate which the foremention non-subjects not to be discussed, I will say this...it is impossible to give a true representation of the past, because of our own history.

Example: The Libraries of Alexandria (I hope I am hitting the direction) were destroyed by the dark days...they had contain tons of history of our world...they were burned.

We are now left with interpretations, just interpretations...gaps, huge ones, and those interpretations are left up to the individual to accept or reject within their own being.

Mr. Gibson did his research as far as it can go...because that was all that was there.

I wll give anyone credit, for trying to bring some clarity to our past, even with the holes that exist...as they say, there is lot to learn from it, but only if, it has true substance...and that by itself, is very difficult indeed.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

...without having religion bashing...

I don't know that you will be able to have a discussion on this matter with out it deteriorating into a flame war. The movie and subject matter are simply too sensitive. That said the governor of the time was a man named Pontius Pilot, and the sets, props and costumes are all technically accurate and crucifixion was a favored method of execution at the time. Aside from that any discussion will inevitably turn into name calling and hair pulling.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Okay, first just let me say this: I am in a freak'n mood today and should not be posting to the boards.

If you want history: Watch the History Channel or the Discovery Channel.
If you want to be entertained: Watch a movie.

But in a way yes but in a way no. The jewish people did not push to have him killed, the Rabiis (spelling) did; for he was a street preacher and took away from their power base. Rome had a deal with the leaders to keep the balance of power and the peace, Jesus upset this.

 

[Rackhir]

I have to chime in with the "No evidence" crowd. In fact, from what I understand a lot of the previous archaological evidence that was deemed suportive of the Bible is now being called into question as a result of newer research and the fact that much of it was done assuming the Bible was correct and then chosing evidence that supported that assumption.

However, with regards to Biblical accuracy I believe that Mel is a member of Opus Dei, which is an extremely conservative if not reactionary group in the Roman Catholic church. So I suspect that his take on things is influenced by that.

One article that I remember reading, talked about Mel's masochistic streak. Noting that he gets tortured in several of his movies (LW2, Ransom, Payback iirc) which might feed into the emphasis on the suffering that Jesus endures in his movie.

 

[Mark]

Happy High Holiday, Hal!

...brought to you, apparently, by the 4H Club...

 

[Krieg]

---Greek not Latin was the common langauge of the day.

---Pontius Pilate was a right bastard, very different from how he was portrayed in the film (he was later removed from command for excessively cruel reprisals during a Jewish uprising).

 

[Henry]

*twitch*

*flinch*

*shudder*

I'll freely admit I may be a little premature here, but I'm going to stop this thread at this point. I will say, Hal, that you may have some of the most accurate opinions and external references to the topic from the responses already here in the short time it's been open.

Thanks to all for contributing.