Miakal

I stand corrected!

However, I greaty disagree about your feelings that The Passion cannot be anti-semetic. Again, read the play "The Passion" and read into some of the history behind it, and it's motives. It's clearly anti-semetic.

Isn't it well known that the follwers of Jesus disliked Jews anyway? Wasn't there some level of politics involved?

Jesus and his followers WERE Jews, as well, meaning past tense. They left that dirty thing behind.

I also don't think that just because you were or are a certain religion you get a "free pass". Hitler was Christian, so does that mean he wasn't an anti-Christ?

The Dude

I don't believe that Jesus' followers hated the Jews. After all, they called Jesus the King of the Jews. They were proud Jews who celebrated their heritage (see the Passover) but also reformed to Jesus' teachings.

Jesus never stopped being Jewish, and the Jews will be the first saved as it says in the Bible (as long as they have led good lives of course).

As for the Spanish play, if it was used to be anti-semetic, then it was used for the wrong reason and those who wrote it don't know the meaning of Jesus' Passion (his love for ALL mankind despite ALL of mankind's evilness). I think Mel got the message through well enough in his version. We get cut scenes in the middle of his scourging and crucifixion, which show his main teaching: Love one another.

We're seeing these Romans and these Priests humiliating him and killing him, but we are taught to love them still, because we ARE them.

As for Hitler, I would make him the equivalent of the terrorists who bombed the trade center. He may have said he was something (Christian), but his actions proved otherwise. If he was an anti-Christ, then he was. He certainly wasn't Christian, though, no matter what he may have said.

I love religious discussions!

When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fullfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and be taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
...At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:20-28