- (AgapePress) - It's simply amazing to witness the media
frenzy over the new Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ. First,
we heard that the movie would fuel anti-Semitic feelings among the populace
and generate hostility towards Jewish communities around America. Much
of this came from left-leaning critics of the film who had never even seen
the movie.
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- Now we hear from publications like Newsweek magazine
that tell their six to seven million readers the film is nothing more than
"an R-rated movie [that] no child can, or should, see .... Gibson's
movie is more likely to inspire nightmares than devotion." The violence
of the crucifixion and other scenes from the film found David Ansen of
Newsweek "recoiling from the movie."
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- Ansen goes on by saying, "It's the sadism, not the
alleged anti-Semitism, that is most striking .... There's always been a
pronounced streak of sadomasochism and martyrdom running through Gibson's
movies."
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- Ansen's distaste for Mel Gibson and his movie that opened
on Ash Wednesday is strikingly evident in his review released this week
by MSNBC.com. What is so mystifying about his criticisms is that this is
the same critic who heaped praise on The Dreamers, a movie about incest.
Yet Ansen leads off his article under the banner of "So What's the
Good News?" That title alone sends a strong message that while his
magazine may tolerate all types of bizarre behavior and immorality, it
certainly has a low opinion of religion -- most notably Christianity.
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- Newsweek's mockery of Mel Gibson's effort to convey a
more accurate depiction of the last 12 hours of Christ's life reflects
the magazine's uneasiness with religion. Salem Radio Network talk-show
host Mike Gallagher views this as yet another media attack on Gibson and
his movie.
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- "The mainstream liberal press has had a field day
trying to convince people that Mel Gibson is some kind of a wild-eyed fanatic,"
Gallagher says. "The truth of the matter is that he has constructed
a powerful, extraordinary movie that dramatically demonstrates the depths
of Christ's suffering for us."
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- Gallagher contends that the thought of "a blockbuster
motion picture attended by millions ... draw(ing) people closer to God"
probably frightens the secularists in the media. The success of this movie,
he says, "is practically heresy to the Janet Jackson-loving, Sex in
the City-crazed Hollywood crowd." But Gallagher concludes by noting
that "it is a powerful thing, to watch all this media coverage of
Christ's death and resurrection."
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- Read Gallagher's Column on the Movie at NewsMax.com
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- Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas sees the controversy
of this film and with the media in much the same manner as Gallagher. Thomas
elaborates by pointing out that for years, Hollywood and writers such as
Newsweek's Ansen have been sending religious Americans a "not so subtle
message." Thomas illustrates his contention by providing some quotes
from Warren Allen's book, Celebrities in Hell.
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- "Actor George Clooney is quoted [in the book] as
saying, 'I don't believe in heaven and hell. I don't know if I believe
in God,'" the columnist says. "Bruce Willis is quoted as saying
... 'modern religion is the end trail of mythology' [and] comedienne Phyllis
Diller is even more direct: 'We were not created by a deity.'"
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- Read Thomas's Column on the Movie at Townhall.com
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- Mark this in sharp contrast to Mel Gibson and his strong
belief in God. It is no wonder why a film like The Passion literally terrifies
the liberal elites, including those in editorial positions of magazines
like Newsweek.
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- Finally, Thomas brings up the contention of "How
about raising the subject of anti-Christian bigotry?" Gallagher and
Thomas would probably agree that the media outcry over this film certainly
demonstrates that their brand of tolerance is not extended to the faith
community -- nor likely ever will be.
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- James L. Lambert, who resides in San Diego, California,
is a frequent contributor to AgapePress. He is the author of Porn in America
(Huntington House), which can be purchased through the American Family
Association; and a licensed loan sales agent who offers all types of real-estate
mortgage loans. He can be reached via his website or by calling 1-800-656-8603.
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- http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/2/272004jl.asp
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