The Passion of the Christ Controversy

Jim Caviezel has joked that he researched the role of Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ, by practicing to walk on water. Caviezel's sense of humor is quite refreshing when you consider all of the criticism and controversy swirling around this movie.

Prior to its release, some Jewish leaders said they feared the film would portray and cause anti-Semitism. It did not. The film portrays the Jewish leaders of the time, who hated Christ, as they were in the Bible. The film also has a Jewish hero, but few critics seem to comment on him. He is forced to help Jesus carry the cross, but then tells the soldiers to stop beating Jesus.

On the February 22nd edition of 60 Minutes, Liberal editorialist Andy Rooney showed some clips of Diane Sawyer's interview with Mel Gibson. He then pretended God was speaking through him, saying, "I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson are wackos."

The film opened on Wednesday, February 25th, to sell out crowds. Many theaters were sold out to church groups and religious organizations. By March 1st, it had grossed $125.1 million dollars, making it the best ever 5 day opening of any Wednesday opening film in history.

The February 25th edition of The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather ran a story about the film's opening day success. In short, it gave credit for the film's success because of "controversial marketing." It failed to credit the religious masses that flocked to see it. Rather seems quite suspicious of Christians. In a later episode of The CBS Evening News, Rather posed the question if Christians in America are "George Bush's secret weapon?"

Liberal, Bush hating, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd blatantly politicized The Passion of the Christ. She wrote that, "Mel Gibson and George Bush are courting bigotry in the name of sanctity." The hysterical Dowd also wrote that after you see this movie, you want to kick in some Jewish and Roman teeth." Any anti-Semitism caused by this film has yet to be reported. Exactly who is courting bigotry Maureen Dowd?

People who want to find something in this film to complain about will. However, it is the most accurate portrayal of the last 12 hours of Christ's life that can be made. If you find this film anti-Semitic then you must find the same fault in the Bible. If you are offended by the violence, then you are missing the entire point. The story of Christ's torture and death is that he did it for mankind's sins. If you sugarcoat the beatings then you lesson his sacrifice. To appreciate what he is doing you have to witness the violence. Simply hearing about it would not be nearly as effective.

The most honest and fair review I have read of The Passion of the Christ is by my brother Scott. At first, I was very apprehensive about reading his review. You see, Scott is an atheist. He is also a Liberal Democrat. Yet, read his review and you find someone who viewed this film without an agenda. With Scott's review, he proved to me that the objections to this film have nothing to actually do with the film itself.

Why then, in this Presidential election year, is the liberal media so threatened by a popular Christian film? Wait, did I just answer my own question? It is not completely inaccurate of me to state that a majority of Christians are either conservative, Republican or both. I imagine the last thing liberals want is a large group of passionately motivated conservative Republicans.

I am not trying to imply there is any organized conspiracy. I am quite blatantly accusing the liberal media of being anti-Christian. They call Christians "wackos" and tools of a Republican election. The Passion of the Christ is a well-received movie by almost all Christians and many non-Christians alike. Yet, the only religious news the liberal media gets excited about reporting is when Priests molest children, or Ministers get caught having affairs.

It is no wonder Caviezel is making jokes when talking about this movie. Considering how biased the media is, it is probably the best way for him to keep his sanity when dealing with them. He used levity when talking about being struck by lightning while filming a scene. After recovering from it, he said that he looked at the sky and said, "I guess you didn't like that take." Perhaps it was the liberal media, and not God, that were responsible for that bolt of lightning.

The Passion of the Christ went on to earn $370 million dollars atthe North American box office. It sold millions of copies of the dvd. Besides being very financialy successful, The Passion of the Christ accomplished something else. It exposed the liberal, main stream media as the anti-christians they are.