Foes Plan to 'Mute' Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ'

Opponents of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," along with their allies and those afraid to offend them (many of whom have never even seen the movie), are already planning to counter it.

Foes "are planning lecture series, interfaith talks and other programs to try to mute the film's impact," the Associated Press reported today.

'Pluralism'

"Do I think there will be pogroms as a result of this movie? No," said Rabbi David Elcott, American Jewish Committee's interfaith director.

"It's part of something larger, which is a hardening of religious conversation. It is such an absolutist movie. It undermines the progress that we've made in this country toward mutual respect and religious pluralism," he said.

As of now, opponents reportedly do not plan boycotts or protests outside theaters.

"Artists have every right to create any kind of movie they want, but an audience has the absolute right to pass judgment on that," said Rabbi James Rudin, an adviser for the committee.

American Jewish Committee is sending a 40-page "resource guide" to chapters nationwide on how to explain concerns about the movie. Rudin is urging Christian colleagues not to use the movie as an educational tool.

Leaders of Reform Judaism want members to "sit down with churches in your community" to "discuss" the film, said Mark Pelavin, director of Commission on Interreligious Affairs of Reform Judaism.

Boston College's Center for Christian-Jewish Learning has posted a study guide explaining Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and how Christian churches rejected accusations of deicide against Jews. The center plans a series of talks on the subject.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops plans to reissue its criteria for dramatizing the crucifixion along with statements on Catholic-Jewish relations.

'Part Myth'

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is urging pastors to "teach boldly" that it does not "demean, malign or harm the Jewish people" when preaching the Gospel. The church's communications director, the Rev. Eric Shafer, saw the movie and said that it was not anti-Jewish but was "part Gospel story and part myth" and that viewers could assume it was based entirely on the Bible.

AP noted: "The campaign is being undertaken in the face of a massive evangelistic effort by many American churches in conjunction with the movie's release. Several prominent conservative Christians, including the Rev. Billy Graham, said the film was among the most powerful depictions they'd seen of Christ's last hours."

Of course, no such campaign is going on to "mute" Hollywood's recent string of dreadful and offensive movies.

Gibson Seeks Truce

Gibson sent a conciliatory letter Friday asking his sharpest critic, ADL's Abraham Foxman, to join him in "setting an example for all our brethren" by following the path of respect and "love for each other despite our differences," the Jerusalem Post reported Sunday.

Foxman's response is unknown.

Meanwhile, those eager to see the movie are rejecting any attempts at censorship.

"In Plano, two members of a Baptist mega-church bought out a 20-screen multiplex so 6,000 people could watch the premiere of Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ.' In Costa Mesa, Calif., a nondenominational church is canceling services on opening weekend and has rented 10 movie theaters. In Dallas, a NASCAR sponsor plans to redesign its race car's exterior to promote the film. In Riverside, Calif., another Baptist church, energized by the film's coming, designed an ad to be shown on all 18 screens of a multiplex for three months," the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Just what kind of box office 'The Passion' will do when it opens Feb. 25 is impossible to predict. But it is clear that Gibson has tapped into a network of Christian church-based marketing that has been maturing for decades and that has been waiting, with almost biblical patience, for a high-profile, celebrity-backed religious picture to capture the nation's attention."

Editor's note:
James Hirsen’s "Tales from the Left Coast" - Find out the real story behind Mel Gibson's "The Passion," and more!

Mel Gibson fights back and talks with NewsMax Magazine – click here for new revelations

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