Judaism As Depicted in the Passion of the Christ Movie

Introduction

Judaism started about 4,000 years ago and is therefore considered as the oldest of the three monotheistic world’s religion that believes in serving only one God. In other words, Judaism is believed to be the foundation of both Islam and Christianity. Judaism is based on the belief that there is just one God, known as Yahweh who is the creator and universe’s ruler. Jews people or Hebrews were given God’s laws known as Torah and therefore choose them to serve as the light of humanity as a whole. The Torah contains God’s commandments. One of the very important concepts of the religion is Messiah as initially Jews believed that a powerful messenger the Messiah would be send to save Israelites from the oppressor, launching the beginning of prosperity and peace. In the film, The Passion of the Christ released in 2004 and directed by Mel Gibson retells the last days of Jesus Christ and Judaism religion is represented negatively by portraying Jews as the hostile and the cause of Jesus’ death.

Throughout the movie, several religious issues are revealed such as anti-Semitism, violence and historical inaccuracy. The most immediate idea that is expressed to the film’s viewers is the gratuitous cruelty. The movie depicts Judaism negatively given that Jews are show as mysteriously hateful by rejecting a holy man for no justified reason as he has not done them wrong but only because they are hateful. For instance, in the hallucination suffered by Judas a young Jewish boy becomes a child demon (Gibson, 2004). In addition, while Pontius is a gentled and wise leader he becomes weak and gives into the wishes of the irrepressible Jews so as to assert rebellion.

The overall torture of Jesus Christ is characterised by brutality and bloodshed, which is subjected by the Jews. The representation contradicts the popular belief that Jews were chosen to be a representation of humanity. The physical violence in the film is extreme and the representation might potentially fabricate history and intensify the hostility of the individuals who dislike Jews (Garber, 2006). In other words, the film illustrates Jews as hostile savages against the Roman leader, who only instructed for Jesus to be punished and not to be killed. Moreover, the film historical inaccuracy is demonstrated by its inability to interpret the scriptures correctly by portraying Jews as hateful (Garber, 2006). Most scenes are bloody with violence being imposed on the flesh of a human and therefore, it fails to achieve spiritual uplifting and humanity that is symbolised by Judaism.

With respect, to what I have learned through this class about Judaism, the manner in which the religion was presented is not similar to what I know about the religion. Judaism is a community faith, which believes in a collectivism system. Jews are driven by the necessity to care for one another as part of fulfilling their obligation in serving God (Gibson, 2004). Jews mainly believe that they were selected by God to serve as an example to other humans about ethical behaviours and holiness to the universe. Morality is something that guides Jews in their day to day activities and decisions in general. Therefore, the thing that interests me most about the religion is the fact that, they are focused on humanity in general. However, the way the religion is shown in the film is contradictory to everything I know about the religion. In that throughout the film Jews are demonstrated as individuals that are full of hate and they subject physical violence to a holy man for no other reason but hate (Chilton, 2019). The film seems to suggest that, it is the brutal actions of the Jews that resulted in the death of Christ. The crucifixion part is the most torturing and unbearable for one to see. The amount of physical violence that is exerted on one person is appears as just an exaggeration and therefore not an accurate representation of religious history as described in the holy Bible (Gibson, 2004). It does therefore appear that the interpretation was mainly influenced by personal beliefs against Jews has a negative effect on the anticipated spiritual sensation from watching a religious film in general.

The film represents Judaism religion negatively by asserting that Jews are violent, hostile and bloodthirsty. Through the representation the film promotes anti-Semitism, which is prejudice, resentment of discernment against Jews. In addition, this creates a rather stereotyped view towards Jews against Jews based on their beliefs (Garber, 2006). In other words, the film fails to represent the religion based on the beliefs that forms its overall foundation or even the accurate account of historical events as held by Jews. Therefore, the representation creates a rather negative picture in general of the religion and its believers against what it commonly holds as the light of humanity in the world (Gibson, 2004). The film paints Jews negatively an image that might lead to the building of hatred and discrimination against Jews particularly from Christian or other viewers due to the stereotypes that film creates.

From the movie, the religious content that I learned is about the need for atonement from sin. It is evident that humans are vulnerable as they are likely to given into temptations which results in sins. In addition, human suffering is inevitable, which makes humans more vulnerable in the quest of survival (Gibson, 2004). Achieving spiritual competent requires humans to free themselves from sins and this can only be achieved through atonement particularly through righteous actions, prayer, making sacrifices and beginning for God’s mercy (Waxman, 2004). Atonement refers to a religious concept of an individual taking moral actions to correct past wrongdoings through trying to undo the undesirable consequences, being good to others as a way of serving humanity or expressing remorse as a way of asking for forgiveness. Jews believe in being socially responsible by being good to others and the environment and this is a way of seeking atonement for the wrong deeds that they might have done in the past (Gibson, 2004). Such actions, helps in setting one towards the right path of life and ensuring that people serve the purpose that God choose them to do, which is being a reflection of humanity.

My thoughts, opinions, and feelings about the film are negative based on its emphasis on violence. I believe that the scriptures or any other historical events ought to be interpreted and represented accurately without any form of bias. However, the film fails to accomplish this by serving as a complete anti-Semitism. In general, it promotes stereotypes against Jews by presenting them as rather hateful and violent. The film takes an aggressive approach in its attempt to convert those individuals that do not belief the faith for forgives lies in the crucifixion. Jews take the responsibility of setting humanity towards heaven (Garber, 2006). However, the film appears to be criticizing them for not believing that Christ died for the sins committed by human or that God would use the death of his sons to mollify himself.

From a Jewish point of view, the movie alters the definition of what God is and the overall relationship that Jews have with God. It uses the beliefs of Jews to attack them by portraying them as brutal to the being that paid for their sins (Gibson, 2004). In this context, the movie makes Jews to regret about their beliefs. Rather than trying to accommodate the different beliefs that Jews hold, the film does to the extent of criticism the religion and therefore making it appear as one that is overwhelmed by hatefulness and violence.

Personally, I would not recommend the movie to others because the blood filled and violent scenes are very disturbing. It is very challenging to watch the hostile scenes that are characterised by intense violence (Gibson, 2004). The films seem to have exaggerated the depiction of torture in its attempt to force Jews in questioning their beliefs about redemption from sins by the death of Christ on the cross. The representation might be upsetting to most individuals due to the level of violence and the stereotypical representation of Jews, which makes the Judaism beliefs, appears as less inferior (Gibson, 2004). For the reason of promoting discrimination and prejudice against Jews and the intense violent scenes, I would not recommend the movie.

In conclusion, Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion that believes that God appointed Jews to be a reflection of humanity. Jews believes in collectivism and caring for the needs of others, which discourages selfish decisions towards humans and the environment. However, in the film Passion of the Christ Movie of 2004, Jews are portrayed as hateful and violent, thus promoting discrimination Judaism. The film fails in accurately representing historical biblical events by negatively representing Jews. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Chilton L, (2019) “The blood, the outrage and the passion of Christ: Mel Gibson’s biblical           firestorm, 15 years on” The Independent, retrieved from,   https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/passion-of-the-christ-    15-years-mel-gibson-jim-cavieziel-movie-reaction-christianity-a8788381.html

Garber, Z. (Ed.). (2006). Mel Gibson's Passion: The Film, the Controversy, and Its Implications. Purdue University Press. Retrieved May 4, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt6wq6d1

Gibson M, (2004) “The Passion of Christ” film

Waxman S, (2019) “Gibson to delete a scene in ‘Passion’ The New York Times, retrieved from,             https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/04/movies/gibson-to-delete-a-scene-in-passion.html