The Great Separation

Passion of Christ Moves Murderers to Turn Themselves In.

Life Changing - Dan Leach apparently got away with the murder of his girl friend, but he turned himself into authorities after viewing Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

Originally, authorities ruled the death of the woman a suicide.

Eric Hanson reports for the Houston Chronicle:

[Fort Bend County Sheriff Detective] Kubricht said Leach told investigators he carefully planned the killing to make it look like a suicide. The suspect allegedly strangled Wilson because he did not want to raise her unborn child or be involved with her anymore, Kubricht said.

In Norway a similar story unwinds for Johnny Olsen.

Karin Bøhm-Pedersen of Aftenpoften reports:

Johnny Olsen, a notorious convicted killer and neo-Nazi, has confessed to two bombings in Oslo in the 90s. Olsen, 41, decided to purge his guilty conscience after viewing Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ, newspaper Dagbladet reports.

A most powerful movie.

"The Passion of The Christ" Labeled Fascist?

Must be the French - Go figure.

A French independent cinema group, MK2, explains that they will not be running Mel Gibson's "Movie of The Passion" because it is "fascist propaganda."

Netscape News is running the report from the Hollywood Reporter on this latest bit of news:

"I refused to program the film in my network of theaters," MK2 president Marin Karmitz said in a written statement forwarded to The Hollywood Reporter. "I have always fought against fascism, notably through my exhibition activity. For me, 'Passion' is a film of fascist propaganda."

Hmm... Now let me think... fascism... Quick Definition:

1. often Fascism
   1. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
   2. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.

Uh.. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say maybe he hasn't seen the movie.

Of course he also claims that the movie is revisionist history. So I really think he's just plain crazy.

(Hat Tip to Drudge)

"The Passion of The Christ" Leads to Pro-Semitism.

Critics Wrong? Can it Be? - Remember all the hatred for Jews that Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of The Christ" elicited here in North America? Oh, yeah, there wasn't any.

Turns out that according to a poll from the Institute for Jewish and Community Research the movie had the opposite affect of what the media critics were hoping for prophesying.

Melanie Hunter reports for CNSNews.com:

"While the film may have a different impact elsewhere in the world, so far the Passion of the Christ is not producing any significant anti-Jewish backlash," said Dr. Gary Tobin, president of ICJR.

"The film and perhaps even more, the discussions about the film, are having something of a positive effect, which is good news. Some Jewish and Christian leaders have been understandably worried that the film might unleash a wave of hostility toward Jews and even erode the constructive effects of Vatican II," he said.

Sometimes I think that the folk that are "understandably worried" think that they should be 'understandably' paid extra. If you get my drift.

Ann Coulter: "Who Would Jesus Kill?"

Since she's been accused of being a heroine of mine... - Ann Coulter has a great article asking where all the anti-Semitic violence is in the wake of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ."

Her article is on FrontPageMagazine and is titled, "WWJK: Who Would Jesus Kill?"

Here's a great excerpt:

Despite repeated suggestions from liberals – including the in-house "conservative" and Clinton-supporter at the Times – Hitler is not what happens when you gin up Christians. Like Timothy McVeigh, the Columbine killers and the editorial board of the New York Times, Hitler detested Christians.

Indeed, Hitler denounced Christianity as an "invention of the Jew" and vowed that the "organized lie (of Christianity) must be smashed" so that the state would "remain the absolute master." Interestingly, this was the approach of all the great mass murderers of the last century – all of whom were atheists: Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot.

Make sure you click and read the full article.

Actors in The Passion of The Christ Receiving Death Threats.

Satan meddled minds - Looks like body guards is one of the prices that the actors and Mel Gibson are going to have to pay because of the movie.

WorldNetDaily™ reports:

"There are some crazy people out there and everything is being done to protect Mel and Jim from physical attack," a source close to executives of Newmarket Films told the London Express.

The paper said Caviezel, a devout Catholic, was being guarded by a "protection squad" amid fears of attacks by "religious fanatics."

According to the report, a mob of protesters has already screamed "anti-Semite" and hurled a bucket of lamb's blood at Gibson in a New York street. Charges of anti-Semitism dogged the filmmaker for months prior to the movie's Feb. 25 opening.

One wonders just what religion these "religious fanatics" hold too. I'm thinking it's more their own twisted religion of self than anything else.

$212,034,000 and Counting for The Passion.

Zowie. That's amazing.

What esle is amazing is how this film has got people talking to one another about Jesus.

Very cool.

The Passion of The Christ Breaks Movie Records.

Christians come out for The Passion - Brian Fuson of The HollywoodReporter.com has a report that details some of the box office records broken by Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ" during its opening week.

It grossed $117.5 million from opening through Sunday. Here's a snippet from what Fuson wrote:

The Icon Prods. film had private group screenings totaling $3 million prior to its release, hence the gross for the first five days for "Passion" is an estimated $114.5 million, representing the second-biggest total in history for a film opening on a Wednesday. New Line Cinema's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" ($124.1 million) is the only film that has grossed more. "Passion" bumped 20th Century Fox's "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" ($105.7 million) into the third spot.

Now what will the next couple of weeks hold? Will you be going back for a second viewing?

UPDATE:

The Passion has officially passed "The Lord of The Rings: Return of the King" for the number one Wednesday opening spot. It has come in with $125.2 million for the first five days.

This is Not Helping, Pastor!

It's not like there isn't already enough stupidity to go around. - WorldNetDaily™ has a report titled: "Church marquee: 'Jews Killed Jesus'."

All I can do is just shake my head and groan.

WND reports:

Coinciding with the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" today, a Denver church unveiled a message on its marquee that reinforces some Jewish groups' worst fears about the controversial film.

"Jews Killed The Lord Jesus" – "I Thess. 2:14, 15" – "Settled!" says the sign in front of Lovingway United Pentecostal Church, reports Denver's ABC television affiliate KMGH.

As expected the Jewish Anti-Defamation League has latched onto this, but how can you blame them. I think that the Pastor of this church is at minimum being irresponsible. I don't know his reasons, maybe he just is trying to get fifteen minutes in the glare, but he sure isn't showing common sense or a Christ-like behavior.

I was going to go into some detail on this subject and give a proper look at what the scriptures say but I hit upon a post from Russ at Coffeehouse at the End-Of-Days that points to a post on Mars Hill Church by Pastor Mark Driscoll titled, "Who Killed Jesus?".

With five key points Driscoll does a much better job than I could on this subject:

Layer 1 – Theologically, everyone killed Jesus....
Layer 2 – Historically, Romans, Greeks, and Jews killed Jesus....
Layer 3 – Practically, Jesus laid down His own life....
Layer 4 – Personally, I killed Jesus....
Layer 5 – Ultimately, God the Father killed Jesus....

Make sure you go by for the full read.

PETA Protesting At The Passion of Christ Movie Openings.

Is it any surprise really? - No, not really. PETA folk continue to show themselves to be squirelly.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are targeting movie goers today during the opening of The Passion of The Christ with mini-dramas that they hope will convince people to stop partaking in the suffering of animals. They hope to equate the deaths of farm animals with the death of Christ. Of course I don't know of any animals that were divine and rose from the dead three days later.

David Thibault of CNSNews.com quotes a PETA director:

"Our goal is to point out to people, especially people who are trying to lead more merciful and compassionate lives that we have an opportunity to live our faith every time we sit down to eat, simply by refusing to pay other people to put animals through the torment and agony of factory farms and slaughterhouses," Bruce Friedrich, director of vegan campaigns for PETA, told CNSNews.com.

I always thought that the best way to live my faith when I sat down at the dinner table was to thank God for providing the food.

Good Passionate Satire.

Anti-Whatisms? - Joshua Claybourn has a great little parody on the anti-Semitism argument that was circling heavily around Mel Gibson's "The Passion of The Christ."

Controversial movie Prince of Egypt is now available in stores everywhere. Arab leaders who have attended advance screenings have voiced concerns that its portrayal of the Arabs' role in Hebrew enslavement could stir up anti-Arabic sentiment.

The national director of the Arab Anti-Defamation League argued that while Hollywood may not be anti-Arab, it was being slightly naive about the film's potential impact.

LOL! Sometimes you just have to like the way Joshua thinks. Oh, he gives a disclaimer too:

Palm Beach Democrat alert: the above is a parody.

Of course this gives rise to the question: just what is it about the Passion of Christ that has so many so riled?

The answer: Truth. Truth of who Jesus really is and what that means for every individual life.

Which reminds me of a post I made back on 2003-08-15: "The Truth on the Hatred of Mel Gibson and The Passion."

Here's a snippet from that post:

People hate Christ. They hate the Truth He spoke. They hate the Truth of who He is. And they hate His words and actions which lay bare their sins and selfishness.... It's about truth. It's the problem the Church faces internally and externally more and more these days. Do you believe the Word of God as Holy Spirit breathed? Every part of it? It's the internal struggles we've seen in the church for centuries that Satan is using to tear apart and discredit the Church, the Bride of Christ. And it is happening more and more in a world that claims "enlightenment". The problem is that the "enlightenment" claimed is of man's fallible creation and Satan's twisted lies. So many in the church, and specifically in the pulpit, have cut out of the Word of God those sections they don't agree with to the point of making the Bible little more than a mishmash of shredded waste.