The 'Lynchmob' in THE PASSION

Correspondence Between Shlomoh's Friends
February 23, 2004


Deke Barker wrote:

Shlomoh:

Thanks. Excellent commentary [review of THE PASSION], marred only by a rather self-serving assignment of responsibility for Jesus' execution.

Deke Barker wrote:

Jesus' trial and execution. Try explaining it in one or two sentences. Either you blame the Romans, which is inaccurate, or you (effectively) blame "the Jews", which is both inaccurate and tends to lead to anti-Semitic behavior.


From: Grace Harris
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004
Subject: So much for the Gibson film being a threat to leftist liberals

Deke, not at all. Think of it this way. It's the old west. There's a lynch mob and a sherrif who doesn't want to be bothered who let's them have their way. Who hung him high? The sherrif or the mob? Both.


From: "Deke Barker"
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004
Subject: RE: [new46] So much for the Gibson film being a threat to leftist liberals

Grace:

Right. Except, for all we know there was no mob. And we're not certain who the sheriff was. And it makes a difference, because these events have been used for nearly 2000 years to promote anti-Semitism.

Grace, the stories of the Passion are *RELIGIOUS* documents, not history. They almost certainly contain history, but it's equally certain that they contain fantasy. Those fantasies were developed from tradition (including valid history) and the perspectives of those involved in passing along those traditions, ultimately including the evangelists, the theologian/editor/authors who created the gospels.

IMO, *MUCH* of the Passion story is unlikely, especially the details. The gospels are more theological reflection and Xian evangelism than history. They look back through the fog to a time that was quite different from the time they were written. Accordingly, they tend to emphasize the experiences and environment and immediate needs of their contemporary audience, not those of Jesus and his disciples.


Grace Harris converted to Roman Catholicism from Holiness Religion over 20 years ago. She is currently in a program for conversion to Judaism.

Deke Barker is a member of the church of The Disciples Of Christ.


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