Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image


Related

More news articles & news archive on The Passion of The Christ


Translate



Advertisements *

What is a cult: Cult Definition
Simple steps to financial health and a good credit score


Elsewhere

Wicca knowns no central authority, and Wiccans do not all have the same views, beliefs or practices.


The Passion of The Christ:

Jewish critics accused of ‘deceit’ at film screening

Religion News Service, USA
Jan. 31, 2004
Kevin Eckstrom
www.dfw.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 5923 • Posted: Monday February 2, 2004  

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark
Click here... More articles on this topic: The Passion of The Christ

A group of evangelical pastors who screened Mel Gibson’s movie on the crucifixion of Jesus blasted Jewish critics who used a fake church name to sneak into an advance screening of the film, The Passion of the Christ.

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said he viewed the film “in stealth mode” at the Global Pastors Network conference in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 21.

Foxman and Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, the league’s interfaith consultant, registered as pastors with the fictitious Church of Truth in Brooklyn, N.Y. Foxman said the film’s portrayal of Jews was “painful to watch.”

Foxman has warned that the film threatens to stir up anti-Semitism by blaming Jews for the death of Jesus. Gibson, who has hosted invitation-only screenings around the country, has refused to show the film to Foxman.

John Maxwell, chairman of the Global Pastors Network, which sponsored the convention, said, “I am disappointed they lied to get in,” and accused Foxman and Bretton-Granatoor of “deceit.”

Before seeing the film, participants were asked to sign a confidentiality agreement that stipulated they could speak only positively of the movie. Foxman did not sign the statement.

Foxman said he had no choice but to lie. “I am sorry we had to engage in stealth tactics, but only because he [Gibson] forced us to,” he told The Orlando Sentinel. Foxman told The New York Times he initially felt bad about sneaking in, but then changed his mind.

“I decided yesterday, ‘Why am I uncomfortable? Let him [Gibson] be uncomfortable.’ For him to say, ‘You can only see it if you love it’? I felt it was my moral duty to see it,” he said.

Other Jewish leaders who saw the film two weeks ago said they went in openly. David Elcott, interfaith director for the American Jewish Committee, saw the film near Chicago and said he was “completely upfront” about his affiliation and was welcomed warmly.

Rabbi A. James Rudin, the AJC’s senior interreligious affairs adviser, saw the film at the Orlando screening by paying the $195 registration fee. Rudin, who accurately listed his affiliation as a visiting professor at St. Leo University, also did not sign the agreement.

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Follow Religion News Blog on Twitter


Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine