DISCUSSION of Mel Gibson's Career...

Originally posted by Vits They won't rush to the theaters.But if it flops anyway it will be for the many reasons why a good movie would flop:limited release,bad marketing,people choosing the blockbuster instead,etc.

I don't think one has to know Mel Gibson personally to make some relevant judgments. Given his drunken outburst aimed at a couple of police officers that were simply out protecting folks like you and me from drunken drivers like Mel, we can call "Strike ONE!" Given that said outburst included some vapid anti-semitic characterizations, and the fact that Mel's father is a known Holocaust denier, we can call "Strike TWO!".  The fact that his judgement was so poor that he got behind the wheel of a car at all when he was that stinking drunk is close to strike three, but given that a lot of people have done that, I guess we have to hold off a moment before sending him to the bench.  

According to the press, Mel has displayed some terrible behavior and in regard to that, I'm praying for him. On the other hand, he's been a blessing to many  as well and for that, I thank God, and will reserve judgment, since I don't feel like I'm in a position to "cast any stones." 

No one is in a position to cast stones since "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

I haven't seen Passion of the Christ but it was my understanding that the movie is based on  the gospels and if Mel remained true to scripture, the movie would have to indicate that the Jews of the day took part in Jesus' death because they considered His claim that He was their promised Messiah blasphemous and according to Jewish law, that was an offense worthy of death.  The movie also should have shown the Gentiles involvement in His crucification since the Jews didn't have the authority to impose a death sentence.

Ultimately, if the movie is based  on the biblical account of Jesus' crucification, then it would have to emphasize  that Jesus' death was an essential part of God's plan for our salvation.  Jesus said  that no one takes his life from him, but he laid it down of his own accord. "I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."  John 10:18

Nothing against you, Patsi45, but your posts just made me cringe...  

I don't want to start another of discussion about religion (because the last time it directed so much hatred towards me...). I do however want to ask the following questions: Why can't atheists (like me) be good people? What does "god" have to do with common decency? Is someone a bad person if he/she doesn't have "Christian values"? 

Judgment of a (probably fictional) higher being is one thing, choosing to be kind and respectful to others is something completely different (and doesn't have anything to do with religion)...

Update: Oh yeah... I am apparently 6 posts from 500... I am thinking of saving that one for something special....

Here's the deal:

I for one don't even understand why there is such hatred towards the Jewish faith to begin with. This faith makes up a very small portion of the world population. Various forms of Catholism and Islam are the top two religions, followed by atheism, with all three ranking in the hundreds of millions. Judaism, on the other hand, isn't even among the top five religions, it's numbers are only in the hundred thousands. There are more Buddists and Hindus in the world than Jews. So it's not like Judism is some kind of threat to any other faith. And the Jews really haven't caused great injustices to society, like Catholics and Muslims have (in the name of their faiths) over the centuries.