The Problem with the Passion

The Problem with the Passion

Or

The Crucifixion Conundrum

OUTLINE

Introduction

I. Mel Gibson's "The Passion"

A. Human sacrifice is outlawed in the "Old Testament".

B. Vicarious atonement is not possible in the "Old Testament".

C. G-d is not a man.

D. Jesus died on Passover.

E. Jesus did not satisfy strict requirements for animal sacrifice.

II. Ancient religious systems

A. The story of a dead and risen savior not unique to Jesus.

B. Attis

C. Mithras

III. Conclusion

A. Sin and atonement in light of Hebrew scripture.

Works cited

Addendum

Mel Gibson unlocked the secret of why Americans have never confronted anti-Semitism in the way that we did with the other great systems of hatred (racism, sexism, homophobia) when he told a national television audience on February 16, 2004 that "the Jews' real complaint isn't with my film (The Passion) but with the Gospels". The trouble with Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" is not the film itself, but the gospel story on which it's based. The gospel story, which has generated more anti-Semitism than the sum of all the other anti-Semitic writings ever written, created the climate in Christian Europe that led to the Holocaust. Long before the rise of Adolf Hitler, the gospel story about the life and death of Jesus had poisoned the bloodstream of European civilization.

The movie is one thing, the gospels on which it is based is another and volumes have already been written on anti-Semitism. It is not my purpose to explore these issues but to address the very principles on which the crucifixion is based in light of Hebrew scripture and Jewish thought. The Christian's real complaint is not with Jews but with the Hebrew Bible (The "Old Testament").

The "Old Testament" teaches the following:

Human sacrifice is outlawed in the "Old Testament". We are told to dedicate our firstborn sons to G-d, not sacrifice them.

Vicarious atonement is not possible in the "Old Testament". One person cannot die or take responsibility for the sins of another person, much less the whole world. Each person is responsible for his or her own actions (sins).

G-d is not a man. He cannot be born. He cannot die.

Jesus died on the Passover. The Passover has nothing to do with sin or sacrifice. It has to do with freedom, emancipation, and deliverance. Jesus should have died on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Jesus did not satisfy the strict requirements for animal sacrifice. The animal had to be slaughtered in a way that would cause it the least amount of pain. Not whipped, tortured, beaten, etc. Besides, G-d would forgive if one were to offer FLOUR.

Ancient religious systems show us that:

The story of a dead and risen savior is not unique to Jesus, e.g. Attis, Mithras, Dionysus, Osiris, Krishna, Heracles, etc.

All scripture references will be taken from the King James Version of the "Holy Bible".

Human sacrifice is outlawed in the "Old Testament".

In Leviticus 18:21 it is written: "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD." Children were being offered to the pagan god Molech and our GOD forbade us this practice.

In Exodus 13:2 it is written: "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine." Webster's Dictionary defines "sanctify" as follows: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use.

Now, would the God of Israel tell us not to practice human sacrifice and tell us to set apart our firstborns sons and yet be willing to sacrifice His "only begotten son"? The answer is a resounding no.

In Genesis 22 we read the story of Abraham and Isaac. Christians claim this is a "shadow" of the God of Israel sacrificing His own "Son". The opposite is true, because as the story goes G-d stopped Abraham and supplied him with a ram. So, no, I repeat no human sacrifice took place!

Isaac was the subject of the tenth and most difficult test of Abraham's faith: G-d commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. This test is known in Jewish tradition as the Akeidah (the Binding, a reference to the fact that Isaac was bound on the altar). But this test is also an extraordinary demonstration of Isaac's own faith, because according to Jewish tradition, Isaac knew that he was to be sacrificed; yet he did not resist, and was united with his father in dedication. At the last moment, G-d sent an angel to stop the sacrifice. It is interesting to note that child sacrifice was a common practice in the region at that time. Thus, the surprising thing about this story is not the fact that G-d asked Abraham to sacrifice his child, but that G-d stopped him!

Judaism uses this story as evidence that G-d abhors human sacrifice. In fact, I have seen some sources indicating that Abraham failed this test of faith because he did not refuse to sacrifice his son! Judaism has always strongly opposed the practice of human sacrifice, commonplace in many other cultures during that particular time and place.

In Micah 6:6-8 it is written: "Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee,