A new movie called "Bloodline" purports itself to be a documentary that claims to have found evidence that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and their "bloodline" has been kept secret by the Catholic Church and a group called the "Priory of Sion." (NB's Scott Whitlock and Mark Finkelstein have written on this as well.)
But the truth is that the film's premise is based on a complete fabrication. The "Priory of Sion" was founded in 1950's France as a hoax by a known trickster. Yet the group's fictions continue to be forwarded by those despise Christianity and seek to degrade the Church. The Priory and its related claims have been debunked over and over and over and over and over and over again.
Yet in its zeal to leave no stone unturned in defaming traditional Catholics and Christians, the Los Angeles Times published a review on Friday (5/16/08), and it praised the film as "an ambitious, sharply intriguing documentary." The film's ignorant reviewer, Gary Goldstein, also identifies the Priory of Sion as "the church's shadowy offshoot." (No, it isn't.) Goldstein then concludes his review, "[The film's director] goes the distance to posit that maybe it's not the proposed Jesus-Mary 'bloodline' that needs defending but, rather, Christian doctrine itself."
Good ... grief.
We've cited the Times several times before for its anti-Catholic tilt. (See this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, and this.) Here is yet another example.
Shame also to ABC and its affiliate ABC7 (Los Angeles) for lending credence to this bogus film.
Would the Times or ABC allow itself to publish such egregious falsehoods about another religion? Doubt it!
—Dave Pierre is the creator of TheMediaReport.com and a contributor to NewsBusters.
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The plan
May 18, 2008 - 01:02 ET by KC MulvilleSo, true...
May 18, 2008 - 09:31 ET by SyriusKC,
To think that people would believe in any lie or fictional accounts that was told over and over and over again as the truth...People who believe and imagine fictional characters and fictional stories to be true should be considered delusional.
Eventually, as the years, decades and centuries pass, the lies become truth as small fragments are the only things left to support or deny the claims of authenticity. For we all know, antiquity breeds authenticity. There must be something to this story, it seems so real...I guess it needs the passing of time and generations of true believers to make it true.
Syrius
"Eventually, as the years,
May 18, 2008 - 11:38 ET by celator"Eventually, as the years, decades and centuries pass, the lies become truth as small fragments are the only things left to support or deny the claims of authenticity."
Exactly! In the past, the antidote to this propaganda technique was the study of authentic history, learning what actually happened (as best we knew at any given time). In many high schools and colleges, history courses have become political reeducation programs, akin to brainwashing. I've had conversations about historical events with my grandkids, and in many, many instances what they've been taught just ain't so. Very frustrating.
Celator, perhaps we could
May 18, 2008 - 14:15 ET by MikeBCelator, perhaps we could form a parnership and publish Bibles in looseleaf form for "progressive Christian" churches, and looseleaf form history books (both American History and World History) for American highschools and universities. That way, if the instructors don't like what is in the book (or Book), they can remove and/or replace the offending pages with the newest version. What do you think?
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
You don't believe Jesus was
May 18, 2008 - 12:22 ET by NewsbusterbrownYou don't believe Jesus was an actual person, Syrius? I'm not talking about Jesus as the Son of God, but just as a historical person. Do you have any evidence to support your claim?
I seriously doubt he was just made out of whole cloth.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
I just saw...
May 18, 2008 - 13:35 ET by SyriusNBbrown,
...Jesus cutting my lawn with my own eyes. So, yeah, I know for sure he's a real live person! I checked his documents and they looked legit!
ROTFFLMFAO!!! (h/t Noel)
Syrius
Syrius, I didn't ask for
May 18, 2008 - 19:08 ET by NewsbusterbrownSyrius, I didn't ask for proof of Jesus' existence. I asked for proof that the historical Jesus never existed. Obviously, you couldn't answer that question, so you had to do your usual silliness.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Be careful of the logic
May 18, 2008 - 13:35 ET by KC MulvilleSome lies, told over and over again, can be mistaken for truth. However, just because something is told over and over again doesn't prove it's a lie. The difference here is that this documentary has been thoroughly debunked already, on a non-faith, scientific historical analysis, and yet the producers keep reintroducing it. It isn't the faith community that debunked these claims - the historians destroyed it also.
Somewhere there must be a rule of intellectual double jeopardy. If you present an argument and it's thoroughly disproved, you shouldn't be able to reintroduce it again unless you offer something different from the first version. OK, I agree that a free and open society has to tolerate such stupidity, no matter how annoying, but that doesn't mean I can't call it annoying and stupid. And this is.
Like the Da'Vinci code.
May 18, 2008 - 16:03 ET by mjgLike the Da'Vinci code. Seriously the LAT publishes this stuff and doesn't take into consideration how many times this has been debunked.
Film Critics
May 23, 2008 - 15:54 ET by teajayIt seems that, baring a few rare exceptions, film critics aren't the brightest group of professionals around. I could list many examples of films (including documentaries) that were factually compromised yet critically acclaimed.
Film Critics
May 23, 2008 - 15:59 ET by bassndudeFor me, if the critics give raving reviews, I dont go see the movie. The few I have see that the critics loved, I thought were boring and very poorly done. Slept through the last one. So if the critics dont like it, I go see it.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Children:
May 18, 2008 - 07:07 ET by sentforth5The fifth trump has sounded.
The time of preaching sweet Baby Jesus has passed.
The time of teaching Christ Jesus the Redeeming Warrior has come.
We now need to demonstrate the DISCIPLINE within GOD's Word, because satan is now ramping up his onslaught against Christians.This is only one tiny example of the ridiculous attacks coming our way.
Revelation Ch. 13 is about to unfold before our very eyes. I'm not a religious zealot, believe me, but I have studied enough to know that this is a call to arms. Read the King James and put some bullets in your Christian gun! Christianity is not a religion, it is reality. Study on your own and arm yourselves against the fiery darts of the wicked one....or don't..I mean, you know, I'm just sayin' is all.
And all God's people said
May 23, 2008 - 15:59 ET by Cool ArrowAMEN!
Israel just turned 60.
The days of man are 3 score and 10. (70 years)
This generation shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.
No time for popcorn, guys.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
ancient clues that may lead
May 18, 2008 - 07:12 ET by motherbeltWow. Two thousand years they've managed to hide it. But finally, now someone is smart enough to figure it out!
I agree, Dave. Good grief indeed!
ancient clues that may lead to a Holy Grail of buried treasure along with the tombs of a mummified Mary Magdalene and, the shocker, maybe Jesus himself. -(from the review; emphasis added)
But more likely the archeological equivalent of Al Capone's vault.
Don't you know Jesus &
May 18, 2008 - 07:40 ET by zhombreDon't you know Jesus & Maggie's progeny traveled to Africa and started the Obama bloodline? Just you wait until President BHO walks across the Potomac.
"Priory of Sion." Are
May 18, 2008 - 07:45 ET by Jack BauerAre they related to the Elders of Zion?
Anybody that falls for this
May 18, 2008 - 07:58 ET by NewsbusterbrownAnybody that falls for this crap is a maroon.
Look, if someone can show me an actual fact regarding Jesus and Mary Magdalene, I wouldn't dismiss it and go "la, la la la, la!" A fact is a fact is a fact. However, I have yet to see any facts.
Just the facts. :-)
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Crazy
May 18, 2008 - 09:20 ET by opnpt0In 90's there were alot of conservatives that were conspiratorial about what was happening in the world...I looked into some of these out of curiosity but they were B.S.
Liberals are doing the same thing now - but they have media support, movies, and "scholars" saying "Yep it's true."