Judas Iscariot was really, really torn about betraying Jesus and was just misunderstood, anyway. And Pontius Pilate? Well, he was just an honest, but beleaguered public servant who was just trying to please his wife. Both men were not really bad guys.... or at least that is how the BBC will present these characters in their newest re-imagining of the final days of Jesus Christ to air this Easter -- an effort that comes on the heels of last year's version of the Nativity that portrayed Mary and Joseph as illegal immigrants.
The producers, of course, are denying that they intend to re-write the character's history, but they do admit that they are trying to portray Judas Iscariot and Pontius Pilate in a "more sympathetic light" causing Christians to cringe over the PC treatment.
Judas is portrayed as torn between his loyalties to Jesus and Caiaphas, who organised the plot to kill Jesus... Pilate, played by James Nesbitt, is shown struggling to manage his wife's social aspirations and his career as he tried to"keep a lid" on tensions in Jerusalem.
The Pilate revision is interesting in that they are creating a story out of whole cloth. There is nothing in the Bible about Pilate's wife causing him to send Jesus to the cross so that she might climb Jerusalem's social ladder unless the BBC has found a version of that text others don't seem to have access to.
Not only has the BBC mysteriously discovered new information about the two famous characters, but they have also put them on a psychiatrist's couch and found the "motivations" for these historical men's actions.
Nigel Stafford-Clark, who produced the BBC1 series, said he wanted to put the characters' actions in context "so you can see it from their point of view and realise that what they did felt legitimate".
Isn't it amusing that ol' Nigel can determine the "context" and "point of view" of people who have been dead for thousands of years and for whom we have but scant personal information as it is?
And in typical Hollywood-esque style, Frank Deasy, the series writer, has a "problem" with the traditional story-line and feels that he can improve... on the Bible!
"I've always had a problem with Judas in 'Passion' stories in that he suddenly and inexplicably betrays Jesus," he said."I was keen to develop a psychological reality to Judas's portrayal."
It might be more interesting to "develop a psychological reality" as to why these TV producers want to betray the actual text of the Bible? Why is it that these people feel the constant need to re-imagine the Bible is quite a deep topic, but it happens with nearly every movie project based on Biblical texts (shades of The Last Temptation of Christ, naturally.)
In any case, it certainly makes one fear the many thousands of Christians who will flood into the streets, burn cars, and cut off the heads of the non-believers over this issue... Oh, wait. That is the other religion that does that.
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Huh?
March 11, 2008 - 10:50 ET by candanceI can kind of understand the Pontius Pilate thing, but Judas Iscariot? He didn't have any reason to justify what he did other than stupidity and greed.
Oh, and PS:
There is nothing in the Bible about Pilate's wife causing him to send Jesus to the cross so that she might climb Jerusalem's social ladder unless the BBC has found a version of that text others don't seem to have access to.
Um, there's nothing in the Bible about global warming either, but those pesky details really don't matter to liberals.
when?
March 11, 2008 - 10:51 ET by dronetekWhen is there show about their differing views of Mahamud's life?
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
March 11, 2008 - 10:57 ET by candanceDronetek, you tickle me. They're not changing that story! Mohammad must always be revered as perfect.
And they'll never try to analyze why the Buddha abandoned his wife when she had a baby.
Only the Bible is open to reinterpretation.
because only the word of
March 11, 2008 - 11:19 ET by TruthMongerbecause only the word of God can withstand anything:)
"There is nothing in the
March 11, 2008 - 11:24 ET by Chris Norman"There is nothing in the Bible about Pilate's wife causing him to send Jesus to the cross so that she might climb Jerusalem's social ladder unless the BBC has found a version of that text..."
It sounds like they found an old script of "Dynasty" to juice up the Bible...
If it's Easter
March 12, 2008 - 01:34 ET by ToddonCapeCodIf it's Easter it must mean the Left is out to bash Christians and their beliefs again!
Though they won't do anything like this during Ramadan
BBC is an enemy to Christianity
March 11, 2008 - 10:55 ET by GothampcThis is done to try and cast doubt on the Bible. If the BBC can get people's eyes off the Bible, they can begin to sow seeds of doubt and tear down Christianity.
Luke 22:3 says Satan entered into Judas. There was no doubt from that moment on what Judas was going to do.
Matthew 27:19 says that Pilate's wife had a dream and told him not to have anything to do with "that just man". Hardly the words of a social climber looking to crucify Jesus.
The BBC, and more importantly the UK, have problems bigger than this that they won't recognize. Islam is rapidly replacing Christianity in their country and it's not looking good for them. The BBC is a tool in that destruction.
rapidly
March 11, 2008 - 11:21 ET by TruthMongerrapidly replacing? puh-leaze
you make Christianity seem very fragile
nobody messes with the big JC and gets away with it
Let them alone
March 11, 2008 - 11:04 ET by cvgbuckeyeLet them alone. If their statements are a derivative of having read AT LEAST a part of the Bible and if they believe AT LEAST a little of the Bible, I could work with them. I'm dead serious.
Of course this type of interpretation comes very close, if not crosses into blasphamy, and must be corrected quickly. If they are aware of their misinterpretations and knew better at one time, then it is Apostasy, which there may possibly be no forgiveness.
Either way, unfortunately, their transgressions are not uncommon in a world of pluralism. If you are unaware of the meaning of pluralism, you are probably guilty of it.
There was, is and will only ever be one way to God and that is Through Jesus Christ as it is described LITERALLY in His Word The Bible.
Sorry to be such an accusatory and single-minded Christian but I am right and unashamed to say so.
If you just choose to believe otherwise and think that the Bible's type of God does not exist and that a kinder gentler god exists that would not send anyone to hell then you have ascribed to the most common form of idolatry known to man and that is: Creating your own god, in your own mind that you are more comfortable with and makes you feel better.
I better stop;;;;thats enough.
And Jesus wept
March 11, 2008 - 11:14 ET by KC Mulville<sarcasm>
See, Warner, you just don’t understand the essence of good writing.
At last, we have a writer who doesn’t ask us to consider the story for ourselves. He doesn’t force us to think, or demand all that annoying reflection. You know, some people might think about the Judas character and really not understand why he betrayed Jesus. But we’re too busy to spend time thinking about that stuff. I appreciate that the author just comes right and tells us, so we don’t have to think.
I’ve heard that some Christians actually go out and pray over those kinds of questions. They spend all their time wondering about why things happen, and that’s because the author didn’t tell them. The author could have saved these poor praying fools a lot of time if he had just come out and said what he meant. How rude is that?
You know, some of these writers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Like that Shakespeare guy. I’ve read Hamlet two times, and never once does Shakespeare come out and explain why Hamlet doesn’t just kill the king. It’s like, the author expects me to figure it out! Like, yeah, right, what am I paying you for? Duh!
</sarcasm>
So much for no more religious arguments....
March 11, 2008 - 11:15 ET by Melodic_MetalOh, and The Buddha didn't just leave his wife. He left EVERYTHING HE HAD to see how the peasants lived. He gave up his riches to find his 'path'. Don't compare documented fact, with.... religion. Thank you
"To beat Violence, You must ignore the focus groups. You must send in the Mossad, turn off the BBC, CNN, and don't look back."
Same thing Jesus did, and
March 11, 2008 - 11:25 ET by TruthMongerSame thing Jesus did, and asks us to do
http://bible.cc/mark/10-21.htm
but you won't find any of us "devout Christians" doing much of that, I'm quite sure:)
what?
March 11, 2008 - 11:27 ET by candanceDid I tell a lie Metal? Did the Buddha not leave his wife behind with a child? Did I say he was wrong for doing that? No, I simply wondered if the BBC would give us a reinterpretation of that story.
ROFL documented fact with religion. So it's okay to question the events around Christ's crucifiction but it's not okay to pose similar questions about the Buddha? Whatever happened to being open minded and questioning everything?
You mistake me for a liberal.
March 11, 2008 - 12:16 ET by Melodic_MetalI do not dislike the Christian faith. However, you cannot deny that the story of Buddhas life is much more plausible than just about everything in the Bible. Nobody questions the story of the Buddha because it is well documented AND there is a living Buddha today. They (Buddhists )have some wacky ways, but I don't question why the MSM hasn't questioned his actions. Also, Buddhism is a 'philosophy', not religion.
"To beat Violence, You must ignore the focus groups. You must send in the Mossad, turn off the BBC, CNN, and don't look back."
I beg you, do not start a
March 11, 2008 - 12:25 ET by Chris NormanI beg you, do not start a debate here on comparing the plausibility of faiths. It can't lead to anything good.
Fine by me
March 11, 2008 - 12:28 ET by candanceI never wanted to compare the two religions. I simply asked if the BBC would attempt to interpret someone's motives in any other religious context. Apparently the answer is no...as I stated above, the Bible is open for fresh examination while other religions are off limits.
"you cannot deny that the
March 11, 2008 - 12:39 ET by Chris Norman"you cannot deny that the story of Buddhas life is much more plausible than just about everything in the Bible"
These words by "melodic" are like a red flag being waved that can only lead to a long argument concluding only in bad feelings. As I understand it, you were talking about how different religions are treated by the media. That's a topic that can be reasonably discussed.
Apparently not Chris
March 11, 2008 - 12:50 ET by candanceThat's a topic that can be reasonably discussed.
Metal's version of reasonably discussing media bias is to insist that Buddhism is better than Christianity.
That's the road I was
March 11, 2008 - 12:59 ET by Chris NormanThat's the road I was begging him not to head down - it goes off a cliff.
"the Bible is open for fresh examination while other religions"
March 11, 2008 - 12:41 ET by vrwc13Nice thing about the Bible is it is always ready for examination...no one yet has found a real flaw/fault/mistake...and it's not for lack of trying.
Not sure you can say that about the others.
v
I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right. - Billy Graham
Well, I may be setting
March 11, 2008 - 11:30 ET by Indiana JoeWell, I may be setting myself up for a dog-pile, but I've come to think that Judas was merely a tool in God's plan. Christ was destined to die for our sins, so someone had to betray him to fulfill the Scriptures. Judas played the part God had set for him.
And didn't Pilate say "I find no fault in him?" The mob demanded Jesus' death. I guess Pilate was complicit by letting them have their way, but how do you stop what was basically a lynching?
Just MHO, and I'm in no way a Biblical scholar.
Indiana
March 11, 2008 - 11:37 ET by candanceNo disagreement from me on your basic point. It was needful for Jesus to be crucified - that was the reason he was born.
The thing that annoys us is the BBC's efforts to change the Bible's explanation and diminish the fact that Satan entered into Judas's mind. Also, Gotham is correct that Pilate's wife wanted to save Jesus but Pilate didn't have the political capital to protect him - and the BBC is telling us exactly the opposite.
"There is nothing in the
March 11, 2008 - 12:31 ET by misterbee241"There is nothing in the Bible about Pilate's wife causing him to send
Jesus to the cross so that she might climb Jerusalem's social ladder..."
True, according to scripture she came to Pilate and told him she had a dream and he had better leave "that man" alone. But Pilate was a coward and a political appointee who was afraid of losing his position. He's really not much different from the politicians of today who will say and do anything to get elected. Remember when Bill Clinton came off the campaign trail in 92 to execute a retarded man, just to show he was "tough" on crime? Pilate was tough on crime too. But thankfully, Jesus submitted to Pilate's sentence.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
»→ BBC and Judas
March 11, 2008 - 12:40 ET by Cool ArrowThis isn't different from the sympathetic portrait painted of Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar"
Seen it before.
♣ a seal
the Stones even have a song
March 11, 2008 - 12:44 ET by vrwc13the Stones even have a song for it..."Sympathy for the Devil".
v
I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right. - Billy Graham
Sympathy For The Devil...
March 11, 2008 - 12:49 ET by vrwc13Sympathy For The Devil
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith
And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
I stuck around St. Petersberg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the Czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank
Held a general's rank
When the Blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
What's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the Gods they made
I shouted out
"Who killed the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me
Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadors
Who get killed before they reached Bombay
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um baby, get down
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me baby, what's my name
Tell me honey, baby guess my name
Tell me baby, what's my name
I tell you one time, you're to blame
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's my name
Tell me, baby, what's my name
Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
Who Knows Their History?
March 11, 2008 - 13:48 ET by GothampcAnother question I have is why would Pilate's wife be trying to social climb? It's not like she could get in good with the wives of the High Priests. The Jews didn't mix with Gentiles. And Jerusalem was basically the back of nowhere in the Roman Empire wasn't it?
The point
March 11, 2008 - 14:38 ET by cvgbuckeyeHere is the ONLY point that matters: JESUS COULD HAVE STOPPED THE ENTIRE CRUCIFIXION PROCESS AT ANY TIME THAT HE DECIDED TO.
Aren't we glad that he didn't decide to. He can stop everything that goes on today or is ever going to go on, here on earth. That makes all of these arguments and all of this other stuff simply futile, doesn't it, now.
Another Viewpoint
March 11, 2008 - 14:53 ET by Gothampc"He can stop everything that goes on today or is ever going to go on, here on earth. "
Not really. When man was created, God gave him rulership over the Earth. Man disobeyed God and turned Earth over to Satan. Jesus came and gave authority back to man, but Satan still has dominion unless man uses his God-given authority to stop Satan's dominion.
Man also has been given a free will and God will not stop bad things unless specifically called upon to do so.
Sorry goth
March 11, 2008 - 15:23 ET by cvgbuckeyeSorry goth but I said "anytime he DECIDED to". Are you saying that there is something that God cannot do ?
Wrong!
Theology 101
March 11, 2008 - 15:42 ET by GothampcIt's not a question of what God cannot do. It's what He will not do.
Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
Man was given a free will and given dominion over the Earth. If God overrules man's dominion on Earth, then God becomes a liar.
Dominion on Earth only returns to God at the end of time when Jesus returns to rule. God can only affect change in Earth through those that are willing to do His will.
More From the BBC
March 11, 2008 - 14:55 ET by GothampcWhite Girl realizes Islam isn't so bad. (I can't believe they actually have the nerve to call it White Girl).
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=29222_BBC_Propaganda_Reaches_New_Depths&only
/I knew I saw that chick
March 11, 2008 - 16:42 ET by Roger the Shrubber/I knew I saw that chick somewhere. It was here!
Help me Dr. Zaius!
LOL
March 11, 2008 - 17:47 ET by GothampcLOL. I think that picture you linked to is a man.