Alana Stoehr
Jesus and Judaism
Dr Jason von Ehrenkrook
16 April 2014
The Star of the Show
Jesus Christ Superstar, while meant to be strictly musical entertainment, has stirred up much controversy for various subtle and blatant attacks at the Jews. The film’s focus on the final week of Jesus’ life emphasizes the role of the Jews in his ultimate crucifixion and fails to portray the positive effects Judaism had on Jesus during his initial preaching. The film portrays the Jews responsibility for Jesus’ crucifixion and the Jewish priests’ manipulation of Judas into turning Jesus into them. Though the title suggests that Jesus is the superstar, the film suggests otherwise, that it is the Jews who are the true star of the show.
Jesus Christ Superstar began as a rock opera concept album in 1970, a year before its Broadway debut. Barry Dennan, the voice of Pontius Pilate on the original album pitched the film concept to Norman Jewison while filming Fiddler on the Roof, another religious musical film that first began as a musical on Broadway. Jewison agreed to direct after hearing the album. The cast consists of various characters who performed in the Broadway version, Ted Neeley ultimately chosen to play Jesus, Carl Anderson, who understudied the role of Judas, played Judas in the film in addition to the original actors who played Mary Magdalene and Caiaphas on the concept album continuing their roles in the film. The film ultimately grossed $24.5 million domestically.
The film begins by setting the scene as a group of performers exits a bus and begins to assemble their stage. From the initial scene, the film establishes a tone analogous to the time of production, the 1970’s hippie culture. As the plot begins, Judas is clearly distraug...
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... most controversial aspects of the film is the casting of Carl Anderson, an African-American, as Judas, the betrayer of Jesus. It is no coincidence. Perhaps Jewison and his casting agency chose Anderson as a means of publicity. No discredit to the man’s incredible talent, however, Judas, in addition to the Jews, is the character most hated in this Jesus story and the film just so happens to be produced just a few years after the end of the Civil Rights Movement, a time when race was a topic of controversy and conversation. In no way do I disagree with the opportunity to cast such a talented man, however, I believe Anderson was deliberately chosen to play Judas in order to stir up more controversy and consequently, the film was talked about much more.
Ultimately, Jesus Christ Superstar is just another Jesus film. Unique to its rock-opera genre, it is an attempt to
achieving his goal of placing doubt into the minds of the religious. Making this a poorly-argued film due
Belief in the eventual coming of the moshiach is a basic and fundamental part of traditional Judaism. It is part of Rambam's 13 Principles of Faith, the minimum requirements of Jewish belief. In the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, recited three times daily, we pray for all of the elements of the coming of the moshiach: ingathering of the exiles; restoration of the religious courts of justice; an end of wickedness, sin and heresy; reward to the righteous; rebuilding of Jerusalem; restoration of the line of King David; and restoration of Temple service.
Christianity and Judaism are major world religions which, though they worship the same God, have marked differences which have caused two thousand years of strife and animosity between the two religions. In his book We Jews and Jesus, Samuel Sandmel likens the link between Judaism and Christianity to a type of parent-child relationship, saying, “Early Christianity was a Judaism; within a century after the death of Jesus it was a separate religion. It was critical of its parent, and hostile to it, and elicited from its parent reciprocal criticism and hostility.”1 Opposing views of Jesus Christ caused the initial rift between Judaism and Christianity and is the primary source of the tension between the two religions which has continued for the last two millennia. Therefore, in order to understand how Judaism and Christianity relate to one another, it is essential to understand the way Jesus is perceived in each religion. The way that Christians view Jesus is quite well known, but Judaism’s view of him is much lesser known, so it is important to explore Judaism’s perceptions of Jesus, beginning with New Testament times, and to examine the ways in which these feelings and opinions have changed over time.
...ude the controversial issues about Jesus. Andreas seemed to have been on the border line with following Jesus and believing he was some guy that was telling lies around the cities. It’s not until Jesus is up for execution when he becomes a follower of Christ. Once Andreas returns, he learns that Barabbas and two zealots were arrested. Barabbas is Andreas’ friend, so he decides to propose ways of rebellion to the Romans. Pilate decides to have a meeting with Andreas about his proposal leads. Pilate manipulates Andreas’s proposal by giving the people of Jerusalem the decision which criminal to keep from execution: Barabbas or Jesus. In the end the people chose Barabbas which meant Jesus, including two other criminals, was sent to be crucified. The story concludes with Andreas recognizing Jesus’ power after so many of the people in his life have been changed by Jesus.
In my opinion it is about time that someone made a decent film about Christ and showed how brutally tragic his death actually was. Gibson's goal was simply to tell us how it was while entertaining us at the same time. He succeeded immensely.
"The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson, recounts the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, portraying his arrest, trial, crucifixion and death. One of the most popular religious movies in modern times, it therefore becomes susceptible to criticism. Although the film is based upon the stories within the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there are many exaggerations and non-biblical elements present in the movie. This is not unexpected, since it is a movie, but the vivid detail of the brutality in the movie as well as the Anti-Semitic theme are the most publicly criticized elements of the movie. The Passion emphasizes the brutality Jesus endured to give himself for his people, but at the same time in the movie the Jews are the ones that cry for his death. During several scenes of The Passion of the Christ, there are elements such as characters, themes, and motifs that are not found within the gospels, but are in the movie to add more dramatic elements.
The most obvious Biblical references of this film are that of the five main characters; Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, Cypher and Agent Smith. These characters are intended to represent the roles of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Judas Iscariot and Pontius Pilate respectively. All of these biblical characters had major roles in the biblical story of Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity. The Wachowski brothers have done excel...
People are in search of understanding life and the happenings that surround them. When things go wrong, people turn to God for hope and understanding. As we look at the Jewish and the Christian faiths, both of which trace their origins back past Abraham and Moses, to the original stories of the Garden of Eden, we notice basic similarities and major differences between the two religions. The three main differences between Jewish and Christianity is the concept of God, judgment, and salvation. The most eminent difference between both religions is the concept of God. Christianity believes that God is trinity which means three persons in one the father, the son and the holy spirit. However Judaism sees God as a single entity, and viewsTrinitarianism as a violation of the Bible's teaching that ...
Both Christianity and Judaism are religions that have some relationship between them as much as they also have differences. Judaism and Christianity developed on the basis obeying God, on adherence to his rules and fulfillment of God’s will is a duty of a Jewish or Christian person, both religions fall into the rule deontological category.
Judaism is one of the most ancient religions in the world. Abraham, his descendants, and Moses are believed to have been the founders. According to Jewish beliefs until Abraham man worshiped many Gods. The story begins with Abraham and his wife Sarah trying to conceive a child. When Abraham was 99 and Sarah 90 God came to Abraham and told him they would have a son. After the child was born God again came to Abraham and tested his beliefs by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Isaac willingly went with Abraham to be sacrificed. Before Abraham could sacrifice Isaac God sent an angel down to stop him. As a reward for his faith God made a covenant with Abraham that he and his descendants would be protected as long as they continued to show faith in him and live a life that was wholesome. Also from this it is said God blessed Abraham with many children. His son Isaac had two sons Jacob and Esau, Jacob who changes his name to Israel had twelve sons. Israel’s had twelve sons they are the “12 tribes of Israel” and their descendants are later known as the Israelites also called Hebrews.
...ds to film, the religious stories surrounding the scenario are more than likely far less exciting and more straightforward than what is portrayed. The depiction of Christianity in a melodramatic fashion aims to keep people interested but it is not taken into consideration that the events that had taken place in Christian texts such as the bible could be equally interesting and exciting if they are depicted accurately within the story being narrated. Movies are over eager when they get a religious topic to work with and place it unnecessarily over the top, so that the religious undertones and lessons are almost lost and to get them, one must pay extremely close attention.
There are many similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity. Some of these are their religious beliefs, Jesus, heaven and hell, original sin, the trinity. This therefore leads the two religions to follow different paths of worship even if they worship the same god.
The movie, Jesus of Nazareth, showed the Paschal Mystery in a secular and spiritual way, that everyone could understand. It went into great depth on almost every topic in the Gospels and historically with people like Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas. The Paschal Mystery is a very important to the Catholic religion as it is what differentiates us from other religions, especially Judaism. The fact that God joined us in human form, in the Incarnation, is amazing and shows the character of God, that He is loving and forgiving. Although the death of Jesus was horrible, it gave us our salvation and saved us from sin.
God reveals himself to the tribe of Judah through Jesus, although they reject him. The movie ultimately shows God’s plan for restoring his relationship with mankind, through the sacrifice of his son Jesus. The greatest personal insight gained from the movie was the political and spiritual battle with the religious establishment and the blindness of the Jewish culture that lead to the rejection of their symbolic spiritual Passover.
Most Christians will agree that their main three purposes in life are to serve, know and love God. After watching Jesus of Nazareth, I felt I had accomplished them all. It was the year of 1977; I was only six years old and at home with my mother when Jesus of Nazareth movie first broadcasted. My mom insisted that we watch this movie with her. It was directed by Franco Zeffirelli. The main cast of this series was led by a British actor, Robert Powell, who portrayed the role of Jesus. Due to the fact, that I was only a child at the time, I didn’t really understand what this movie was all about. Approximately, six years ago, it aired again on the History Channel and I watched it with my church family. Jesus of Nazareth embellished the birth,