Why do the Jehovah's Witnesses not like Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ" ?

Question

One day a while ago at my work I was with some co-workers who are Jehovah's Witnesses and the subject of Mel Gibson's "Passion" movie came up, and all the JW's went on about how it was just another thing in pop culture that was sinful, basically their tone about the whole thing was that they didn't like it and that it was a bad thing in regards to their religion. I didn't want to ask them directly why they felt the way they did because I didn't want to take the chance of offending them.

In regards to what "achtung_heiss" wrote :

I think you are a little more than out of line calling me prejudice. Just because I don't subscribe to your religion and its policies does not make me a murderer, a voter, a blood transfuser, a racist, or a prejudice person.

I've read some of your other answers and you make it flawless-diamond-clear that you mentally place yourself above anyone outside of your religion. That's called "arrogance". Even your Christ had quite a different vision but realistically you don't seem to pay much attention to him either.

The other Jehovah's Witnesses who gave their feedback said that they do not view R rated films, which puts Mel Gibson's "Passion" under this category. I did not say "the PG version" of the movie in the title or description of my question, so everyone assumed I was talking about the R rated theatrical release.

(continued)
Because the Jehovah's Witnesses have made it a rule that they do not view R rated films then that would imply that they do not particularly like R rated films in the same way that they do not like Halloween. I think it's safe to say you didn't dress up in a costume or hand out candy this year right?

I think you would have seriously reconsidered calling me prejudice if I was someone who attends your kingdom hall or knocks on other peoples' doors at random.

Every being in the universe knows right from wrong. If you need your bible and your Christ to tell you what to do and what not to do then I think you should reconsider the idea of you inheriting the planet or becoming one of the 144,000.

Answer 1

-- IF FROM THE FEW you were talking about , that maybe saw it or saw part of it and did not like the presentation that might be one thing.
-- But that does not necessarily mean other witnesses did not see it with some appreaciation!

--MY WIFE & I choose not too because of the graphic presentation that was reported on and the previews we saw. The agony of the Christ bothers us and we choose not see the sensitive scenes concerning his death, which seemed to dominate the movie, in the previews!

--We have seen other presentations and usually most of them , misrepresent how the Bible portrays his last few days, which affects us enough, emotionally!

--AS FAR as our religion is concerned, there are very few movies that we are specifically warned about(or possibly judged about viewing) , although we usually do not frequent R rated, We are cautioned about R rated ones concerning explicit nudity, soft porn and anything that might bother our reasonbly trained christian conscience!

--ESPECIALLY TOO movies that have spiritism presented in graphic forms such as the first Exorcist(which hearing about was enough for us to decide not to see, with people throwing up & fainting from the horror) and of course the presentations have gotten worse in gore, sadism,sex & extreme violence!

--My wife who was a program manager for Carneige Mellon University and was asked by the students from India, (in view of the PASSION)why such a good man suffered so much as it was graphically presented--it disturbed them!

--BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES such as the following we try to use as our plumb line:

(Philippians 4:8-9) “. . .Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things. 9 The things that YOU learned as well as accepted and heard and saw in connection with me, practice these; and the God of peace will be with you.”

--SUCH QUALITIES we try to determine in what we view, read, hear etc. in a reasonable way, as the Bible indeed encourages:

(Philippians 4:5) “. . .Let YOUR reasonableness become known to all men. The Lord is near. . .”

Answer 2

There are about seven million active Jehovah's Witnesses, and another ten million who associate themselves with the Witnesses. The questioner extends an anecdote concerning 3? 4? 5? individuals who reportedly identify themselves as Witnesses and so he assumes that extends to all seventeen million?

That's called "prejudice".

Many or most Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States tend to avoid Rated "R" films in general. Of course, "Passion of the Christ" was later released in a "PG" version on DVD.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050508/

Answer 3

I saw and liked it, though I did not care for the subtitles and not using English. I assume this was done for people who can't understand English wasn't used back then.

It was fairly accurate. Many objected to the violence. This was what happened. Some questioners here do not see Jesus as doing anything special for what he got in return. Seeing this movie brings that into perspective. That was a lot of pain. I don't remember Jesus' prayer scene just before his arrest when he prayed at least 3 times to God for loopholes. Above all though, was his desire to bring honor to God's name, so he continued on his course. For me, this was the defining moment of my respect for him. Only a nut would be overjoyed at this. "Oh goody! Let's get on with the torture! Can I hold the nails for you? YEH!!!!"

He understood something bigger than himself was involved that only he could do. Saving the human race and proving Satan a liar to the universe is a tall order.

As one of JWs, we all know what happened. Most do not need to see it or the defects in the movie. I happen to like movies and saw it on DVD.

Answer 4

I will let you in on a big Y!A secret. If you want to know why one or a few people that you know feel a certain way, you should ask them directly.

I personally am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have never seen the movie. As I understand it it is incredibly violent. As a rule I don't watch R rated stuff.

Answer 5

Apart from the common misconceptions about Jesus and the way he died, the movie was just another excuse to make a VIOLENT movie!!

Psalms 11:5- Jehovah himself examines the righteous one
as well as the wicked one, and anyone loving
violence His soul certainly hates.

Answer 6

I can't speak for the JW's or some of the other individuals who answered this question but I thought it was a fantastic movie showing the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made on our behalf.

Answer 7

Most Jehovah's Witnesses have never seen that movie because it is rated "R".

And we are admonished not to view rated "R" films at all.

Answer 8

Probably because they think Jesus is a god and not a THE LIVING GOD and he died on a stake not a cross in there religion.

Answer 9

The JW do not believe Jesus AS God. He was "just a god."

Offend them. Ask them. Go right to the root.

Answer 10

because the movie sucks?

seriously, religion aside, it is one of the worst movies i have ever seen. violent AND boring, which is not wasy to do.