The Passion Conspiracy

Sample From the Print Edition

Foreword with a Jewish Rabbi’s Perspective

There has been a great deal of both enthusiasm and consternation in the Christian and Jewish communities as a result of Mel Gibson’s blockbuster film, The Passion of The Christ.  Christians hail the movie as a grand epic expressing the suffering of Jesus because of, and, on behalf of, all humanity.  Jews, on the other hand, fear that this powerful film will lead to an upswing in virulent anti–Semitism.  This has been the result of other Passion dramas presented by Christians for many centuries. And, on a very positive side, Christians and Jews of good will have been seeking a meaningful dialogue about the film, the actual events, and their interpretations.  These are at the very core of Christian–Jewish relations.  But there is a serious problem in obtaining this important dialogue.

JEWS AND CHRISTIANS DO NOT SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE.

Jews have no frame of reference to understand the seminal event which is the Passion.  Truly, without the Passion, there would be no Christianity.  While there have been major events within Jewish history, there is nothing that defines Judaism’s very existence as the Passion does for Christianity.

Likewise, the overwhelming majority of Christians have never suffered a genocide comparable to World Jewry.  They have never experienced repercussions or fear at Easter after passionate sermons incited the faithful to murder Jews because they “killed Christ.”  They can watch The Passion of The Christ without noting the similarities with Nazi–era propaganda, and without thinking, “Sure, they are beating up on the Jewish kid, a lesson they have learned very well.” How do we bridge this language gap?

Dr. Randy Weiss’ The Passion Conspiracy is required reading for those who truly wish to span that gap.  From his unique perspective, Dr. Weiss is able to explain the Passion so that both Jews and Christians can appreciate its importance.  And with his keen historical perspective, Dr. Weiss can open the all–too–often blind eye that has allowed Christian anti–Semitism to run rampant for centuries.

Rabbi Stanley Halpern, Temple Israel

Foreword with a Christian Leader’s Perspective

It is astonishing that a modern film made in two dead languages about the execution of an obscure religious teacher from two thousand year ago in a remote corner of the Roman Empire should cause such world–wide emotional reaction (both pro and con). By any reasonable standard, the story should be buried in the sands of history. Instead, it is so well known the movie can start at the end without explaining the beginning.

Who was this man?  Opinion is divided.  But were it not for this man, we should know little about the daily drama of life in an ancient Roman province. Were it not for this man, we should know little about old Jewish sects. Were it not for this man, numberless acts of bloody savagery would not have taken place across the centuries, nor would numberless acts of unselfish love and sacrifice been experienced. How can one man have generated such energy?  How can one man have generated such dedication?  It depends on whom he is seen to be.

This man and his nation are the flash–point of modern international politics and policies. He is a figure of contention from China where his spiritual followers are tortured and suppressed to the Middle East where his ethnic people are threatened with annihilation while the United Nations Security Council winks in assent. The strangest phenomenon of all, his spiritual followers and his ethnic people are often bitterly divided about his identity and each other’s agendas.

In this book, a man, who is not only a spiritual follower of this teacher but also a member of his race, shares his thoughts and feelings from both sides of the “divide” at one and the same time. This presents a rare chance for Christians, Jews, and Secularists to gain some insight and understanding of each other and the issue of the Passion of the Christ.

John Cathcart, President, World Missionary Evangelism