Row over BBC drama which shows Jesus crucified in a foetal position

[Rrose Selavy]

Yes, it's the annual "easter gets an update for drama" outrage.


The BBC is facing accusations of rewriting the Easter story by claiming Christ was nailed to the cross in a foetal position.
The corporation is accused of "misleading" the public by ditching the traditional image of Jesus with arms outstretched, legs straight and hands nailed.
Makers of lavish new drama The Passion, which started last night, say they are challenging this image, because new historical evidence shows he probably did not die this way.


Oh the irony of these quotes..

Speaking about the crucifixion row, Reverend George Curry, chairman of the Church Society, said: "They are misleading people by distorting the facts.



"We should be true to history and the events that occurred."



http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23456466-details/Row+over+BBC+drama+which+shows+Jesus+crucified+in+ a+foetal+position/article.do

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[Darat]

Watched about 30 minutes of it last night - looked quite nice, but the plot was so predictable.

[Undesired Walrus]

James Nesbitt as an Irish Pontius Pilate wasn't somewhat more of a historical cock-up?

[AgeGap]

From the link above
evidence in the Bible:wide-eyed

[Rrose Selavy]

I didn't see the tv drama, but If I remember correctly, I was once told by a teacher at my UK Catholic primary (junior) school, not renowned for revisionism, that Pilate, himself was later crucified, possibly after some kind of conversion. Wiki mentions a belief that he killed himself.

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[Big Les]

May I take this opportunity to wish everybody a very merry Zombie Jesus Day for Monday!

[fuelair]

You may!!

[-Fran-]

If I remember correctly (and I often don't :o) I have seen Jesus being crucified in this way (and completely nude too, sans the classic diaper, I think) in at least two films:

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095497/
The scene is on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcBWZ2VhxxM

and Jesus of Montreal (1989)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097635/

So I guess it's not a new thing to nail him up that way in popular culture :)

ETA:
Though in the case of The Last Temptation of Christ I think that film might have been considered provocative in so many ways, by some Christian groups, that they might not have noticed "how he was hung" ;)

[bellonax]

James Nesbitt as an Irish Pontius Pilate wasn't somewhat more of a historical cock-up?

Grr! Why do people keep casting that man?? He never ever does any accent other than Irish no matter what character he's playing, no matter where they're from.

However, I nearly did watch the program just because Ben Daniel was playing Caiphus (sp?). Mmmm...

[Nogbad]

If I remember correctly (and I often don't :o) I have seen Jesus being crucified in this way (and completely nude too, sans the classic diaper, I think) in at least two films:

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095497/
The scene is on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcBWZ2VhxxM

and Jesus of Montreal (1989)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097635/

So I guess it's not a new thing to nail him up that way in popular culture :)

ETA:
Though in the case of The Last Temptation of Christ I think that film might have been considered provocative in so many ways, by some Christian groups, that they might not have noticed "how he was hung" ;)

Last Temptation was a really good film. Since then I think a number of Christian Groups realise they rather shot themselves in the foot over that one. As usual protests were undertaken without actually seeing the thing - Twonks!

[-Fran-]

Last Temptation was a really good film. Since then I think a number of Christian Groups realise they rather shot themselves in the foot over that one. As usual protests were undertaken without actually seeing the thing - Twonks!

Yeah, haven't we seen that many times? I guess the way some of these groups thinks :confused: they actually CAN'T watch these sinful things to form their own opinion, since someone of authority to them has said it is indeed a sinful piece of work, they just have to trust them on that one, not to risk taking part in the sin by watching/reading/listening... ?

[Bikewer]

When Gibson's film came out, there were a bunch of historians commenting on the thing's putative "historical accuracy".
It was pointed out that the Romans were quite fond of "inventive" crucifixions, often displaying the condemned in various odd postures. They had a quote from some prelate or other complaining of the lack of wood needed to carry out the many crucifixions they were doing....

[Egg]

Last Temptation was a really good film. Since then I think a number of Christian Groups realise they rather shot themselves in the foot over that one. As usual protests were undertaken without actually seeing the thing - Twonks!

I quite liked Last Temptation, although it's not hard to see why some groups were offended by it. The thing I didn't get is why they thought making a fuss was the best thing to do about it. If nobody had protested, the chances are it would have been a kind of art cinema flop that few people had ever heard of.

Kind of like some of the Muslim leaders with Satanic Verses. Would any of us have ever even heard of Salman Rushdie without the fatwa?

[Professor Yaffle]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Mmge8nfsyg

[-Fran-]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Mmge8nfsyg

Ha ha, yes :D


And I love that show :)