Cartoon courtesy of South Park
In 2004, actor Mel Gibson directed, co-wrote and co-produced the blockbuster religious film, The Passion of the Christ. Instantly he became a religious figure and a hero in many religious circles. In 2006, Gibson was arrested for a DUI and had a vocal exchange with the arresting officer which was briefly scandalized in the media. Now Gibson faces another round of unwanted media attention. How does this reflect on his religious status?
When The Passion of the Christ was released, some Jewish groups claimed that the film represented an anti-Semitic interpretation of the Gospel. While this became a heavily debated issue, it appeared to have little to no affect on the box office totals. But during Gibson’s 2006 DUI, his drunken rant about how the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world was viewed as supporting evidence for the anti-Semitism in his film. Still many religious people were able to ignore it and continue to treat Gibson almost like a prophet from God.
But now Radar Online is releasing tape after tape of Mel Gibson’s angry rants, racial slurs, women bashing, homophobia, and crude language. There are also reports that he may have assaulted his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva. Radar Online has been releasing new tapes and photos on a daily basis and this scandal continues to get worse and worse for Mel Gibson.
Since the release of Gibson’s Passion film, he has built himself up as holier than thou religious figure. Many religious people jumped to his defense in 2006, will they continue to defend him in light on this latest round of scandals?
If a prominent member of the atheist community was involved in a scandal like this, there is little doubt people would be blaming it on his or her lack of belief in a God. Just imagine this was Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens. in light of that, is it fair to hold Christianity responsible for Mel Gibson’s actions?
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Comments
Mel Gibson is just an embarrassment to the human race ...
If he really was religious he`d follow the ten commandments .
You know love thy neighbor love thine enemy ,etc etc .
Umm, those aren't the Ten Commandments. Don't work on Saturdays, that's a commandment.
Madonna embarasses me, because, I, too, am a woman. Obama embarasses me, because, I too, am an American. The Tea Party embarasses me, because, I too, am a conservative. Mel? Well, I, too, am religious, but, last I checked so is everyone else. Since "relgion" means "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith," everyone is. Is he embarassing? Not particularly. We're not in the same religion (he's male, American, and possibly liberal.)
Frankly, if I duck for cover everytime someone else embarasses me for something they did, I'd have to live under cover for life.
Also, Mel has one other thing in common with me - he's human. I've been that angry for other reasons. I'm just fortunate not to be famous and not to have anyone tape me. The stupidity of this is that just about everyone knows what we say when we're angry. And yet, there's Mel being the scapegoat, because he got caught on tape? Rather ridiculous. He's got worse faults.
Just par for the course for holier than thous. You've seen one, you've seen them all. There goal is not to live a holy life, it is to make you live a holy life, so that they have control over something, as they clearly have no control over themselves.
The man has many demons.
Mel is a representation of religion. Religion is a man-made entity. Mel Gibson is a broken man. Religion is broken spirituality. That is all.
I don't think Mel is an embarrassment to religion. He's just proof that it's claims to be a transformative power aren't 100% true... unless, of course, his religion wants to claim that the vituperative, out-of-control Mel we see is what they wanted him transformed into.
;)
Mel's action are symbolic of what happens when you do not follow the teachings of the scripture.
Réne, that's certainly an interesting claim. What teaching of "the scripture" did Mel not follow exactly? The part that says slavery is okay? Maybe the part where Lot "gave" his daughters to the mob? What am I missing?
Mel Gibson, is an embarrassment and reflects badly upon himself but not religion. He is not in a leadership position in his church, he is not a person who determines what is doctrine, and he does not declare what is and what is not sin. I do not think you can state anything concerning religion based on Mel Gibson's action except to say that he is a sinner.
Xianity is a living fossil
where are the polls? the links at the end of the article don't lead to them.
Gerry, the polls are at the bottom of the article. You don't need to click any links. If you don't see them, then I don't know what to tell you. They are there.
Sounds like the ravings of someone with a drug or alcohol problem, really. His religious leanings don't really matter, though it does go to prove that being religious doesn't necessarily mean you can't also be a douchbag.
Religion is an embarrassment to itself.
The first poll is missing the correct alternative:
No, he's not an embarrassment. His views are a very accurate reflection of his religion and are a reasonably accurate reflection of the religion of a whole lot of people who don't necessarily belong to his particular splinter sect of Catholicism.
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