For nearly two thousand years, many Christians held the Jewish people responsible for the death of Jesus, a libel that led to persecution, inquisitions and pogroms. While Christian-Jewish relations have warmed considerably over the past 50 years, Jewish leaders are concerned that Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ, an upcoming film about Jesus’ last days, may reopen old wounds. Although Gibson claims he made his film with the best of intentions, his membership in an ultra- Catholic sect that rejects the teachings of Vatican II—the Catholic council that absolved Jews of blame for Jesus’ death—has caused concern over the film’s message.

Will the film be the greatest setback for Christian-Jewish relations in fifty years? What is its potential application against Jews in Europe and against the State of Israel? Dr. Cook will offer instructive comments for how we might approach the movie and how we should understand the potential ramifications of this film for the next decade, particularly in terms of the escalation of a new kind of anti-Semitism worldwide.