Abstract

The paper places the controversy over Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ into an analysis of the present day “culture war” taking place between progressives and traditionalists within American society and the Catholic Church of the United States. Incorporated into the analysis are such topics, among others, as anti-Semitism and anti-Christianity, the nature of the Christian message, excessive violence, reactions to viewing the film, the historical accuracy of the Gospels, censorship and blackballing, the use of double-standards, the secular dominance of Hollywood and the public square, impact on Jewish-Christian relations, and cultural and political consequences.