Was Judas an anti-semitic creation?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
No way buddy. My elevator's going to the top floor.

I think we established some time ago that your elevator doesn't quite make it up to the top.

[SlowwHand]

Boris. I thought I was on ignore.
So, you're both insulting, and a liar.

Thank you. Thank you veri much.

[Boris Godunov]

You were. So I'm just insulting.

[SlowwHand]

Dang, Boris. What happened ?
Someone sneak some truth serum into your banana ?

[Boris Godunov]

I don't like having anyone on ignore, no matter what utter morons they may be. I then miss the chance to make caustic insults at them.

[monolith94]

better yet is the theory that Judas is a crazy disco dude, as shown in the wonderful and theologically taut "Jesus Christ Superstar" movie.

[SlowwHand]

For it's time, that was excellent.

[Boris Godunov]

I actually find the JCS depiction compelling. Judas and Jesus were partners in a group of social reformers seeking to alleviate the downtrodden and fight for the most ignored elements of society. However, Jesus begins acting more and more eccentric, and is then prone to being lavishly treated (having his feet bathed with expensive oils and the like). Judas becomes more and more disillusioned with Jesus, who is starting to seem like an egomaniac.

Finally, when Jesus starts implying the Messiah, it attracts the scorn of the Temple leaders, which is the last straw for Judas. He believes Jesus has gone mad and is undermining their movement, jeopardizing their lives and everything in which they originally believed. So he makes a deal with the priests that he will betray Jesus to them for a guarantee that they won't clamp down on the movement or harm Jesus.

Of course, after the deal is done, the priests are revealed to have been two-faced and demand the Roman authority kill him to keep the peace. Judas, enraged and despondent that he has been tricked into giving up his best friend to be killed, commits suicide.

Hey, it's a good yarn. Operatic, indeed!

[Boris Godunov]

I will say, however, that the JCS movie was complete crapola compared to the stage show, which is far, far superior. The movie completely flubbed the key scenes, such as Herod's Song and the Garden of Gethsemane (sp?)

[monolith94]

But you have to give them credit for putting Judas in a disco suit and giving him cha cha dancers.

Seriously though, I must agree with you that the stage version is superior - my local theatre put on a STUPENDOUS program with an amazing minimalist set, a rock and roll band to do sound, and the actors were phenomenal.

[SlowwHand]

And when as this? Later than, say, 30+ years ago?
I wasn't going to waste time on Boris, but...

[monolith94]

Ummm, sloww, the event occured 2,000 years ago. Silly!

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by monolith94
Ummm, sloww, the event occured 2,000 years ago. Silly!

When you're as old as Sloww, the years do tend to blend together.