# "How many millions are you going to make off the crucifixion of Christ?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 23, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718 "2004-02-23T18:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BlackPheonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BlackPheonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackPheonix)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/21 "2004-02-23T21:34:10Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > There’s another big movie coming out soon based on the _Iliad_. I’m sure that profit is the motive. I see nothing wrong with exploiting the entertainment value of ancient mythology for $$$. > > I would actually have more respect for a pure profit motive than I would for Gibson’s apparent motive of abject proselytization. Gibson’s “message” in his movie is the same trite pitch for Christianity that we’ve all heard a million times before. > > A lot of Christians will go to wallow in cheap sentiment. Non-Christians will go out of curiosity, and they may even enjoy it as entertainment but it’s not going to contain any more persuasive information than they’ve already heard so it isn’t going to turn them into Christians. Gibson will make his money back but he will not have converted anyone so his primary motive of evangelism, which I believe is sincere if not particularly admirable, will basically fail. The end result is that he will make money (I think the film will be a huge hit) and he will keep that money for himself. I also don’t think that’s any more wrong than profiting from the death of Achilles in the _Troy_ movie. > > Even if you want to talk about real history as opposed to mythology, movies have been made about all kinds of real life violence. Is it any worse to profit from the Passion myth than from the evry real holocaust? I don’t think so. It will undoubtedly convert some people to christianity and probably tip people who were on the edge. I know people who’ve seen the screener and it is a very powerful movie; never underestimate the effect media can have on us. You’re assuming its a myth which is a very foolish mistake. Myself being agnostic of sorts can relate to your stance, but that doesn’t mean you should block out everything. Without a doubt there was a guy named Jesus who was crucified. He’s hardly the first person to be crucified and, from a purely atheistic pov, its not so far out that an extremely charismatic born-leader of his time would be crucified (especially by pissing off the locals AND romans). I think it would be “wrong” for him to do this with the intent of making money, which it seems he isn’t. What he does with any profit is up to his own moral judgement. According to this the Illiad may be more history than myth: [http://www.1jma.dk/articles/1jmaarticleancienttroy.htm](http://www.1jma.dk/articles/1jmaarticleancienttroy.htm) ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/22 "2004-02-23T21:47:18Z")
> [@James Madison](#): > > If so, then Paul, Peter, and the rest of the apostles which traveled abroad were wrong for taking monetary aids from their audience but biblically I do not think this is a tenable conclusion to reach at all, and so I do not think there is any “wrong” in what Mel Gibson is doing. Ah, but when does reimbursement for expenses end and wealth and luxury begin? Jesus walked. He rode a donkey once, per the book. He took contributions, but more or less just enough to survive. Paul, IIRC, worked as a traveling tent repairman. What would we think if these folks were dripping in gold, be carried in divans, etc.? If modern-day missionaries drove around in limos? (Not that I see Gibson living a particularly ostentatious life, for all that he is one of the world’s biggest movie stars.) I’m not saying that Gibson is moneygrubbing or anything like it. All I’m saying is, if I were in his position, a religious man who worshipped a God who spent His life living in poverty and administering to the poor, that I would find myself with some difficult choices to make should any big money come rolling in from a movie about said Savior’s death and resurrection. Maybe this would do better as an IMHO poll. If you were Mel Gibson, and _Passion_ brought in millions, what would YOU do with the money? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/23 "2004-02-23T21:57:06Z")
> [@James Madison](#): > > Well, you must be omniscient! How fortunate for the rest of us! To state and assert as an unequiovcal “fact” not one non-believer will become a Christian as a result of viewing this film is quite a claim! What crystal ball did you look into? I was more sweeping and dismissive than “unequivocal,” but I see no reason to believe that a movie which contains no new information about Jesus would be especially persuasive to non-believers. One reason I say this is because the movie is already assumes that Jesus is a divine savior without making any particular logical argument in that regard. Gibson’s tactic is to focus on the horror of Roman torture and crucifixion to elicit sympathy for his protagonist. This may indeed be _moving_ but the fact that Jesus suffered doesn’t prove that he was a God or that his death had any more signifance than the thousands of other people who were tortured and crucified. Gibson is preaching to the choir with this movie. If you don’t think Jesus was God, then Gibson gives you no reason to think that he was and no reason to convert. There is no real _argument_ in Gibson’s film, only a plea to sympathy. It doesn’t seem like he’s really trying that hard to make converts. It seems to me that this kind of thing only works on a spiritual level if you already believe it to begin with. Now that I think of it, I’m not sure that Gibson really is trying to win converts so much as he’s just indulging in some self-indulgent witnessing. Either way, I don’t care if he profits from it. > [@BlackPhoenix](#): > > You’re assuming its a myth which is a very foolish mistake. Myself being agnostic of sorts can relate to your stance, but that doesn’t mean you should block out everything. Without a doubt there was a guy named Jesus who was crucified. He’s hardly the first person to be crucified and, from a purely atheistic pov, its not so far out that an extremely charismatic born-leader of his time would be crucified (especially by pissing off the locals AND romans). “Myth” is a designation of genre, not a judgement on historicity. It’s not “without a doubt” that Jesus was real, but the circumstancial evidence is very strong. I think there was a guy named Jeshua who was crucified by the Romans, but there’s nothing particularly significant about a Jew being crucified by the Romans. It’s the stuff about Jesus being God, or dying “for our sins,” and the resurrection that turns it into myth. Even if it were true it would still be myth. ---
**Author:** ![BlackPheonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BlackPheonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackPheonix)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/24 "2004-02-23T22:09:27Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > Ah, but when does reimbursement for expenses end and wealth and luxury begin? Jesus walked. He rode a donkey once, per the book. He took contributions, but more or less just enough to survive. Paul, IIRC, worked as a traveling tent repairman. What would we think if these folks were dripping in gold, be carried in divans, etc.? If modern-day missionaries drove around in limos? (Not that I see Gibson living a particularly ostentatious life, for all that he is one of the world’s biggest movie stars.) > > I’m not saying that Gibson is moneygrubbing or anything like it. All I’m saying is, if I were in his position, a religious man who worshipped a God who spent His life living in poverty and administering to the poor, that I would find myself with some difficult choices to make should any big money come rolling in from a movie about said Savior’s death and resurrection. > > Maybe this would do better as an IMHO poll. If you were Mel Gibson, and _Passion_ brought in millions, what would YOU do with the money? I guess this depends what you’re doing. Mel doesn’t seem to be a preacher, missionary or the like. There isn’t anything wrong with being rich, there is with not helping people. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Madison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@James\_Madison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Madison)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/25 "2004-02-23T22:09:29Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > Ah, but when does reimbursement for expenses end and wealth and luxury begin? Jesus walked. He rode a donkey once, per the book. He took contributions, but more or less just enough to survive. Paul, IIRC, worked as a traveling tent repairman. What would we think if these folks were dripping in gold, be carried in divans, etc.? If modern-day missionaries drove around in limos? (Not that I see Gibson living a particularly ostentatious life, for all that he is one of the world’s biggest movie stars.) > > I’m not saying that Gibson is moneygrubbing or anything like it. All I’m saying is, if I were in his position, a religious man who worshipped a God who spent His life living in poverty and administering to the poor, that I would find myself with some difficult choices to make should any big money come rolling in from a movie about said Savior’s death and resurrection. > > Maybe this would do better as an IMHO poll. If you were Mel Gibson, and _Passion_ brought in millions, what would YOU do with the money? Well okay. I am supposing you are willing to accept the proposition that making some money is permissible. You are now wanting to focus on assuming there is a line to be crossed which may transform it from the realm of permissible to impermissible. I am not so certain, at least from a biblical perspective, that luxury is denounced. IIRC, luxury is denounced only when the individual loves the luxury more than his or her creator. “You cannot love both God and money,” Jesus proclaimed and is recorded in all four Gospels. I think luxury is permitted. Additionally, missionaries are rarely seen to live in a life of luxury for no other reason than they simply do not receive enough money. I think the Christian perspective, an incorrect one I might add and one with little biblical support, is to equate luxury or wealth with sin or attribute it as a “non-christian” trait. Or, similarly, to attribute the “role” with certain qualities not necessarily biblically rooted. Such as a “dirt poor missionary” which is not so biblically oriented as much as it is a result of the fact missionaries have a very low source of income. However, I fail to find anywhere in the bible where luxury and wealth is forbidden. Indeed King David and Soloman had enormous amounts of wealth. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/26 "2004-02-23T22:18:08Z")
First of all, no bedbug is crazier than Andy Rooney. He;s been off the deep end for years. Second, > [@](#): > > Now that I think of it, I’m not sure that Gibson really is trying to win converts My sense is that, whatever he originally intended to make the movie for, it’s become political, and that’s certainly what the movie’s boosters see it as. It isn’t to win coverts, it’s to rally the troops: make Christian energized and ready to fight against what both Mel and the movie’s boosters imply is a vast conspiracy of Christ hating secularism that doesn’t acknowledge what Jesus did for “us.” whatever it may have been, the movie is now being promoted as a huge PR tool, a weapon with which to stick it in the faces of the “others” that don’t get it or want to stand in the way. That’s why, whomever you consider “responsible” for Jesus’ death, the Jews are still a great target as the paradigmatic example of the people who just “don’t get it.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/27 "2004-02-23T22:22:25Z")
> [@James Madison](#): > > Well okay. I am supposing you are willing to accept the proposition that making some money is permissible. You are now wanting to focus on assuming there is a line to be crossed which may transform it from the realm of permissible to impermissible. I am not so certain, at least from a biblical perspective, that luxury is denounced. IIRC, luxury is denounced only when the individual loves the luxury more than his or her creator. “You cannot love both God and money,” Jesus proclaimed and is recorded in all four Gospels. I think luxury is permitted. Additionally, missionaries are rarely seen to live in a life of luxury for no other reason than they simply do not receive enough money. I think the Christian perspective, an incorrect one I might add and one with little biblical support, is to equate luxury or wealth with sin or attribute it as a “non-christian” trait. Or, similarly, to attribute the “role” with certain qualities not necessarily biblically rooted. Such as a “dirt poor missionary” which is not so biblically oriented as much as it is a result of the fact missionaries have a very low source of income. However, I fail to find anywhere in the bible where luxury and wealth is forbidden. Indeed King David and Soloman had enormous amounts of wealth. Jesus explicitly said that rich people can’t go to heaven (Matthew 19:24). He also told his disciples to travel only with the clothes on their backs to subsist only on the food and shelter of those who hosted them. He said you can’t “serve God and Mammon,” and he told at least one would be follower to “give all that you own to the poor.” Jesus had nothing good to say about rich people, don’t kid yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/28 "2004-02-23T22:27:38Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > Ah, but when does reimbursement for expenses end and wealth and luxury begin? Jesus walked. He rode a donkey once, per the book. He took contributions, but more or less just enough to survive. Even Jesus was not above the occasional luxury: [Matthew 26:7-11](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=matt.+26%3A7-11&x=11&y=13) > [@](#): > > \*While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. > > When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” > > Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. \* ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/29 "2004-02-23T22:34:51Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Even Jesus was not above the occasional luxury: > > [Matthew 26:7-11](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=matt.+26%3A7-11&x=11&y=13) Your example does not depict Jesus enjoying a “luxury,” but a ritual preparation for death. Corpses were annointed with Myrrh before burial. It was sort of the equivalent of putting a toe tag on him while he was still alive. It couldn’t have been very comforting. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/30 "2004-02-23T22:37:09Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Your example does not depict Jesus enjoying a “luxury,” but a ritual preparation for death. Corpses were annointed with Myrrh before burial. It was sort of the equivalent of putting a toe tag on him while he was still alive. It couldn’t have been very comforting. Even the poor? I doubt it. A morbid luxury, but a luxury nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/31 "2004-02-23T22:48:10Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Jesus explicitly said that rich people can’t go to heaven (Matthew 19:24). Not quite: > [@](#): > > Matt 19:24 > again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God I’m sure you don’t need to be eductated on what the “needle’s eye” actually means. Jesus’ teachings about wealth was more along the lines that it is a distraction from what really matters, not that it **prohibits** vitue. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/32 "2004-02-23T22:58:05Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Jesus explicitly said that rich people can’t go to heaven (Matthew 19:24). It was trying to show that being rich and having everything is a hinderer in the sense that the wealth/riches make us feel satisfied to the point that we do not feel like we need anyhting else (GOD) So, He did not say that a rich person can’t get to Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/33 "2004-02-23T23:17:27Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I’m sure you don’t need to be eductated on what the “needle’s eye” actually means. Jesus’ teachings about wealth was more along the lines that it is a distraction from what really matters, not that it **prohibits** vitue. I imagine you’re referring to the “Needle Gate” canard. It’s [bogus](http://www.biblicalhebrew.com/nt/camelneedle.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/34 "2004-02-23T23:21:07Z")
> [@JerseyDiamond](#): > > So, He did not say that a rich person can’t get to Heaven. L[uke 6:24-25](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=LUKE+6:23-25&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on) > [@](#): > > "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. > > "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. > > "Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. > > Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep." But you go ahead, keep searching for that loophole. I hear God is a sucker for a good sob story on Judgement Day. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/35 "2004-02-23T23:34:37Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > PURELY HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION: > Bob, a religious man, makes a movie about the life and times of Christ. He puts up his own money, expecting to basically go broke in his quest to spread the word of God. To his surprise, the movie is a big hit, and he suddenly finds himself receiving more than $20 million net profits, plus the likelihood that the movie will play on TV every Easter for the next 30 years. > > Is it OK for Bob to keep the money, buy a big fucking house, swimming pool, fast cars, etc.? Or should he feel obligated to give it all to the church/poor, in emulation of Christ? One thing is for certain; Bob can’t take it with him when he dies; Christian philosophy, at its core (by which I mean the gist of what Jesus said as described in the Bible, not anything else) does lean towards the idea of using it for the benefit of others; this might involve giving it away, but it might not - if Bob uses the money to set up his own (profit)business as a means of providing employment for homeless people, more net ‘good’ might be done than if he simply handed it out on the streets. Fast cars and swimming pools? Hmmm… I’ve heard a number of preachers talk to the effect that Christians should live in divine prosperity, but it always came across as a bit of an attempt to justify spending the collection plate money on their own comfort… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/36 "2004-02-23T23:37:24Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I imagine you’re referring to the “Needle Gate” canard. It’s [bogus](http://www.biblicalhebrew.com/nt/camelneedle.htm). I can’t get the link to open, but I’ll take your word for it. It’s not central to the argument, anyway\*. Certainly, the Gospels tell us that Jesus said it is very, very, very, very, very hard for the rich to get into heaven. There is nothing in any of the Gospels saying it is impossible for the rich to get into heaven. \*And since Jesus is God, surely He knew of the Quantum Tunneling effect. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/37 "2004-02-23T23:42:04Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > I can’t get the link to open, but I’ll take your word for it. It’s not central to the argument, anyway\*. Certainly, the Gospels tell us that Jesus said it is very, very, very, very, very hard for the rich to get into heaven. There is nothing in any of the Gospels saying it is impossible for the rich to get into heaven. > > \*And since Jesus is God, surely He knew of the Quantum Tunneling effect. 🙂 If we’re talking about a real live camel and a normal needle with a normal sized eye, would you say that it is _actually impossible_ for the one to pass through the other, or merely very, very, very, very, very hard? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/38 "2004-02-23T23:49:24Z")
I’d just like to break in and acknowledge a historical event. I think the world is about to end. At the very least, hell has frozen over: I _agree_ with **Diogenes**. It makes my head hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/39 "2004-02-24T00:14:15Z")
And I think **Diogenes** doesn’t usually take the Bible quite so literally. Besides, what does “rich” mean? For much of the world, it means that you have running water and a system of waste disposal. You know that you won’t go hungry today or tomorrow. You have shelter and a place for a little privacy. Certainly if you are reading this, you are rich by the standards of most human beings. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/40 "2004-02-24T00:26:31Z")
**John**. The link still works for me, so I don’t know how to fix it. Basically it just debunks the common story about a “needle gate” in Jerusalem. That was medievel contrivance. There is no arcaheological or documentary evidence that any such gate ever existed. Maybe Jesus was being hyperbolic. He probably was. Even if he was saying only that it’s very, very, very difficult, I don’t think that’s much of an endorsement of wealth. I’ve had this discussion many times with Christians and I find it amusing that so many of them would see themselves as that exceedingly rare exception who could be both rich and “saved.” > [@Zoe](#): > > Certainly if you are reading this, you are rich by the standards of most human beings. Very true. Thank God I’m not a Christian, 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718.md?page=3)