# The Almighty Weighs In On Gibson's "The Passion" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249 "2003-10-24T03:16:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/1 "2003-10-24T03:16:50Z")
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3209223.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3209223.stm) "Actor Jim Caviezel has been struck by lightning while playing Jesus in Mel Gibson’s controversial film The Passion Of Christ. It was the second time Michelini had been hit by lightning during the shoot." Now, I’m not one who believes in Signs (aside from in the “Other Horrible Mel Gibson Movies” sense), but I would imagine the people involved in “The Passion” are. This can’t be a good sign for them, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ambumax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Ambumax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambumax)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/2 "2003-10-24T03:39:32Z")
The real question is whether it is a sign of disapproval of the movie, or disapproval of the casting… God: “I have no problem with movies about Christ, but Jeez! Cavaziel? Couldn’t they have gotten Hoffman or something?” ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/3 "2003-10-24T06:20:28Z")
Dammit, **DeMobray**!! You beat me to this thread! I saw a short bit on this in tonight’s late news, and my first thought was “The guy playing Jesus… got _struck by lightning?!_ That _can’t_ be good!” My wife started laughing and told me to post it on the Straight Dope. Either she was reading my mind again, or I was thinking out loud again. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/4 "2003-10-24T06:27:11Z")
Death or injury by lightning strike could be seen by the superstitious as divine disapproval. However, being struck by lightning _without_ apparent injury could be seen as divine appointment. The ancient Greeks regarded any spot struck by lightning as sacred. Greek and Roman temples were built on those sites. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/5 "2003-10-24T06:35:19Z")
Alternatively, being struck by lightning twice without apparent injury could also be seen as fair warning. “Medammit, Jim, what was it gonna _take_…?” ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/6 "2003-10-24T11:46:23Z")
Or it could just be, y’know. Shit luck on Jim Cavizel’s part. Not to puncture anybody’s portents. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/7 "2003-10-24T12:02:28Z")
Heh, heh… you said “Medammit…” Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/8 "2003-10-24T14:05:50Z")
TWO BOLTS DOWN, SAYETH THE LORD. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/9 "2003-10-24T18:13:35Z")
I heard this on the news this mornin… I too was thinking this _CAN’T_ be a good thing! ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/10 "2003-10-24T18:37:51Z")
“For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.” **Luke 17:24** “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” **Matthew 24:27** ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/11 "2003-10-24T22:09:39Z")
This is the second time, and he’s still not dead? God’s clearly off his game. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/12 "2003-10-24T22:26:23Z")
Lightning hit the assistant director twice. Lead actor Jim Caviezel was struck only once, apparently without harm. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/13 "2003-10-24T22:30:13Z")
The location scout is definitely fired. If he/she put the crew in a place where lightning hits this often, he/she is a dope. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/14 "2003-10-24T22:44:53Z")
jeez…whatdidtheygo to lighting city or somthin’? “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.” Luke 17:24 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:27 so jim caviezel is Son Of Man now??? God help us all ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/15 "2003-10-24T23:39:51Z")
Dudes. They’re working on a hilltop. Assuming it’s a real hilltop, and not just a dinky ridge, it’s not an impossibility. Fairly unlikely, yes, but not impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-almighty-weighs-in-on-gibsons-the-passion/209249/16 "2003-10-25T00:24:38Z")
Well, it’s obviously not an impossibility, since it’s actually happened and all.