Netflix’s new feature film Mary – a biblical epic about the mother of Jesus – is facing backlash over what some are calling anti-Semitism.
A senior lecturer in religious studies at the University of Sheffield wrote an opinion piece on Monday dissecting what she said was “Christian anti-Semitism” in the film.
“The story of a Palestinian mother who gave birth in a destroyed building, fleeing murderous soldiers, could have been timely and important,” Meredith Warren wrote in the piece written for The Conversation.
“Instead, (the film) reinforces many dangerous stereotypes that have historically led to violence against Jews, while avoiding the Holy Family’s embrace of Jewish practices.
“That Netflix has so clearly missed the mark is disappointing,” she concluded in the piece, which was published three days after the title started streaming.
Echoing criticism of Mel Gibson’s take on the Christmas story in The Passion of the Christ, Warren pointed to a “particularly problematic scene” in which a pregnant Mary is chased through the streets by a Jewish mob.
The crowd is heard hurling the Hebrew word for “prostitute” at the Bethlehem woman after her immaculate conception – a scene that Warren says is an offensive stereotype that portrays Jewish law as cruel and violent.
The film was produced in part by Joel Osteen, pastor of the millionaire megachurch, and features Anthony Hopkins as a Jewish king who, according to the Christian Bible, ordered the execution of all male children in Bethlehem after the birth of Christ.
Scroll down for video:
Netflix’s new feature Mary is facing criticism over what some are calling anti-Semitism in the film, which began streaming Friday
The film stars Anthony Hopkins as Herod the Great, a Roman Jewish king who, according to the Christian Bible, ordered the execution of all male children two years old and younger after the birth of Christ.
“The murderous Jewish mob,” Warren wrote, “is a dangerous trope with a long history of Christian anti-Semitism.
“(It) foreshadows the Jewish crowd calling for the execution of Jesus… and the anti-Semitic charge of suicide – killing God in the form of Jesus – against the Jews.”
Pointing out how the murderous mob speaks Hebrew — “barely used elsewhere in the film” — she concluded that showrunners deliberately “set the crowd apart as distinctly Jewish.”
‘At this and several other points the characters note how Mary should be stoned according to “the law,”’ explained the teacher who is also director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies in Sheffield.
“This idea of Jewish law as cruel and violent is an age-old stereotype. In reality, those who enforced the law often went to great lengths to avoid the death penalty.
“What makes this scene even worse is that the would-be killers are shouting in Hebrew.”
At another point, Warren wrote that the film “emphasizes Christian exceptionalism” — or, in her words, that “Jesus and his family were radically different from the Jews of their day.”
She claimed that the decision to portray Mary as a teenager was apparently also made by Christians. “The image of an unmarried teenager who unexpectedly becomes pregnant certainly fits in with right-wing Christian anti-choice rhetoric,” she snapped.
Meredith Warren, a senior lecturer in biblical and religious studies at the University of Sheffield, used her experience to hone in on what she saw as “Christian anisemitism” in the film – and pointed out that one of the executive producers is megachurch pastor Joel Osteen. right)
An entire section toward the end of the op-ed, meanwhile, was emphatically titled “Right-wing financing” — mercilessly tearing apart the film’s association with executive producer Joel Osteen.
“Osteen is a megachurch pastor and televangelist known for promoting a prosperity gospel (the belief that financial blessings and physical well-being reflect God’s favor) and is an executive producer of the film,” she began.
Mary also claims input from faith leaders from a range of Christian denominations, as well as other religions.
“However, only one religious expert is listed in the film’s credits,” she continued, citing the listing of Adam W. Schindler as the production’s “biblical scholar.”
However, on his website he describes himself as a preacher and digital strategy consultant.
Schindler also holds a leadership position at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). AFPI is a right-wing think tank founded in 2021 by former Trump administration officials to promote Trump’s policies,” she wrote.
“Several AFPI members have now accepted leadership positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet,” she added, citing figures like Brooke Rollins, who planned direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Echoing criticism of Mel Gibson’s take on the Christmas story in The Passion of the Christ, Warren pointed to a “particularly problematic scene” in which a pregnant Mary is chased through the streets by a Jewish mob.
“It is this organization… that appears to be providing policy input for Trump,” Warren noted. “As part of this, AFPI has published an 80-page booklet outlining the ten biblical pillars for restoring America to its so-called Judeo-Christian foundations.
“This includes opposing abortion and comparing abortion to infanticide, expressing unconditional support for the State of Israel, promoting conservative views on gender as a binary, and repeating the tired myth that Christians in America are scale to be continued.
“It’s no wonder Mary aligns herself with many of these conservative talking points,” she concluded.
Mary – which stars Israeli actress Noa Cohen – is now available on Netflix.