Atheism

Row over BBC drama which shows Jesus crucified in a foetal position

The Daily Mail

The BBC is facing accusations of rewriting the Easter story by claiming Christ was nailed to the cross in a foetal position. The corporation is accused of "misleading" the public by ditching the traditional image of Jesus with arms outstretched, legs straight and hands nailed. Makers of lavish new drama The Passion, which started last night, say they are challenging this image, because new historical evidence shows he probably did not die this way. They instead maintain he likely died with his arms above his head, nails through his arms and his knees bent, when killed by the Romans. But the corporation is being accused of ignoring evidence in the Bible and gratuitously offending Christians who cherish the image. This comes just weeks after the broadcaster faced claims of exonerating Judas and Pontius Pilate in the same programme, which stars Joseph Mawle as Jesus. Others have also hit out at the programme's portrayal of Jesus' mother Mary, after the programme suggested she had not known what was happening to her. Speaking about the crucifixion row, Reverend George Curry, chairman of the Church Society, said: "They are misleading people by distorting the facts.

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