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Morrone, the organized religion foe, complained that the movie "exploited God for commercial purposes." Gibson put $30 million of his own money into this movie, Morrone said, but "if he was truly a spiritual person, he'd say, 'I'll just make my $30 million back or maybe I'll show it for free.' He's supposed to be making close to $200 to $300 million off this because he has 90 percent of rights to the movie."

None of the 13 people I talked to thought the movie inspires anti-Semitism, as some, including Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League, had feared. "It's got nothing to do with race or nationality," said Morrone. Added Kathy Hau, "I honestly felt that I was the one [nailing Christ to the cross]. It was all of us doing it."

In fact, many hoped Gibson's Christ would introduce unbelievers to the real Christ. "This is what people who have no faith need to see," Needham said.

Larry Hau says he has a co-worker who is "on the fence about Christianity. He's now asking me questions, and said he would see the movie. So I wanted to make sure to see it first so we can talk about it."

As I left the York Cinema in Elmhurst, a fresh-faced young girl got out of a parked car, walked up to me, looked at me pleadingly with sincere blue eyes, and handed me an evangelistic tract, saying warmly, "Jesus loves you sooo very much."

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