This interesting dialogue was brought to my attention so I thought I might jump in and try to be helpful. I am the Writer/Director of the film (and author of new book) A Polite Bribe.
Let me start by establishing some facts
1. Yes, the collection (bribe) that the Apostle Paul agreed to deliver to Jesus' original disciples (James and Peter) as part of the agreement for Paul's allowed Gentile missionary work was a historic fact. It also opens a door to the human struggle inside early Christianity.
2. Jesus was a practicing Jew and by definition pro law and never varied from that position. He only pointed out the abuses of how hypocrite Holy men (ox out of ditch) would lose site of their fellow man (or animals) to maintain the mere technicality of the law. He also believed in salvation by the following of the law like any practicing Jew. There are in the gospels passages that also show how Jesus maintained the cultural distinction between Jew and Gentile and instructed others to do so also.
Then Jesus said to the woman, "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep--the people of Israel." Matthew 15:24
3. The rift between Paul and his Gentile Church and James and Peter and the Jewish Christian church was only temporarily resolved (in part)
by the collection (bribe) but eventually, as we know from Romans 15:31 and Acts 21, blew up on Paul and at last he was soundly rejected when he returned to Jerusalem!
4. Although, the facts behind this film can lead one to degrees of conviction, a consensus of diverse scholars from rlght to left embrace the facts as historical with the exception of fundamentalists. And yes, I agree that fundamentalism is locked in certain emotional states that critical reason cannot penetrate. I think it is more of a psychological phenomena than a religious one, for ALL religions.
5. We are in the process of choosing a theatrical distribution partner and hope to announce our release date soon, which will include international screenings along with domestic ones. Hang in there Missouri! And Australia! The release of the book will also be announced with the film.
Please contact me or my staff if you have any other questions regarding the film and book or sign up to follow the project at info@apolitebribe.com
Robert Orlando
Writer/Director
A Polite Bribe
