More Americans blame Jews for killing Jesus after "Passion of the Christ

WASHINGTON (AFP)
The number of Americans who believe that Jews are responsible for killing Jesus has risen, according to survey taken since the release of the Mel Gibson blockbuster movie "The Passion of The Christ."
The poll, carried out by thePew Research Center in Washington, found that the numbers are highest among African-Americans and younger people.
Critics have charged that the movie incites anti-Semitism, a charge that Gibson denies.
In a March 17-21 telephone, 1,703 adults were asked if they felt Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus.
Twenty-six percent blamed Jews, up from 19 percent in an ABC News poll that asked the same question in 1997.
"This represents a modest but statistically significant increase in the number holding this opinion," the Pew Center said in a statement.
Nevertheless "a solid majority of Americans both then and now -- 60 percent -- continue to say that Jews were not responsible for the death of Christ," the statement added.
Thirty-four percent of those surveyed who were below the age 30, and 42 percent of African-Americans said they feel Jews were responsible for Christ's death.
Those numbers are up substantially from the 1997, which came in at 10 percent and 21 percent respectively.
The survey found that 19 percent of those surveyed said they have already seen the movie, while a whopping 49 percent said they intend to see it.
Taken From: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040403/ts_alt_afp/lifesty...

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