LONDON (ANS) -- The BBC is facing accusations of rewriting the Easter story by claiming Christ was nailed to the cross in a foetal position.

A story on the web site www.thisislondon.co.uk  reported that the BBC is being accused of “misleading” the public by failing to stay with the traditional image of Jesus with arms outstretched, legs straight and hands nailed.

The web site story reported that the makers of The Passion drama say they are challenging this image, because new historical evidence shows he probably did not die this way. They instead claim that Jesus probably died with His arms above his head, nails through His arms and His knees bent.

However, This is London reported that detractors of the drama say the BBC is ignoring overt Biblical evidence and offending Christians.

Others also blasted the show’s portrayal of Jesus' mother Mary, after it suggested she had not known what was happening to her.

Speaking about the crucifixion issue, This is London reported that Rev. George Curry, chairman of the Church Society, said “They are misleading people by distorting the facts. That's a serious and dangerous thing to do, but sadly utterly predictable and regrettable. Jesus's nails went through His hands not His forearms. We should be true to history and the events that occurred.”

This is London reported other scholars have pointed out that the traditional image has been important to Christians in understanding the event. They also claimed it ignored what the Bible says, and the image of Jesus “throwing His arms out in a symbol of love.”

In the Book of John, Jesus says to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see My Hands.”

But the web site story reported that production designer, Simon Elliott, defended the crucifixion scene, claiming they were trying to make the show as “historically accurate” as possible.

He said, “The Victorian image of Jesus doesn't tie in with the historical evidence. He was probably put on a crude wooden gibbet and made to stand in a loose, foetal position. It was fiendishly designed.”

This is London reported that Elliott claimed the position so well known to Christians was only one of a number of ways the Romans crucified people.

However, Elliott added, “It is a minefield, as everyone has such strong feelings about it.”

This is London reported that the decision to go with the new portrayal was based on “lengthy research,” including the discovery of a crucified skeleton found near Jerusalem in 1968.

It is believed that crucifixion in the foetal type position would have meant that Jesus’ chest was crushed and He would have died of asphyxiation.

Mark Goodacre, associate professor of religion at Duke University, who advised producers, also defended the scene. He claimed the Bible did not explain in any detail the type of crucifixion that was used.

This is London reported Goodacre added, “The makers wanted something that wasn't the typical image; that would surprise the viewers. This is not an attempt to be iconoclastic, but to get people to look again at the events surrounding His death.”

The web site reported that this latest row comes just weeks after the BBC faced claims of exonerating Judas and Pontius Pilate, and High Priest Caiaphas in the same program.

Program makers have portrayed them in a sympathetic manner, This is London reported, claiming they have been dealt “a raw deal” by history.

Judas Iscariot is portrayed as torn between his loyalties to two fathers, Caiaphas and Jesus.

Pilate is shown struggling to manage his wife's social aspirations and his career, as he tried to “keep a lid” on tensions in Jerusalem.

This is London reported that Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said “Yet again a revisionist slant has to be put on a story that is transparent. It's fine to have an alternative look at the motivation of people such as Caiaphas, Pilate and Judas, but the fact remains that these guys were instrumental in an innocent man meeting His death.”

Drama Welcomed by the Church in Wales

However, a story by the Western Mail’s David Williamson said The Passion received a warm welcome by the Church in Wales.

Canon Tudor Griffiths, based in Hawarden, Deeside, considers The Passion a welcome evangelistic opportunity. He told the Western Mail, “I want to use that locally to say, ‘You’ve seen the film; now explore the issues.’”

The Western Mail said Griffiths plans to encourage anyone whose curiosity has been aroused to attend an Alpha Course – a 10-week discussion-based program designed to introduce people to the basics of the Christian faith.

The Western Mail said that Griffiths had no objection to the drama’s creators using their imaginations to tell the back-stories of the chief characters.

Griffiths told the Western Mail, “If you presented it as academic research I’d have major problems with it – but it isn’t. It’s a film; as (such) as it encourages people to explore further I have no problems and I’m grateful.”

The Rev. Robin Morrison, Church and Society officer for the Church in Wales, described the prime-time drama as “tremendous.”

For centuries Christians had used imagination to appreciate the sparsely told Gospel stories, he told the Western Mail.“Anything that helps us relate to this material in a living way is useful,” he said.

The Western Mail reported that Morrison has written his own plays exploring questions of faith and believes drama has a key role to play in giving the Gospel narratives a modern context. He said, “The words we’ve got are just the tip of the iceberg.”

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org or http://www.christianity.com/joyjunction. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City: A Call to Service." Additional details about "Homeless" are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 877-6967 or (505) 400-7145. Note: A higher resolution JPEG picture of Jeremy Reynalds is available on request from Dan Wooding at danjuma1@aol.com.