HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep recently shared a heated exchange about Jesus during an interview with Katie Couric on Dateline NBC.
Streep said President Bush was wrong to talk about his faith in Christ after launching a war against Iraq. The actress contended that Jesus would never endorse war since He taught His followers to turn the other cheek and love their enemies: “Jesus was the Prince of Peace. Would the Prince of Peace vote for a war president?”
Washington told his “Manchurian Candidate” co-star not to pick and choose her biblical references. “He [Jesus] didn’t only say turn the other cheek,” Washington said. “You’ve got to read the whole book. That’s not all that He said.”
Washington pointed out that Jesus also drove the money-changers from the temple in righteous anger. Streep’s explanation of that incident: “Money is bad.” An amused Washington replied: “We all make money. So does that make us bad? Maybe He’s talking about us.” Streep, who appeared to run out of steam for a theological debate, replied: “Well, yeah, maybe.”
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