“The Passion of the Christ” started generating religious debate long before its Feb. 25 release.

Those discussions have continued through the film’s first week in theaters. Students will have an opportunity to continue the debate and ask area religious leaders questions about the movie at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

Some of the controversies stem from concerns about anti-Semitism, accurate portrayals of the Gospels and the violence portrayed in the film.

Rabbi David Kaufman from the Temple B’Nai Jeshurun, 5101 Grand Ave. in Des Moines, will be one of the panelists. Kaufman said he believes people are concerned about the Jewish community and whether or not it thinks the movie is anti-Semitic. Jewish people, in general, look mostly at how Jews in the film are portrayed.

“Jews will pay attention to different details [in the movie] than Christians will,” he said. “Jewish people become upset with anything that involves the Passion story because of the way Jews are depicted.”

Negative portrayals of Jews make some angry because they are depicted as hateful people, Kaufman said.

He said although there may have been previous script versions that had anti-Semitic aspects, he does not believe the final version of the film is anti-Semitic.

Zeke Pipher, the college pastor of the First Evangelical Free Church, 2008 24th St., will also be a part of the panel.

Pipher said he was deeply moved by the movie, and it helped him to appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice. He said the movie should not be regarded as a historical record, on par with the Gospels themselves, but as a work of art based primarily out of the Gospels.

“The purpose of art, such as the movie, is to let the artist be free in making their own interpretations of history,” he said.

Although Pipher said the movie was not as historically accurate as the Gospel accounts, he said it does give people a way to visually see certain aspects of the gospel story.

Pipher said he hopes students come away from the forum with an understanding of how to view an artistic film like this and that people will have a valid appreciation for what Jesus endured.

Pat Miller, director of the ISU Lectures Program, helped organize the panel. Miller said the many aspects of the film, such as the extreme violence, and the many differing opinions about the film, make it a controversial topic.

“We’re very lucky to have these scholars provide us with information regarding these controversial issues,” she said.

Miller said the purpose of the panel is to provide students with the opportunity to express their own thoughts about the controversial issues as well as ask questions.

The panel will also include David Hunter, professor of religious studies, and will be moderated by Steve Sullivan, movie reviewer for the Ames Tribune.