Judas Iscariot in popular culture

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Kiss of Judas
Kiss of Judas

Judas Iscariot is a figure in contemporary popular culture because Judas became the archetype of the betrayer in Western culture, with some role in virtually all literature telling the Passion story and he appears as more than a passing metaphor in mainstream European literature from Dante to Mikhail Bulgakov. See Judas Iscariot.

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[edit] Music

  • Bob Dylan's song "With God on Our Side", contains the following lines that refer to Judas Iscariot:
In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.
Another song by Dylan that mentions Judas is "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest".

Dylan was once famously called "Judas" by a heckler at the Manchester's Free Trade Hall in 1966. Many fans were upset at Dylan turning from acoustic folk songs to electric guitar at the time. Dylan replied "I don't believe you. You're a liar." and turned to his band to say "Play it fucking loud!" Dylan and his band then launched into a vicious performance of "Like a Rolling Stone" and created a defining moment in rock 'n' roll history.

  • The heavy metal band Judas Priest got its name from the title of the Bob Dylan song "The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest". Band also made a song called Judas Rising
  • "Stand Up For Judas" by Leon Rosselson uses the "sicarii" interpretation of Judas's name to propose that Judas was a down-to-earth revolutionary and accuses Jesus, by contrast, as a promoter of accommodation with the Romans, of pie-in-the-sky miracles, and of himself. The song concludes that Judas is the real hero in the story. Leon Rosselson Records
  • In Atreyu's song, "At Least I Know Im A Sinner", the second verse reads:
Judge me and now you are me
And what's worse
You are now a traitor to your god
Tell me Judas,
How does it feel to be looked down upon?
Sinners like you,
Should be strung up from the highest tree
  • Dire Straits' The Man's Too Strong contains the following reference to Judas:
Well the sun rose on the courtyard,
And they all did hear him say:
"You always was a Judas,
But I got you anyway.
You may have got your silver,
But I swear upon my life-
Your sister gave me diamonds,
And I gave them to your wife."
Oh Father please help me,
For I have done wrong...
  • Metalcore band Norma Jean's song, It Was As If The Dead Man Stood Upon The Air, goes as follows:
Rewind the cycle
My regret is the world I created
Regret the kiss that sealed my fate
Rewind, rewind it all again
Rewind the silver that was my price
I think I will take a walk and rest my soul
A cylindrical head
Resting in the arms of a circular rope
Rewind this cycle endless cycle
  • Antje Duvekot has a song titled "Judas" that is sympathetic to Judas and sets the Bible story as a school shooting:
Jesus, he was the schoolyard martyr
Was every mother's perfect son
Not like Judas
In the back of the schoolbus
Invisible to everyone
Idle talk
And hollow promises
Cheating Judases
Doubting Thomases
Don't just stand there and shout it
Do something about it
  • Black metal band Nargaroth, in the song Amarok - Zorn Des Lammes III writes
Call me now Judas or call me insane
I am what I am, I'm just a man
  • Thrash Metal band Lamb of God, in the song "Omerta" the following lines refer to Judas Iscariot
Broken the paradigm an example must be set
Invoke the siren's song and sign the death warrant
This what has been wrought for 30 pieces of silver
The tongues of men and angels bought by a beloved betrayer
Words meant to dwell in darkness shall never see the light of day
Words can be broken, so can bones
Execute the mandate
Mouth full of dirt, your name removed from the registry
St. Peter greets with empty eyes then turns and locks the gates
Cheaply venal, stupidly verbose
A slip of the tongue, a slit of the throat
  • Australian metal band Virgin Black has a song named "Museum of Iscariot", which talks of Jesus from Judas' point of view:
You have forsaked me, called yourself messiah, expected me to follow
But now he is dead and his prophecies with him
I will bury him not as insult to your face
as I stare at his corpse one detail disturbs me
His cold stark finger points where I have not been...
Bartender please
The wine that's drinking me
Came from the vine that strung judas
from the devil's tree its roots
deep, deep in the ground...
  • The Roy Harper song Don't You Grieve from the 1970 Flat Baroque and Berserk album, later covered by The Levellers, gives a sympathetic view of Judas.
  • Tool has a song called "wings for Marie part 2" Judith Marie, Maynard's mom(lead singer), he considers to be a true saint but "The church" he calls the collective Judas for it's continual betrayal of Christ's 2nd greatest commandment to love your neighbor.
Listen to the tales and romanticize,
How we'd follow the path of the hero.
Boast about the day when the rivers overrun.
How we rise to the height of our halo.
Listen to the tales as we all rationalize
Our way into the arms of the savior,
Feigning all the trials and the tribulations;
None of us have actually been there.
Not like you.
Ignorant siblings in the congregation
Gather around spewing sympathy,
Spare me.
None of them can even hold a candle up to you.
Blinded by choice, these hypocrites won't see.
But, enough about the collective Judas.
Who could deny you were the one who
Illuminated your little piece of the divine?
And this little light of mine, a gift you passed on to me;
I'm gonna let it shine to guide you safely on your way,
Your way home ...
Oh, what are they going to do when the lights go down
Without you to guide them all to Zion?
What are they going to do when the rivers overrun
Other than tremble incessantly?
High is the way, but all eyes are upon the ground.
You were the light and the way they'll only read about.
I only pray, Heaven knows when to lift you out.
Ten thousand days in the fire is long enough;
You're going home.
You're the only one who can hold your head up high,
Shake your fists at the gates saying:
"I've come home now!
Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
It's time now!
My time now!
Give me my, give me my wings!"
You are the light and way that they will only read about.
Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance,
(With the) burden of proof tossed upon the believers.
You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence,
Judith Marie, unconditional one.
Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescents.
Difficult to see you in this light.
Please forgive this bold suggestion, but
Should you see your Maker's face tonight,
Look Him in the eye, look Him in the eye, and tell Him:
"I never lived a lie, never took a life, but surely saved one.
Hallelujah, it's time for you to bring me home."

[edit] Movies

  • In the 1973 movie Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas is portrayed by African-American actor Carl Anderson. He is shown as a man who believes in and loves Jesus, but wants a lasting charity organization rather than a religious order. He fears that the emergence of a new religion centred on Jesus would cause the Romans to retaliate against all of the Jews. Torn between his love of Christ and his fear of an imminent destruction of his people, he regretfully betrays Jesus. He is shown to be confused at first with Jesus' companionship with Mary Magdalene, and furthermore worried at the commotion Jesus was creating in Jerusalem, ultimately leading Judas to 'betray'. The movie was said to give a new sympathetic light on Judas.
  • In the film Dracula 2000, it is said that Dracula is one of the many names of Judas. This also gives an explanation of why Dracula hates all things Christian, and why certain items harm him, i.e. the cross Jesus died on, the stakes driven through his hands, and silver because that's what Judas was paid in. Dracula can not die because he will not ask God for forgiveness and so therefore God will not accept him.

[edit] Anime

  • In the anime and manga Hellsing, Iscariot is the assassin squad of the Vatican, also known as Section XIII, the Zealot Judas, and the Assassin Judas. This is apparent from their oath.

[edit] Video games

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