Color? Why Do We Percieve All Heaven In White?

[rpn]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865611711/New-verse-for-temple-song-memorializes-teens.html

 

I was touched by this article and then I wondered, "why do we perceive ourselves in heaven to be white clothed, all white?   Seems to me that part of the creation of earth was beauty and that includes color.   IME, the Holy Ghost helps us see colors more vividly. 

 

When we read stories talking about God and angels in terms of white, is that just a reflection of the glory of God, and not really "white" as the only choice?

 

Just wondered how others view a celestial world?   Do we really think that white will be the only color there? 

[longview]

Exodus 39:

8 ¶And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

9 It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.

10 And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.

11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.

14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.

15 And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold.

Revelation 21:

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

[blooit]

White includes all colors...  

[strappinglad]

A lot of NDE experiencers indicate that there are thousands of colors of amazing brilliance. White stands for glory.

[Deborah]

A lot of NDE experiencers indicate that there are thousands of colors of amazing brilliance. White stands for glory.

 

I agree; there are colors our eyes can't even perceive now. I wonder if we describe white because the image (such as in the First Vision) is so bright we can't perceive the colors.

[Traela]

I agree; there are colors our eyes can't even perceive now. I wonder if we describe white because the image (such as in the First Vision) is so bright we can't perceive the colors.

That is my belief. I have heard some concern over whether we keep our mortal skin color after the resurrection. I suspect that a glorified body will project so much light that it will appear white to mortal eyes, no matter what its actual color (to other glorified beings) is.

[rpn]

So, as in the above verse in the song, why do members keep writing things that we don't know are facts, and why do we celebrate such things in ways that perpetuate the idea that is without basis?    (Yes, a rhetorical question.)

[katherine the great]

I have a simplistic explanation.  Traditionally when people looked to the heavens, they saw white clouds.  Heaven is in the clouds, pretty clouds are white therefore heaven is white.  

[The Nehor]

Our eyes are imperfect and can see the light only as white. The actual viewers of angels revealed in glory recount them as glorious beyond description. No mention of drab whiteness.

[Nofear]

A lot of NDE experiencers indicate that there are thousands of colors of amazing brilliance. White stands for glory.

 

It is interesting. I've personally concluded that not all NDE's are an actual representation of things to come but more of a transitory period  designed to help the newly "deceased" cope with the transition. In that scenario many representations of white (or other things) may be symbolic more than literal. That said, I do quite suspect the visible color space of the spirit body's eyes is significantly more pronounced than our mortal globes'. And much of that is based on accounts such as you allude to. Our habit of depicting spirit world things as "white" is both laziness, lack of information, and/or capability on our part.

[mfbukowski]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865611711/New-verse-for-temple-song-memorializes-teens.html

 

I was touched by this article and then I wondered, "why do we perceive ourselves in heaven to be white clothed, all white?   Seems to me that part of the creation of earth was beauty and that includes color.   IME, the Holy Ghost helps us see colors more vividly. 

 

When we read stories talking about God and angels in terms of white, is that just a reflection of the glory of God, and not really "white" as the only choice?

 

Just wondered how others view a celestial world?   Do we really think that white will be the only color there? 

Because we are racists.

[mfbukowski]

What is color without eyes?

 

What color are radio waves?  X-rays?

 

We are forgetting we are bound here by what meat can perceive, not what the spirit can perceive.  Meat does not need to know the color of radio waves.

[EllenMaksoud]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865611711/New-verse-for-temple-song-memorializes-teens.html

 

I was touched by this article and then I wondered, "why do we perceive ourselves in heaven to be white clothed, all white?   Seems to me that part of the creation of earth was beauty and that includes color.   IME, the Holy Ghost helps us see colors more vividly. 

 

When we read stories talking about God and angels in terms of white, is that just a reflection of the glory of God, and not really "white" as the only choice?

 

Just wondered how others view a celestial world?   Do we really think that white will be the only color there?

"We shall be as the Angels". KJV  Jesus's words.

 

Knowing the very narrow range in which our eyes can see,  I wonder if the Angels can sense from at least X-Ray town to Infrared and what it would look like. We seem to be fixated on what we know now, but we know that the Bible says, "For now we see as through a glass darkly..."

 

It will be so different and it is no surprise to me that even when thinking of Heaven, we are limited.

[Glenn101]

Maybe it is because the scriptures are replete with references to white when speaking of heavenly raiment. Here are just a few.

 

Revelation 1:14
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Revelation 3:5
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 6:11
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Revelation 7:9
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Revelation 7:13
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?


Revelation 7:14
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 15:6
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Revelation 19:8
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Revelation 19:14
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Revelation 20:11
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Mark 9:3
3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Mark 16:5
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

Luke 9:29
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

1 Nephi 12:11
11 And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.

1 Nephi 14:19
19 And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe.

Joseph Smith—History 1:32
32 Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.

 

I think that people, LDS or not, are perfectly justified in thinking of heavenly things, especially raiment, as white.

 

Glenn

[rpn]

 

Because we are racists.

That is a pretty strange assertion.  Logically if racism were involved, it would have more likely emanated AFTER belief that heaven established white as preferable than be the reason for such thinking.  (NOTE, I don't agree with the poster and I've never actually seen any person who is actually white.)

[The Nehor]

Because we are racists.

A common but silly assertion. Even in societies with all members loaded down with melanin white is a symbol of purity. I am as Caucasian as we come but looking at my skin I am not white in the sense of the color white. Only the albinos among us are truly holy.

[bcuzbcuz]

White includes all colors...  

White LIGHT includes all colours. Things that appear white are the reflection of all colours. But if you mix all colours from your child´s paintbox, you´ll end up with a messy brown, black, gunky colour, far from white as possible.

In many cultures white is not devine but is the colour of death....in other words, christianity takes its images from European, Latin, Greek cultures. What appears white, lacking in colour, in a Christian heaven, signifies something else in other cultures.

In China, Korea, and some other Asian countries, white, or more precisely, the whitish color of undyed linen, is the color of mourning and funerals.[46]

In traditional China, undyed linen clothing is worn at funerals. As time passes, the bereaved can gradually wear clothing dyed with colors, then with darker colors. Small sacks of quicklime, one for each year of the life of the deceased are placed around the body to protect it against impurity in the next world, and white paper flowers are placed around the body.[47]

In China and other Asian counties, white is the color of reincarnation, showing that death is not a permanent separation from the world.[48]

In China, white is associated with the masculine (the yang of the yin and yang); with the unicorn and tiger; with the fur of an animal; with the direction of west; with the element metal; and with the Autumn season.[49]

In Japan, undyed linen white robes are worn by pilgrims for rituals of purification, and bathing in sacred rivers. In the mountains, pilgrims wear costumes of undyed jute to symbolize purity. A white kimono is often placed in the casket with the deceased for the journey to the other world.[50] Condolence gifts, or kooden, are tied with black and white ribbons and wrapped in white paper, protecting the contents from the impurities of the other world.[51]

In India, the color white was traditionally reserved for the Brahmin caste. It is the color of purity, divinity, detachment and serenity. In Hindi, the name Sweta means white.

In Tibetan Buddhism, white robes were reserved for the lama of a monastery.

In the Bedouin and some other pastoral cultures, there is a strong connection between milk and white, which is considered the color of gratitude, esteem, joy, good fortune and fertility.

[mfbukowski]

A common but silly assertion. Even in societies with all members loaded down with melanin white is a symbol of purity. I am as Caucasian as we come but looking at my skin I am not white in the sense of the color white. Only the albinos among us are truly holy.

Totally pulled me in. 

 

Wait for it......  Wait for it- then POW!  

[mfbukowski]

Meat does not need to know the color of radio waves.

This is clearly one of the wisest statements ever spoken.

 

Oh wow, heavy, man.