poptart Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. Link to comment
HappyJackWagon Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) Sure. Of course. I think there's a natural tendency for people to create the image of God in art that matches their likeness so that they can better relate, but like you say, Jesus wasn't a fair skinned, muscular, blue eyed catalog model. Edited August 4, 2018 by HappyJackWagon 2 Link to comment
SouthernMo Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Great point. We need to ensure our expectations don’t blind our recognition of the Savior. When He speaks in General Conference one day, will he wear a suit, or robes and sandals? 2 Link to comment
poptart Posted August 4, 2018 Author Share Posted August 4, 2018 12 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said: Sure. Of course. I think there's a natural tendency for people to create the image of God in art that matches their likeness so that they can better relate, but like you say, Jesus wasn't a fair skinned, muscular, blue eyed catalog model. 3 minutes ago, SouthernMo said: Great point. We need to ensure our expectations don’t blind our recognition of the Savior. When He speaks in General Conference one day, will he wear a suit, or robes and sandals? You both get a high five and a fist bump. 1 Link to comment
Jane_Doe Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 1 hour ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. Jesus was jew. Of course he wasn't a northern european. Artists who draw him that way is just artists taking inspiration from people around them. It's not historically accurate at all, but honestly I don't feel skin/eye color particularly matters. 2 Link to comment
Stargazer Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 1 hour ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. Of course. In fact, he was non-white, being genetically Semitic. You could also chuckle when you saw the African Jesus renderings that have been made. A friend of mine of African descent was a Christian, and kept a painting of Jesus with African features on his living room wall. I'm pretty sure he knew that Jesus was a Jew (and thus not African), but if he felt more comfortable imagining the Lord as looking a bit like himself, I don't see anything wrong with it. 1 hour ago, HappyJackWagon said: Sure. Of course. I think there's a natural tendency for people to create the image of God in art that matches their likeness so that they can better relate, but like you say, Jesus wasn't a fair skinned, muscular, blue eyed catalog model. Here's an image of Jesus as imagined by Chinese artists: 1 Link to comment
Stargazer Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Here's an interesting article on the subject from Wikipedia: Race and Appearance of Jesus. The race and appearance of Jesus has been a topic of discussion since the days of early Christianity. There are no firsthand accounts of Jesus' physical appearance, although some authors have suggested that physical descriptions may have been removed from the Bible at some point to emphasize his universality. Most scholars consequently believe that Jesus was similar in appearance to the modern inhabitants of the Middle East, due to the Bible (and other historical accounts) unequivocally referring to him as a Galilean Israelite. Various theories about the race of Jesus have been proposed and debated. By the Middle Ages, a number of documents, generally of unknown or questionable origin, had been composed and were circulating with details of the appearance of Jesus. Now these documents are mostly considered forgeries. By the 19th century, theories that Jesus was non-Semitic were being developed, with writers suggesting he was variously white, black, Indian, or some other race. However, as in other cases of the assignment of race to Biblical individuals, these claims have been mostly pseudoscientific, based on cultural stereotypes, ethnocentrism, and societal trends rather than on scientific analysis or historical method. Many people have a mental image of Jesus drawn from artistic depictions. A wide range of depictions have appeared over the two millennia since Jesus's death, often influenced by cultural settings, political circumstances and theological contexts. Depiction of Jesus in art of the first Christian centuries gradually standardized his appearance with a short beard. These images are often based on second- or third-hand interpretations of spurious sources, and are generally not historically accurate. Link to comment
katherine the great Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 I love this song by Alfred Burt: (We actually were allowed to sing it in public school back in the day...) Some children see himLily whiteThe baby JesusBorn this nightSome children see himLily whiteWith tresses softAnd fairSome children see himBronzed and brownThe Lord of heav'nTo Earth come downSome children see himBronzed and brownWith darkAnd heavy hairSome children see himAlmond-eyedThis savior whomWe kneel besideSome children see himAlmond-eyedWith skinOf yellow hueSome children see himDark as theySweet mary's sonTo whom we praySome children see himDark as theyAnd, ahThey love him, tooThe childrenIn each diff'rent placeWill seeThe baby Jesus' faceLike theirsBut brightWith heav'nly graceAnd filledWith holy lightO lay asideEach earthly thingAnd with thy heartAs offeringCome worship nowThe infant king'Tis loveThat's born tonight 4 Link to comment
mfbukowski Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. Would you be okay with a white Jesus? Typically the reason people usually ask this question is because they are not. Yet another confusion between historicism and spirituality, as if it matters. Did you know the word "Aryan" derives from the same root as" Iranian"? So if Jesus was Aryan he would look Middle Eastern. We are all shades of brown some darker than others. No one is actually "white" unless you're an albino, then of course there are African albinos. The whole designation of "white" is pretty much a distinction without a difference. Edited August 4, 2018 by mfbukowski 2 Link to comment
CV75 Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 2 hours ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. I would be more than OK. Link to comment
churchistrue Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 from a post I wrote last year around Christmas time. http://www.churchistrue.com/blog/christmas-for-the-deconstructed/ I’ve been reading The Zealot by Reza Aslan. He’s a New Testament scholar, and this book ignores the divine aspects and describes Jesus as a Jewish zealot who was more prone to violence as a solution. It’s interesting, and it very well may be accurate. But this isn’t my Jesus. You see this picture floating around that is meant to be a more accurate description of what the historical Jesus would look like. My kids asked me if Jesus came, should we expect him to look more like that? NO! 1,000 times, NO! At least not to you, white kids growing up in Mormon Utah. I hope you’ve heard the great Christmas song by James Taylor, Some Children See Him. Some children see Him lily white, The baby Jesus born this night. Some children see Him lily white, With tresses soft and fair. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, The Lord of heav’n to earth come down. Some children see Him bronzed and brown, With dark and heavy hair. Some children see Him almond-eyed, This Savior whom we kneel beside. Some children see Him almond-eyed, With skin of yellow hue. Some children see Him dark as they, Sweet Mary’s Son to whom we pray. Some children see him dark as they, And, ah! they love Him, too! The children in each different place Will see the baby Jesus’ face Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, And filled with holy light. O lay aside each earthly thing And with thy heart as offering, Come worship now the infant King. ‘Tis love that’s born tonight! I cheered recently when I read of the black LDS family that tossed out their pictures of white Jesus. The historical Jesus is not the point. What’s important is the meaning of the historical Jesus. Which is a representation of God descended to Earth so we might relate to him. If God came to me, I’m sure he would come in the arguably kitschy form of a Greg Olsen or Liz Lemon Swindle painting. Link to comment
carbon dioxide Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 2 hours ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. The appearance of Jesus is based mainly on his genetics. Only half of his DNA came from Mary. The other half came from somewhere else. I don't think anyone can know what his skin tone was and it really does not matter. 4 Link to comment
provoman Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. what is "white"? The United States of America considers some dark skinned people "white". So what is the standards for "white"? Forensic Anthropology uses three groupings, Negroid, Caucasoid, Mongoloid, these are classifications of skulls. This from the United States Census Bureua The U.S. Census Bureau must adhere to the 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity which guide the Census Bureau in classifying written responses to the race question: White – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. Black or African American – A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. American Indian or Alaska Native – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment. Asian – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. Edited August 4, 2018 by provoman Link to comment
Glenn101 Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 3 hours ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. Don't really know what Jesus would have looked like being as how He is the literal Son of the Father as to the flesh as well as the spirit. It does not matter to me however his visage appears. What does matter is what He has done for us. It also does not matter to me if another culture pictures Jesus as having features similar to theirs. 2 Link to comment
Robert F. Smith Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, poptart said: ................................... I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. They would likely apostatize. Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah, many of whom can be seen in this Jerusalem flashmob at Hadassah Hospital. That is what Jews look like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzwWskM4hN8 . Edited August 4, 2018 by Robert F. Smith 1 Link to comment
Rivers Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) #NotMyJesus Edited August 4, 2018 by Rivers Link to comment
USU78 Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Why in a post OD2 world are you so friggin' race obsessed? 2 Link to comment
katherine the great Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said: They would likely apostatize. Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah, many of whom can be seen in this Jerusalem flashmob at Hadassah Hospital. That is what Jews look like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzwWskM4hN8 . That was awesome!!! 1 Link to comment
Prof Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 I am much more concerned with the divine nature he inherited from His Father's side, than the genetics He inherited from his mother. 1 Link to comment
clarkgoble Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 4 hours ago, poptart said: So, here's something i've been curious about, would you be ok with a non white Jesus? I always chuckle when I see a Jesus that looks northern European, he was most likely Arabic/olive skinned. Not like it matters, I just wonder how Christians would react if their savior didn't look like them. I assume he didn't look like me. Why would that matter? 1 Link to comment
Sevenbak Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 (edited) Why do you get to decide what Jesus looked like based on just his maternal parentage? Do you know the DNA of God the Father? Edited August 4, 2018 by Sevenbak 3 Link to comment
Robert F. Smith Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 10 minutes ago, Sevenbak said: Why do you get to decide what Jesus looked like based on just his maternal parentage? Do you know the DNA of God the Father? Does this mean that we should favor the Viking version of Jesus we normally get? Jesus as Thor? 1 Link to comment
Sevenbak Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 I’ve never seen a Thor / Viking Jesus. Although I’m sure he used a hammer as a carpenter. 1 Link to comment
Calm Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 19 minutes ago, Sevenbak said: Why do you get to decide what Jesus looked like based on just his maternal parentage? Do you know the DNA of God the Father? Isn't there scripture indicating he wasn't unusual in appearance? 1 Link to comment
Stargazer Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 2 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said: They would likely apostatize. Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah, many of whom can be seen in this Jerusalem flashmob at Hadassah Hospital. That is what Jews look like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzwWskM4hN8 . Great video! But it isn't absolutely certain that Jews at the time of Jesus's nativity looked like this lovely collection of musicians. There have been many new streams of genetics adding into the Jewish "race" since that time, and now there are Jews who could pass as the faux-Aryans that the Third Reich were so enamoured with. When you think of the Virgin Mary, do you imagine Natalie Portman? Or Rachel Weisz? Or even Scarlett Johansson? All are Jewish (although Scarlett is only half Jewish). As for me, Jesus is Christ, and whatever He looked like in mortality is immaterial. I don't hold to the view that in the Resurrection we maintain our mortal "race". We Caucasians are not "white", we're very light brown. White is the color of the sun, and it washes out all other color. In the resurrection we are all the same race. That's my story and I am sticking to it. Oh, and here are some lovely Israeli Defence Force ladies. Picture any one of them as the Virgin Mary. Aren't they beautiful! ❤️ 1 Link to comment
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