Scott C.
Just one guy
Christian scripture says Jesus was born as a Jew in Bethlehem about 2020 years ago. I assume he had the general features and skin tone of that demographic.
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Why is Jesus depicted as a white guy in mostly all paintings?
- Thread starter Spirit of Light
- Start date
Christian scripture says Jesus was born as a Jew in Bethlehem about 2020 years ago. I assume he had the general features and skin tone of that demographic.
Cultures tend to depict their deities as looking like them, if they depict them in human form. He's Chinese in China, European in Europe, Ethiopian in Ethiopia, etc.
More important is the literal Christains that expect a literal return of Jesus.
How will they recognise Him? None of the painted Images are the likeness of Jesus, or Christ.
Regards Tony
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
If Jesus was coming back it would only be possible to recognize him from his words i think
the body would be different
He was Jewish so He was probably white.
I prefer "White guy" Jesus, even though I don't think he likely looked like these depictions, which evolved and reflected the ethnic culture and art and concepts of beauty for each of the cultures making the art generally, so Greeks made him look like what they thought showed the symbols of a high level Byzantine King, the Europeans made him look like their ideals and their own peoples. The main problem here is these are people worshipping a human being, a human figure, calling a man "God", and making their "God" in their own images, just like they had been instructed not to do such a thing.
I tell myself that people I find unattractive are probably also evil.
stvdv
Veteran Member
Samson had long hair. He was my favorite, I did not allow my parents to cut my hair
JESUS, BEFORE DEATH:
The bible's only description of Jesus, prior to death, was that he was a plain looking man.
Genetically, Jesus was purported to be the son of God, and Mary (married to Joseph at the time....remember, "thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife)." Thus, Jesus was half Jewish and half God. Unless, of course, God wanted to make a miracle and make Jesus any race he chose. Assuming that Jesus was half Jewish (Semitic), he would have looked like a Semite (which, back then, was like a modern Arab (especially Bedouin, since they have mixed less than other Arabs).
Since the diaspora (flight from Egypt), Jews were strewn to many parts of the world, including Russia and Germany. There, they interbred with natives (such as Germans), and took on the look (and genetics) of Germans. Thus, there are blond Jews. It is difficult to decide who is allowed to be an Israeli citizen based on DNA that has been so diluted, but Israelis shun Hitler's ideas of racial purity.
CHRIST AFTER DEATH:
Am I talking about Jesus after death? No, Jesus was in the ground, dead, and remained dead. Jesus was the human vessel of the spirit of Christ. But, after crucifixion, Christ (a spirit without a body) rose from the dead and appeared with bright blond (or white) hair, red eyes, and bronze feet (ghost with a tan....cowabunga dude).
HOW TO PORTRAY JESUS:
Paintings have to make him look like something (or maybe make him like Wilson (Earl Hindman), on the TV show Home Improvement, who almost never appears without his face hidden). Bigotry likely played a role in making Jesus look more white and less Semitic.
The bible's only description of Jesus, prior to death, was that he was a plain looking man.
Genetically, Jesus was purported to be the son of God, and Mary (married to Joseph at the time....remember, "thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife)." Thus, Jesus was half Jewish and half God. Unless, of course, God wanted to make a miracle and make Jesus any race he chose. Assuming that Jesus was half Jewish (Semitic), he would have looked like a Semite (which, back then, was like a modern Arab (especially Bedouin, since they have mixed less than other Arabs).
Since the diaspora (flight from Egypt), Jews were strewn to many parts of the world, including Russia and Germany. There, they interbred with natives (such as Germans), and took on the look (and genetics) of Germans. Thus, there are blond Jews. It is difficult to decide who is allowed to be an Israeli citizen based on DNA that has been so diluted, but Israelis shun Hitler's ideas of racial purity.
CHRIST AFTER DEATH:
Am I talking about Jesus after death? No, Jesus was in the ground, dead, and remained dead. Jesus was the human vessel of the spirit of Christ. But, after crucifixion, Christ (a spirit without a body) rose from the dead and appeared with bright blond (or white) hair, red eyes, and bronze feet (ghost with a tan....cowabunga dude).
HOW TO PORTRAY JESUS:
Paintings have to make him look like something (or maybe make him like Wilson (Earl Hindman), on the TV show Home Improvement, who almost never appears without his face hidden). Bigotry likely played a role in making Jesus look more white and less Semitic.
Salty Booger
Royal Crown Cola (RC)
Because the artwork was European.
"Jesus was Half Jewish, Half God" LOL awesome HAHA thats pretty funny, I've never heard that before LOL, I really like that.
firedragon
Veteran Member
You have seen paintings done by white people, and those who were heavily colonised by white regimes, but there are other areas in the world where Jesus has taken the colour of that particular land. Not only colour, even personality.
Terrywoodenpic
Oldest Heretic
the Romans were pretty much racial neutral at the time of Christ. there were citizens from everywhere in the known world. Colour was not a problem to them. they were probably far less White than we see in Italy today, as large number of roman citizens came from Africa and and all around the Mediterranean. with far fewer from the barbarian north of Europe.
Native
Free Natural Philosopher & Comparative Mythologist
And why is he always depicted as a long haired hippi with beard?
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
No idea
Jesus was a handsome Nordic-looking guy (drove a Volvo), with long wavy chestnut hair freshly shampooed and combed, wore a long white creaseless cotton robe from Gammarelli (sometimes Versace), occasionally with a heart embroidered on the front.
There are millions of pictures, don't just take my word it. (In some them you can glimpse what looks like a Patek Philippe.)
wellwisher
Well-Known Member
Christianity became the official religion of Rome in the 4th century AD. The Holy Roman Empire that would result, was located primarily in western and central Europe. South Eastern Europe; Constantinople, and Northern Africa were less consolidated under Rome at that time. From this more stable European core, Christianity expanded beyond being a persecuted religion of slaves, to become a key player in an evolving world empire.
This white European core of Christianity, during the age of exploration; 14th century; 1000 year reign, would expand throughout the world. It was not about PC. It was about the best equipped vehicle for preaching to the whole world to for fill the prophesy. Then the end would come, to a unified Christianity Empire.
That new core would include England, France, Spain, etc., Africa and Middle East became colonies, not the overlords. To the victor goes the spoils. History is defined by the victors. God is old school and not PC. PC is for the atheists.