A White Jesus? + Ignorant Christians

[Geishawhelk]

If you look up at post #46, Mahatma already states he is Buddhist.

But he doesn't consider it a Religion.

I too am Buddhist, and I do.

[Mahatma]

Buddhism does for me what religion does for others.

 

I think people come to this thread with a very negative attitude. I believe the title is the cause of this I had the understanding that Christians were ignorant. Since then, I have realized that it is really the people themselves that are ignorant (as stated in the first post), not the religion. I can respect someone with personal beliefs, even strong beliefs that differ from mine. In fact, I respect the one who adheres to what he claims to be more than the person who practices once a week for the label of a specific religion. I, however, lose all respect for the people who can not have open minds. Because of that, I must also check myself constantly to make sure I too keep an open mind.

 

I did not plan on this to become such a controversial thread. Was just a simple question about pictures of Jesus to be honest. That question was resolved by someone saying it was merely a "representation" or in my mind I decided to label it more of a symbol.

[lord alfred douglas]

Jesus was deliciously brown

[Lovelybird]

I think Jesus was yellow skin with a bit tan

[amaysngrace]

I think Jesus was yellow skin with a bit tan

 

I think Jesus is a rainbow.

[Citizen Erased]

I don't know what color he was, but I guarantee he had no rhythm.

 

:lmao:

 

I doubt it makes much difference whatever he looked like. He was either some crazy guy that heard voices from the supreme overlord of the universe or he was truly the son of God and we're all saved, except for murderers that don't feel guilt and of course gays (sorry Nemo, I bet Hell is more fun anyway. Barbequed ribs anyone?). I doubt he having a beard and how he trimmed his hair makes much of a difference in the long run.

[georgehutton]

There once was some crazy "enlightened" shift in european painting styles. The old style was where they painted religious figures, but in the background, it looked like Italy or wherever the painters were from. When they wised up (sort of), they started painting the backgrounds to look like where Jesus used to hang out. I don't think they ever got around to painting the people as though they were from the middle east.

 

Even the term middle east is a bit eurocentric, but I digress.

[Eve]

I dont classify middle eastern people as white. I clearly see them as leaning towards the 'asian' aspect within the classification of cauc'asian'. In essence, some are more black/asian and others quite white, big place. As for Jesus, I would say that one would need to look into his geneology to decipher his race.. quite a mixture there too. Regards,Eve xx

[Mahatma]

The main reason I raised this point was to question whether or not people were more willing to accept a white Jesus than a brown Jesus.

[quankanne]

as long as it's tastefully done – unlike plastic, glow-in-the-dark Jesu – it's all cool

[disgracian]

He was either some crazy guy that heard voices from the supreme overlord of the universe or he was truly the son of God...

Sort of like the "Lord, Liar or Lunatic" explanation that is often used, where Liar and Lunatic are summarily dismissed because of a couple of verses, leaving us with the predictable conclusion. But we should probably add "Legend" to that list, while we're going with the alliteration theme.

 

If we assume the truth of religious texts at face value, then we have a lot of Lords running around out there. If we don't, then there has to be a reason why one is excused from scrutiny while all the others aren't.

 

Merry Christmas everyone.

 

Cheers,

D.

[desertmoon]

I dont classify middle eastern people as white. I clearly see them as leaning towards the 'asian' aspect within the classification of cauc'asian'. In essence, some are more black/asian and others quite white, big place. As for Jesus, I would say that one would need to look into his geneology to decipher his race.. quite a mixture there too. Regards,Eve xx

 

LOL!!!! they are not WHITE...who said they were white? they are considered caucasians because most of their features fall under that category...much like the many Somalis and Ethioppians are not considered NEGROID..because of their narrow noses, thin lips, etc....clearly it takes more than the color of one's skin to be considered of a certain "race".

 

By the way, the "ASIAN" in cauc'ASIAN is not asian as in "of that continent"..rather, ASIAN=EUROPEAN, while, CAUCASIAN or CAUCASOID= MONGOLIAN OR MOGOLOID race! People from China, Japan, Korea, etc are considered of the mongoloid race (you know, the "yellow" people, like me ).

 

Are you er.."white"? because it seems to me that you just do not want middleeasterners to be in the group with you....

 

back to the topic...(sigh)...is a white Jesus more acceptable than a black one? Sure....it is the most common and traditional and most likely....why wouldn't it be?

[Mahatma]

I just wonder why the picture/representation of Jesus was converted to a white man. No one besides desertmoon will acknowledge that a white Jesus is more acceptable than a black or brown one.

 

When the term "Jesus" is said, people who have ever seen a picture of Jesus, think of this white man. He could have been white, but he was NOT American or European looking.

 

My point is that people are more apt to follow something like them.

 

My personal opinion is that less Americans would have followed a "colored" Jesus, so he was depicted to look white for that specific reason.

[Eve]

Desertmoon - not sure where you read that I am a white person... Originally the term caucasian was a term used to describe persons from a place called caucasia and so was not entirely based on skin colour... (if I remember my studies correctly) Hence I am always cautious with the term in a wider aspect. For example, my pointing out the 'asian' aspect within the term caucasian was not meant to only imply the continent of asia - rather the sharing of genetic traits between whites and asians. For example, long hair, straight nose etc. Skin pigmentation varies greatly and many anthropologists now argue that in todays world the term 'caucasian' is very poorly defined if only used to describe whites. Personally, I follow whatever the individual grades themselves as! One only has to look at various pictures of middle eastern persons to see that they are by and large not white. Personally, I thought that the whole Jesus being white thing was a political avenue used to make Christianity acceptable to white people. Just ask an Egyptian, they have a WHOLE different story to tell!!.. Quite a facinating one too! I follow what they say within my faith. I agree that a white Jesus is more acceptable than a black Jesus (hence the political spin) as conversely many have evidence of His heritage being mixed and/or black because of his well defined Scriptural lineage. People are people! I know what I believe and why ... and would not share it here because it is not the right place. A simplified version would be that, in essence I choose to look to His message because there will always be contentions between persons which do not reflect either historical fact nor His Glory for political means... Regards,Eve xx

[desertmoon]

Desertmoon - not sure where you read that I am a white person... Originally the term caucasian was a term used to describe persons from a place called caucasia and so was not entirely based on skin colour... (if I remember my studies correctly) Hence I am always cautious with the term in a wider aspect. For example, my pointing out the 'asian' aspect within the term caucasian was not meant to only imply the continent of asia - rather the sharing of genetic traits between whites and asians. For example, long hair, straight nose etc. Skin pigmentation varies greatly and many anthropologists now argue that in todays world the term 'caucasian' is very poorly defined if only used to describe whites. Personally, I follow whatever the individual grades themselves as! One only has to look at various pictures of middle eastern persons to see that they are by and large not white. Personally, I thought that the whole Jesus being white thing was a political avenue used to make Christianity acceptable to white people. Just ask an Egyptian, they have a WHOLE different story to tell!!.. Quite a facinating one too! I follow what they say within my faith. I agree that a white Jesus is more acceptable than a black Jesus (hence the political spin) as conversely many have evidence of His heritage being mixed and/or black because of his well defined Scriptural lineage. People are people! I know what I believe and why ... and would not share it here because it is not the right place. A simplified version would be that, in essence I choose to look to His message because there will always be contentions between persons which do not reflect either historical fact nor His Glory for political means... Regards,Eve xx

 

Eve, my point exactly! Thus, your previous post did not make sense! But cheers to you ! and oh I did not say you were "white"...I ASKED if you were white....i think there is a difference, don't you?

[Storyrider]

Jesus probably had an unusually small head.

 

Thanks to Eve, humans are sullied with original sin. She and Adam ate fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, opting to become godlike in their intelligence rather than remain in the garden with God. In essence, they opted for big brains rather than pure souls.

 

Big brains = big heads. That is why one of the outcomes of The Fall, was that childbirth would forevermore be painful for women.

 

Except Mary was born without Original Sin, according to the Church. Therefore, she would not have been burdened with painful childbirth. How can natural childbirth be painless? Only if the baby has a miraculously small head.

 

So there you have it.

[Moose]

The main reason I raised this point was to question whether or not people were more willing to accept a white Jesus than a brown Jesus.

Doesn't matter to me if He's purple.

 

He literally paid a debt that would've been IMPOSSIBLE for me to pay. Therefore, no matter what race, color or creed, HE is the only one that re-establish me, (snow covered dung) to God for all Eternally.

[taiko]

I just wonder why the picture/representation of Jesus was converted to a white man. No one besides desertmoon will acknowledge that a white Jesus is more acceptable than a black or brown one.

 

When the term Jesus is said, people who have ever seen a picture of Jesus, think of this white man. He could have been white, but he was NOT American or European looking.

 

My point is that people are more apt to follow something like them.

 

My personal opinion is that less Americans would have followed a colored Jesus, so he was depicted to look white for that specific reason.

 

Well in the Black American community, especially in the Afro-centric wing of that community the pretty white Jesus thing is often mentioned. Christian denominations have sprung up and are treated as nuts because of their insistance that Jesus is the first of many great things that had its roots in Africa. Part of the reason for the growth of the Nation of Islam and the other so-called Black Muslims of America is the white Jesus when whites held Africans in America as slaves. Noticably missing that Islamic Arabs took more Africans as slaves and held them in bondage for decades, until the 1960s, after white people in Europe and America went as far as fighting one of histories most desructive wars to free black people from bondage.

 

While a 21st century man raised in the liberal west can accept a black man as President or as a representative of the king of all kings the art which is used as the template for pretty white Jesus came at a time when most white people believed themselves to be superior and more human then darker skined people. Those people of Europe used their superior navies and economies to land in the darker world and those indiginous people wanting their share of the European riches attempting to join the Europeans class adopted the language and traditions. Hence Christianity spread as people dropped their native faiths

 

Part of the great commission is that you see yourself as superior. In the end maybe just because of assured salvation but superior neverless. The men and woman around at the time Christianity spread across the globe would never have accepted an inferior as the Lord.

[Eve]

Why was the fight to stop slavery destructive?Regards,Eve xx

[taiko]

Why was the fight to stop slavery destructive?Regards,Eve xx

 

In Europe it may have caused only a few canon rounds and actions by Royal Marines to supress the slave trade. But in America the slavery question was a major factor in the bloodiest war fought by Americans.

[Eve]

Ok. I thought you were saying that it was a worthless fight. I am not very clued up on American history and did not truly know the magnitude of The Civil War! Interesting. Regards,Eve xx

[taiko]

I don't know what color he was, but I guarantee he had no rhythm.

 

The Bible takes great pains, entire pages to describe Jesus as being in the line of David. Besides killing a giant and being a great king David is said to be a great worship leader. In Gospels songs written in this day people are encouraged to sing and dance as King David was said to do.

 

When I see the Chabad telethon come on the air as the faitful believing Jews start their dance it is obvious they have rythmn. I would suppose that Jesus raised in a similar tradition could and did dance too.

[GoneButNotForgotten]

Ok. I thought you were saying that it was a worthless fight. I am not very clued up on American history and did not truly know the magnitude of The Civil War! Interesting. Regards,Eve xx

 

Over 625,000 Americans died in the civil war. If I remember correctly, only the death Totals from WW2 is anywhere near it with 405,000 people. (This is for wars/conflicts that America was apart of)

 

As for the whole color of Jesus. Who cares? The teachings are fundamentally the same. Anyone who holds on to the literal translations (and most people are holding on to translations) of a book almost 2000 years old is nuts. Most all religions that I know of teach you to be a better person. (there are a few that I don't understand so cannot pass judgement) That is what people need to hold on to. Not some tiny little passage hidden away here or there to dictate every aspect of your life.