removing images of Jesus as white - can we have a respecful discussion?

[Anonymous]

Most depictions in the Catholic Churches I’ve attended throughout my life have been brown haired but Caucasian. I would fully support a more ethnically accurate portrayal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been brought up before, but more so in recent weeks as one of the responses do dismantling white supremacy. The theory behind it is that if we keep perceiving Jesus as white, and the son of God as white, that gets deep into the psyche as a false image of perfection and "good." Praying to, worshiping, elevating this handsome tall, blue eyed, long blonde haired white man image has an effect on what society deeps as "right."

Obviously Jesus, whether you believe him to be a deity or a historical man, looked nothing like the image that has been painted and elevated. In all likeliness, he was an olive, short, hairy, rustic looking guy.

Would any Black Christians be willing to share their thoughts on the imagery as it relates to supremacy?

I'm black but not a Christian, you've all been conned. Of course Jesus wasn't white, I don't even know why this is an issue. And even if miraculously he was white, wouldn't he have at least a tan? Rediculous….

I am black also. Decades ago, I went to the black neighborhood Catholic elementary school. The interpretive pictures of Christ had blond hair and blue eyes. When I went to the single sex Catholic high school, all the statues and pictures of Christ were blond hair and blue eyes. All the nuns were white. All the priests were white. All the parishioners were black. I guess those who had the gold made the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been brought up before, but more so in recent weeks as one of the responses do dismantling white supremacy. The theory behind it is that if we keep perceiving Jesus as white, and the son of God as white, that gets deep into the psyche as a false image of perfection and "good." Praying to, worshiping, elevating this handsome tall, blue eyed, long blonde haired white man image has an effect on what society deeps as "right."

Obviously Jesus, whether you believe him to be a deity or a historical man, looked nothing like the image that has been painted and elevated. In all likeliness, he was an olive, short, hairy, rustic looking guy.

Would any Black Christians be willing to share their thoughts on the imagery as it relates to supremacy?

I'm black but not a Christian, you've all been conned. Of course Jesus wasn't white, I don't even know why this is an issue. And even if miraculously he was white, wouldn't he have at least a tan? Rediculous….

I was never raised to think of him as white. Some images attempt to depict him as he was when he was glorified using bright colors for artist reasons. Also perfectly ok to depict him as other races. Heck, outside the seminary where I grew up, the statue of him out front has him painted with black skin. NBD.

[Anonymous]

Jesus’ foundational messages of love and acceptance has always been more important than his appearance.

For the past 2,000 years Jesus has been depicted in a myriad of ways in order to strengthen his message and relatability to different peoples. That should continue.

The historical man is less important than what the Son of God preached.

[Anonymous]

We have to separate the religious figure from the historical figure.

The historical figure mostly likely looked what we today would consider to be Middle Eastern (brown/black hair, tanned to brown skin, average height/weight for his time). He was mostly definitely not fair skin with blonde hair/blue eyes.

However, that's separate from the religious issue. The religious portrayal of religious personnages does not require historical accuracy. Each congregation, denomination, group, etc can choose for itself how it wants deal with this issue. Some may decide to maintain status quo for the sake of status quo. All the various Christian denominations have the option of portraying the religious personage of Jesus in their racial and/or ethnic image.

[Anonymous]

Listen up. I'm really ok with whatever you all want to change, reform or cancel. But, Jesus is hot and I won't budge unless his depiction is replaced with Blair Underwood or Cristiano Ronaldo. Even then, I'd want the conclave pomp and circumstance of Bishops ushering in a new Pope. Smoke from the Vatican chimney and everything🙏🏼

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every depiction I see generally has him as a dark skinned, Arab or maybe Italian/Greek looking person. Where are these blond Jesuses of which you speak?

Do a Google Image Search for "Jesus" [https://www.google.com/search?q=jesus&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwixzu2A6qfqAhXfmnIEHbm9CAsQ_AUoAXoECGgQAw&biw=1348&bih=864]

Almost all of them are blonde and white, and like the guy on a cover of a romance novel.

Yes, the majority picture him as white, but blond? Very few. Mostly he is brown/auburn to dark haired. But yes, incorrectly Caucasian.

It's blonde. Dirty blonde, but blonde. No way is Jesus usually depicted as having brown/auburn hair.

[Anonymous]

In the Holy Quran Jesus (as) is described as having light/blue eyes and curly fair hair. Middle Eastern people are white- they come in all shades and colors. if you've spent any time in the middle east you;; see people of all descriptions, having blond/titian colored textured hair and hazel green eyes with a lightly tan complexion is really common. Especially the light brown hair that gets streaked with blond/red in the sun and has texture to it as opposed to completely straight like most indo- europeans.

I'm Pakistani and there are blond blue eyed people in my family and dark brown skinned people with black hair and eyes. We are all of central asian,arab and south asian heritage.

I think he probably looked like Michael Aloni, he has light brown hair that turns blonde in the sun.Religious scholars say that prophets were born into families that were respected amongst their people b/c it gave them authority and I think that they were probably also attractive since that would help draw people to them and believe in their message as well. I'm sure being charismatic is kind of part of the job description of being prophet and they were wise and kind which always adds grace and is attractive.

[Anonymous]

My mom, an 80-year-old Episcopalian, had a picture of a black Jesus on her bedroom wall. Not middle-eastern, not caucasian, but black.

You can do this as an individual. You don't have to wait for your church. Although in fact, many church crucifixes, the ones above the altar, are actually wood, bronze or silver statues and don't have a specific skin color. This may be different in older churches, in which case, OP, go for it and ask your pastor about changing the altar piece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every depiction I see generally has him as a dark skinned, Arab or maybe Italian/Greek looking person. Where are these blond Jesuses of which you speak?

Do a Google Image Search for "Jesus" [https://www.google.com/search?q=jesus&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwixzu2A6qfqAhXfmnIEHbm9CAsQ_AUoAXoECGgQAw&biw=1348&bih=864]

Almost all of them are blonde and white, and like the guy on a cover of a romance novel.

Yes, the majority picture him as white, but blond? Very few. Mostly he is brown/auburn to dark haired. But yes, incorrectly Caucasian.

It's blonde. Dirty blonde, but blonde. No way is Jesus usually depicted as having brown/auburn hair.

Don't know what denomination you're in, but this is incorrect for mine. He always has brown or black hair in our depictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether or not you leave it up to individual churches (not just denominations, but actual church locations) I think there are a lot of people who are silent now, but would throw a fit if actually changed. I think there are a lot of people like that on DCUM quietly reading.

I truly doubt this. But in any event, bring it up in your church and see if it flies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom, an 80-year-old Episcopalian, had a picture of a black Jesus on her bedroom wall. Not middle-eastern, not caucasian, but black.

You can do this as an individual. You don't have to wait for your church. Although in fact, many church crucifixes, the ones above the altar, are actually wood, bronze or silver statues and don't have a specific skin color. This may be different in older churches, in which case, OP, go for it and ask your pastor about changing the altar piece.

Well, he wasn’t black. He was Middle Eastern. But I guess that’s nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every depiction I see generally has him as a dark skinned, Arab or maybe Italian/Greek looking person. Where are these blond Jesuses of which you speak?

Do a Google Image Search for "Jesus" [https://www.google.com/search?q=jesus&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwixzu2A6qfqAhXfmnIEHbm9CAsQ_AUoAXoECGgQAw&biw=1348&bih=864]

Almost all of them are blonde and white, and like the guy on a cover of a romance novel.

Yes, the majority picture him as white, but blond? Very few. Mostly he is brown/auburn to dark haired. But yes, incorrectly Caucasian.

It's blonde. Dirty blonde, but blonde. No way is Jesus usually depicted as having brown/auburn hair.

Don't know what denomination you're in, but this is incorrect for mine. He always has brown or black hair in our depictions.

I'm not talking about your particular church or denominations, but in the general, broader images of Jesus. I was not raised Christian (Muslim), but understood these to be what Jesus looked like by societal standards. White, blonde, blue eyed, tall - ie, the below images. He almost certainly never looked close to these depictions, either in religious or historical contexts.

[Anonymous]

What Jesus probably more close resembled:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether or not you leave it up to individual churches (not just denominations, but actual church locations) I think there are a lot of people who are silent now, but would throw a fit if actually changed. I think there are a lot of people like that on DCUM quietly reading.

I agree with you about people throwing a fit, even though many are the same people throwing a fit and caterwauling about “erasing history” about being confederate statues down.