lpetrich

I've known some people from the eastern Mediterranean coast, and they've looked rather pale to me. Not as much as northern Europeans, but they weren't very dark-skinned.

But they had black hair, and I'm sure that a historical Jesus Christ, if there was one, would have looked similar.

Mageth

I believe in the commandment to not make any images of God -- period. Pictures, statues and icons of Jesus are off my list.

The way I understand it, the commandment's intent is not to prohibit making images of God (or Jesus), but to prohibit making images/idols of god(s) to be adored/worshipped/served (i.e. idolatrous images). For example, Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel would not be prohibited by the commandment.

Kosh

I just got back from a week in Germany. Managed to get a little time to get down to Rothenburg. In it I toured a 500 year old Lutheran church (well it started out as catholic of course!). In the church they had this carving from an african tribe. The carving was made out of a single log of Ebony (very dense and expensive wood). Of course, it turns black when carved. And the natives had carved the image of Jesus and the apostles. All as black (facial features as well) as you can imagine.

Makes the story easier to swallow, I spose.

contracycle

Yeah I have a pic of an extremely Nordic, clean shaven Jesus from Norway. See below:

freeman

One of the more vocal fundy types at work who happens to be a "white" guy was really upset that a fellow believer of a different denomination stated that he believed that Jesus was "black". I attempted to point out to him the fact that two people can read the same book and reach different conclusions. He responded by quoting me some passages about Jesus apearing like a "white lamb" as an example of his purity ect..ect. My question is how do you define a person as "black" or "white"? Is it just based on the European point of view about racial differences? I my case I am African-American but because of some of my ancestry many people do not think so. I do not look like a "white" person and would never present my self to be one. All African-Americans are not dark skinned. How do you define "black"hair". I personally do not describe people by their "racial appearance". I have known many people of other "races"who do not look like they are "supposed to". It does not matter to me what Jesus (if he even existed ) looked like, it is a pointeless argument that says more about the people and in the debate than the subject. This same fundy was suprised when I told him that I was African-American. I wanted to ask him how important it was for him to believe in a God/Jesus that looked like him but we ran out of time.

brighid

I always found St. Genvieve and the legend surrounding her to be interesting, especially since "witches" were said to have the very same powers as calming storms, controlling weather and cursing people with all sorts of ailments for having stolen, or done something else from them. These "witches" were later burned (although we all know no person, called witch or not, actually possesses the ability to do such things.)

Brighid

brighid

An interesting note - growing up we always had a picture of the Black Madonna in the house. It was one of my favorite, religious pieces. We also had very anglo-looking depictions of Jesus with pale skin, light brown hair and blue eyes.

Brighid

Jabu Khan

Thats never really bothered me since their were a large number of Gauls in the area at the time Sepheroth one of the most populous cities in Isreal at the time was founded by Celts after the Romans displaced them. But Historical figures like Augustine of Hippo being depicted as nordic types when they were known to be dark skinned does erk me quite a bit.

Dark Jedi

Hmm... Maybe we should offer to sponsor the nativity in some of the more backwoods places that still insist on allowing one at the courthouse.

Make all aprticipants in the scene be of Middle Eastern decent...... I bet they'd flip their lids.