The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

[franksterr]

This is not question about the Work Life and Message that Jesus has brought to this world, for that we are thankful for all the good it brought and deeply regret those who used his message to committ and or promote evil.
Instead this is a question about the role and effect that a white (european) portrayal of God has on an Afrikan person especially an Afrikan child given the racist environment we live/lived in.

Is Jesus color important to Africans and should it be?
SHOULD JESUS AND GOD BE REPRESENTED AS WHITE TO A LARGELY BLACK POPULATION?
yes/No/Of No Consquence????




from the protocols of the Global Africans Congress -
for your reading edification , criticism or praises join the conversation .
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Approved at the Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants World Conference Against Racism in Barbados on October 5th 2002.
Whereas, the portrayal of the Christ in images of Caucasian flesh constitutes an oppressive instrument destructive to the self-esteem of Black people throughout the world and is directly destructive to the psychological well-being of Black Children;

And whereas, the Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants World Conference Against Racism recognizes that the persistent exposure to such images is particularly damaging to immature Black minds;

Be it resolved, that this Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants World Conference Against Racism recommends the removal of Caucasoid images of Jesus Christ from public display and from places of worship, particular in settings where immature Black minds are likely to be exposed.

Be it also resolved, that this conference strongly condemn the decision of the Barbados Community Foundation to bring and stage the British play Jesus Christ Superstar to Barbados, portraying Jesus Christ as a white man to Black children on October 23rd, 2002.</div></div>

[freedom-man]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

how about stop pushing religion down children's throat?

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[jah_yout]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

no one is really sure what jesus' &quot;color&quot; was...

it's just that europeans had world power over the last few hundred years and were able to appropriate the image of jesus as being a european when he was not from europe...

he was from next door to africa &amp; actually lived in africa according to the bible...

the fact that most blacks now see jesus as a white man is a testament to colonial power &amp; brainwash...
certain ideas once deeply engrained are extremely difficult to change, especially among the older generation;

barbados displayed very foolish actions by accepting a play portraying christ as a white man proving they are still in mental slavery (as are most black countries);

if no one knows what 'color' he was why portray him as a 'white' man exclusively?

[Emperah]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

I think ppl need fi really find out fi sure if Jesus exhisted, cah if him nevah walk de earth colour nuh mean nuttin.

[johnnycakes]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dahJahPawtTwo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think ppl need fi really find out fi sure if Jesus exhisted, cah if him nevah walk de earth colour nuh mean nuttin. </div></div>

Amen to that dahJah,

Further, take a look at the color of the people who live in the area around Bethlehem, Nazareth, Palestine ( forget the Israelis who came from Europe) Egypt, Syria.

While they may be considered sort of tan colored, they are definitely not black Africans.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were white and the people on the north coast of Africa were less white and or light brown. They do not have the facial features or the hair of black Africans.

Therefore, IF Christ were born to Jewish parents in the Middle East he'd look more like Yassir Arafat than Nelson Mandela.

The racial composition did not go from black to brown in the Middle East in 2000 years.

Christianity was created 2000 years ago in an area that was Semitic. There is no reason to connect black Africa with Christianity at its inception. It would be both highly unlikely and greatly commented upon if a black Christ, the Messiah were to be born of a Middle Eastern. Those who wrote the New Testament wouldn't fail to note something like that.

If black Africans choose to accept Christ as their savior, their Messiah then they must accept a man with brownish and not black skin. If He was the son of God then his appearing as a Semite makes all the sense in the world since Semites were whom He was to teach, lead. Semitic peoples of those days would not have listened to a black African claiming to be the Savior.

If he is or was the son of God, then his color makes no difference.
He then becomes a spiritual concept and not of any race but of all races and people who believe in him.

Besides, the Old Testament, the Jews have one of the commandments saying:

&quot;Thou shalt not worship graven images&quot;

The Christians changed that to false idols.

Therefore the Jews have no pictures, no statues, no stained glass images in their synagogues while the Christians and especially the Catholics have plenty in their churches.

The pictures, statues, glass windows, crucifixes of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the myriad saints that are revered by Christians all serve to draw attention away from the spiritual aspects of the religion by their presence in a place where you are supposed to be dealing with the spiritual.

Forget what Jesus might have looked like and concentrate on what he taught which was to serve the poor.

Don't lose his message in the trappings of organized religion.

[neutral]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

I suspect the average black jesus worshipper doesnt care that jesus is depicted as white,they are so desperate to believe in something.or someone to &quot;save&quot; their meaningless souls they are prepared to believe anything that is shoved down their throats courtesy of the bible,.....and I also suspect the majority of them wouldnt be so enthusiastic with their jesus worshipping if he was depicted as black.

They are very fond of throtting out the same tired old argument that jesus,s skin colour is irrelevant,but it should be relevant,so far there has never been any proof or evidence that a white diety has been so all inclusive he was willling to embrace the black man as his own and save his sorrowful likkle black a-ss along with the other white deluded morons.

[johnnycakes]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

&quot;.and I also suspect the majority of them wouldnt be so enthusiastic with their jesus worshipping if he was depicted as black.&quot;


Here you're talking about black people. Imagine the reaction were the white people who call themselves Christian to discover that Jesus was indeed a black man.

I guess they'd call him a socialist and ask for his birth certificate.

[franksterr]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dahJahPawtTwo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think ppl need fi really find out fi sure if Jesus exhisted, cah if him nevah walk de earth colour nuh mean nuttin. </div></div>

It really does not matter whether or not Jesus really existed, the fact that he is an Icon is all that really matters, one in which a vast amount of people place in or imbue with much value and great esteem. It is this value which is a social construct that gives meaning and brings relevancy to Jesus's story. In Christian societies the myth around Jesus is epitome to which Man strives - the highest and or greatest goal.
The stories that fill our lifes for the most part are myth, fiction and folklore, yet they guide us down thruogh the centuries, telling us how to act in a given situation, where we belong and what role we are to play in a given society. From bredda anancy to Orion the hunter or the latest movie all impacts on how we see ourselves.
The only reality there is, is the present all else is a mental exercise - form the distant past to the immediate future.

[franksterr]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: johnnycakes</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dahJahPawtTwo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think ppl need fi really find out fi sure if Jesus exhisted, cah if him nevah walk de earth colour nuh mean nuttin. </div></div>

Amen to that dahJah,

Further, take a look at the color of the people who live in the area around Bethlehem, Nazareth, Palestine ( forget the Israelis who came from Europe) Egypt, Syria.

While they may be considered sort of tan colored, they are definitely not black Africans.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were white and the people on the north coast of Africa were less white and or light brown. They do not have the facial features or the hair of black Africans.

Therefore, IF Christ were born to Jewish parents in the Middle East he'd look more like Yassir Arafat than Nelson Mandela.

The racial composition did not go from black to brown in the Middle East in 2000 years.

Christianity was created 2000 years ago in an area that was Semitic. There is no reason to connect black Africa with Christianity at its inception. It would be both highly unlikely and greatly commented upon if a black Christ, the Messiah were to be born of a Middle Eastern. Those who wrote the New Testament wouldn't fail to note something like that.

If black Africans choose to accept Christ as their savior, their Messiah then they must accept a man with brownish and not black skin. If He was the son of God then his appearing as a Semite makes all the sense in the world since Semites were whom He was to teach, lead. Semitic peoples of those days would not have listened to a black African claiming to be the Savior.

If he is or was the son of God, then his color makes no difference.
He then becomes a spiritual concept and not of any race but of all races and people who believe in him.

Besides, the Old Testament, the Jews have one of the commandments saying:

&quot;Thou shalt not worship graven images&quot;

The Christians changed that to false idols.

Therefore the Jews have no pictures, no statues, no stained glass images in their synagogues while the Christians and especially the Catholics have plenty in their churches.

The pictures, statues, glass windows, crucifixes of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the myriad saints that are revered by Christians all serve to draw attention away from the spiritual aspects of the religion by their presence in a place where you are supposed to be dealing with the spiritual.

Forget what Jesus might have looked like and concentrate on what he taught which was to serve the poor.

Don't lose his message in the trappings of organized religion. </div></div>

Every Buddhist knows that Budha was indian , but that does not stop the Chinese from making Buddha chinese - why?

[franksterr]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

Look I will and have conceded the supremacy of Jesus life work and message, nor do I want to question whether he really existed or not and what color he really was or could be if he did exist.
What I am asking is Should Africans in a racist environment expouse their children to a white Jesus?
Does a white Jesus reflect who we are as Afrikans..... beyond our humanity?

[franksterr]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Natral</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I suspect the average black jesus worshipper doesnt care that jesus is depicted as white,they are so desperate to believe in something.or someone to &quot;save&quot; their meaningless souls they are prepared to believe anything that is shoved down their throats courtesy of the bible,.....and I also suspect the majority of them wouldnt be so enthusiastic with their jesus worshipping if he was depicted as black.

They are very fond of throtting out the same tired old argument that jesus,s skin colour is irrelevant,but it should be relevant,so far there has never been any proof or evidence that a white diety has been so all inclusive he was willling to embrace the black man as his own and save his sorrowful likkle black a-ss along with the other white deluded morons. </div></div>

But would you agree that white Jesus worshippers do care that Jesus be depicted as white and european ?
And would find it offensive if he was protrayed as black and Afrikan?
If so why is this so?

[johnnycakes]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

This is such entertaining stuff.
Hitchens is marvelous and his logic (IMO) impeccable here although not to those of faith whom I would not expect to like the message.

Secure in your faith and intellectually curious? You should find this video very interesting.

[neutral]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: franksterr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">


But would you agree that white Jesus worshippers do care that Jesus be depicted as white and european ?
</div></div>
Yes I would agree that they do care,they say they dont but lets face it,historically the black man has always been powerless and see the white man as the one with the power,a black jesus just doesnt cut the mustard,they feel more secure with their white jesus,he is more likely to get things done.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And would find it offensive if he was protrayed as black and Afrikan?
If so why is this so?

</div></div>

Wouldnt exactly say find it offensive,but they would certainly be disappointed,I've heard it said by black people numerous times that black people cant be racists because to be a racist you have to have power,and black people hold no power,using that yardstick then it's easy to see why a black jesus would be less attractive than a white one,........the confidence just isnt there.

[Emperah]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: franksterr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Look I will and have conceded the supremacy of Jesus life work and message, nor do I want to question whether he really existed or not and what color he really was or could be if he did exist.
What I am asking is Should Africans in a racist environment expouse their children to a white Jesus?
Does a white Jesus reflect who we are as Afrikans..... beyond our humanity? </div></div>
Afrikans should be taught the truth about the Serapis image who became Jesus, they should be taught that the letter &quot;J&quot; is only 600 years old, they should be taught about the Nicean council of 325 AD that created Jesus. Once they realize that how could his colour matter.

I have pictures of blk Jesus, Blk lords supper on my wall, cause at the time of my development it was very important to me that no yt jesus be anywhere in my place of tranquility. Now it nuh mattah if dem graven image deh bout at all.

[f0rTyLeGz]

Re: The Image of Christ - Is Jesus color significant ?

Here is the new world's tallest image of Jesus... here Jesus looks Polish.