Why do Christians persist w/ the myth of white Jesus? It's historically inaccurate & would do no harm to change since we're "all Gods children"?

Question

Revelation 1:14-15

"His (Jesus) head and his hairs were white like WOOL, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine BRASS."

This passage shows that Jesus had a brass color to his skin and curly hair.

Psalms 45:2 descriptions speak of the coming Messiah and describe him as "fairer than the children of men".

It's not much to go on to be sure but it's all we've got out of a very very very suspect HISTORICAL (not theological) source.

As far as the historiography is concerned, the Ethiopian Christian Church is believed by most historians to have the most accurate and unaltered point of view on Jesus's background. This is so because the Ethiopian church survived largely in isolation having been mostly cut off from larger Christendom by the fall of the Roman Empire and the advent of Islam which completed the isolation.

Unfortunately, due to the human propensity to make their gods look like themselves, we must view the Ethiopian Christian view as suspect for that reason.

On this issue, some have stated that it's an effort to "cancel" Jesus. Others have stated it's an attempt to simply acknowledge reality that the "SoCal surfer Jesus" is simply not, and never could be, accurate.

I don't think the vastness of Christianity is ready to accept multiple visions of Jesus according to what the worshipers look like. Some have even gone as far to say that Korean Jesus is blasphemous.

I leave it to you good GaGers! Let's discuss!

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

I disagree about his not being White.

He may not have been European, but he was definitely a Caucasian.

Let's look at this via a process of elimination.

In that part of the world, you are going to have either Caucasians, Subsaharan Africans, or, further east, South Asians/East Asians with blending across Asia between Caucasians and East Asians.

Had Jesus been a South Asian or an East Asian or a Subsaharan African, he would not likely have been there to begin with and, furthermore, that would have been visually substantially noteworthy and distinct. This would have been mentioned in scripture, but it's not. This is likely because, visually, he was not noteworthy or distinct. Therefore, he was likely Caucasian.

By the way, here is how the US Federal Government defines various ethnic groups as they appear in the US Census and other government data. From the Census Bureau:

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Measuring Racial and Ethnic Diversity for the 2020 Census
August 04, 2021

... Like other statistical agencies, we follow standards on race and ethnicity set by the U. S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 1997.

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This comes from those hyperlinked OMB standards... I added the boldface. I agree with these definitions.

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The standards have five categories for data on race: American Indian or Alaska
Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. There are two categories for data on ethnicity: ‘‘Hispanic or Latino,’’ and ‘‘Not Hispanic or Latino.’’

1. Categories and Definitions

The minimum categories for data on race and ethnicity for Federal statistics, program administrative reporting, and civil rights compliance reporting are defined as follows:

American Indian or Alaska Native.

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Asian.

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Black or African American.

A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as ‘‘Haitian’’ or ‘‘Negro’’ can be used in addition to ‘‘Black or African American.’’

Hispanic or Latino.

A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term, ‘‘Spanish origin,’’ can be used in addition to ‘‘Hispanic or Latino.’’

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other
Pacific Islands.

White.

A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

lightbulb27 · Accepted Answer

he was Jewish.

Most Jewish people are quite pale

However... he was a stone cutter... that is hard work out in the sun. he may have been quite bronze.

My mind is open, but as well, I don't focus on this. I don't like imagery in churchs and my church only has a cross. I respect a black jesus on a cross as much as a white one... and both are likely very false. It ain't about the color.

Jesus was red... on the inside and heart of gold for humanity.

I'm not certain what that first passage is saying, it's a dream anyways... often there is analogy in those terms. White may be more like when your blinded by the light and see white.

Others see what they want to see...

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Well Jesus was a hebrew descended from those people who left Canaan for Egypt under the leadership of Joseph during famine and during the Bronze age collapse or before it and left a few hundred years later during or after the Bronze age collapse. These people settled in Canaan once again becoming the nation of Israel.

The kingdom of Israel and 12 tribes was split into two after the death of King Solomon between the kingdom of Judah (Jews) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel/Samaria. Eventually both these kingdoms were conquered by Assyrians, babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Arabs, turks and so on. For a short time Judah had regained it's independence under the Macabees.

Anyway those other Hebrew Israelites the Samaritians still to this day live in Israel and have always lived there, unlike the Jews who were spread out across the globe. The big difference between Samaritians and Jews is that their religion and religious beliefs are all most identical except up to the point of the babylonian exile which separated them.

The Samaritians do not marry outside their people. If you look at Samaritians they look paler than their Arab neighbours but are Mediterranean in appearance. So jesus would have looked the way Samaritians do today. There's been genetic studies comparing Samaritians, Jews and the graves of ancient hebrews it's been shown they are all almost identical to each other despite 2000 years, probably because the Jews wherever they went generally married only other Jews.

Depending on where you go the racial depiction of jesus changes so in China you have Chinese jesus, in Japan Japanese jesus, Italy you get Italian jesus, africa you get black jesus, north Europe you get Borth European jesus, you even have native American jesus.

mandyfire98 · Accepted Answer

Because Jesus by many is seen as the most important being in the world. He's also viewed as being God, the most powerful being of all. So white people needed the most powerful being there is to be seen as white. That's why he's always been portrayed that way.

TheWombRaider · Answer

It's nice but you got the whole passage wrong head like wool eyes flames of fire and feet of brass is describing his divine look like what he looks like In heavenly form.

Let let me ask you this look at the Jewish people of today the ones that live in Israel what do they look like that's what you just look like what would you say that was would you say that was white would you say that was black what would you say it was if you had to choose it's in more white or more black what would you say. I tend to see it more white than black but that's not the point. What Jesus looked like on earth is irrelevant because it's his heavenly appearance that is his true form.

Why do you think the second commandment is have no engraving image? Because man is made in the image of God we are the engraving image already. In the image is not just physically but emotionally meaning we love we cry we feel hurt when someone betrays us or cheats on us or cheats on us. All those emotions are also from God that's why we're made In his image.

blueonblack22 · Answer

Jesus was a Mediterranean Jew and described as average in stature. The Bible never detailed his earthly physical appearance other than mentioning he was average in appearance for his time.

https://www.history.com/news/what-did-jesus-look-like

Interestingly enough The Chosen series showed Jesus’ earthly father Joseph as very dark skinned. I don’t remember there being a so called “uproar” among mainstream Christians about this. https://the-chosen.fandom.com/wiki/Joseph

Truth be told if you obsess about what Jesus’ race and appearance was then you are missing the entire point of the Jesus’ ministry and his mission

This goes for anybody who is believer or not.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

There is a direct through line in the history of the United States that goes through Christian evangelism and white supremacy. The idea that Jesus is white and the people who hold on to said idea over acknowledging the reality that it would be impossible for an arabic jewish man to be that pale in the middle east 2000 years ago are people who are part of that through line and that influence whether they want to admit it or not.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Another white supremacy manifestation. Look, lasses and lads, how would someone born in the torrid Midlle Eat be a BLUE-EYED BLOND DUDE save white folk's febrile imaginations.(Or, as Cassius M. Clay, Sr., father of Cassius M. Clay, Jr., the future Muhammad Ali, replied when his young son asked him why Jesus was always white:"Because we're not supposed to know who we are, and the white man THINKS he knows who he is, so he THINKS he can tell us who Jesus is or isn't.")

AviatorTom · Answer

Our view of Jesus comes from paintings made during the Renaissance, painted mostly by Catholic Italians. Without a specific model to work with, they painted what they are most familiar with, Jesus as a white man with dark hair.

SugarSugarplum · Answer

I think every Christian who has sat in church more than a few times knows Jesus' human body was Jewish. It's not something anyone cares about - no one I have ever met anyhow.
The issue came about in the arts when painters painted Jesus based on his own region. Italians painted him as Italian, etc.
It's not a problem.

John_And_Elijah · Answer

Jesus was certainly European. Jews and certain other Europeans are actually the sexual offspring of Eve and Satan. Black people on the other hand were a type of primate (a beast of the field).

jshm2 · Answer

Because Jesus wasn't Greek or Roman aka "White" in his days. But it was to spread the myth of Christianity, that these non-Jews had to make some tenacious link with Jesus.

gatixek710 · Answer

This is such a hilarious strawman you guys keep creating.

DtMe89 · Answer

For the same reason, they refuse to accept that Jesus was Jewish

Reijen · Answer

Have you seen how Chinese Christians depict him or Coptic Christians?

LiamJHayden · Answer

Beats me. He was born in Bethlehem and his ancestors decended from Abraham, who was from Ur, present day Southern Iraq.

elaphe · Answer

He almost certainly had dark hair and skin, seeing as he lived in the Middle East. That being said, while it is interesting to speculate on his appearance, the Gospel message of repentance and redemption is what is important to Christians.

exitseven · Answer

Every picture of him shows him as a white guy with a beard. Of course he is white.

Anonymous · Answer

Like the gods of any other religions, Jesus is a man-made figure who exists only in people's minds, and people tend to create them in their own image.

Dongie · Answer

Well Jesus isn't concerned about skin color, His or yours. He is who He is. You'll get to see for yourself soon.

thenerdone · Answer

Christ is depicted differently across cultures. I think most people know Jesus wasn't a white European guy.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

You clearly don't know how to read.  Hair as white as wool means curly to you?

Jennz6 · Answer

I don’t think about that

slatyb · Answer

There's scant evidence Jesus existed at all.

Cubus · Answer

You almost sound like Jews are not White.

Why do Christians persist w/ the myth of white Jesus? It's historically inaccurate & would do no harm to change since we're "all Gods children"?

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