Christ was not white ..

[_plunderpunk]

All of those artistic depictions portray Biblical characters as northern European in appearance.
Yet, the Judeo-Christian God is the God of the entire human race. A race whose skin complexion
is overwhelming brown (70%-80% now, and probably higher 2k years ago). What gives?

Folks will invariably argue that it's not important. Alright. Then why change it to suit our culture specific needs?

One reason might be that, historically, Jews have been down right hated by Christians. "Christ-killers" they were called (never mind the facts that his death was due to the local Roman government AND it was necessary to bring fulfillment of scriptural revelation that jump started and legitimized the Christian church). So after the early church fully separated from its Jewish origins, its art would be required to represent that break away, too. Especially when the religion took hold in more northern climes where the local populations were of fairer complexions.

Portraying your God in your skin tone WILL lead to racism. If *your* God (the true one above all the false ones of this world, as everyone's God has the propensity to be) looks like you - you win!
All of the other, differently pigmented folks have been lead astray, but! can be lucky if they chose to accept your true, white God.

[_just me]

Well, since the LDS church still holds on to racist doctrine....yeah. Christ isn't gonna get browner anytime soon.

[_Cardinal Biggles]

Had he been of a completely different skin tone from his contemporaries during his life, it would arguably be of enough importance to include in the New Testament. Was it? I am not aware of any such references.

I also am not aware of New Testament references to the color of Jesus' skin (or hair or eyes). In fact, I think that there are very few references to the color of ANYONE'S skin in the Bible. There's Cain, of course, whose hue is probably mentioned due to the alleged change in pigment. Other than him, I'm not sure I can think of any other Biblical references to a person's skin color. Were any of the characters in the Bible, other than Cain, darker-pigmented? Was Rameses II--the supposed Pharaoh of Moses' time? Does the Biblical account ever mention it?

[_just me]

In the Bible, the only references to "white" skin have a negative connotation. At least, last time I read on the issue.

[_Morley]

Had he been of a completely different skin tone from his contemporaries during his life, it would arguably be of enough importance to include in the New Testament. Was it? I am not aware of any such references.

I also am not aware of New Testament references to the color of Jesus' skin (or hair or eyes). In fact, I think that there are very few references to the color of ANYONE'S skin in the Bible. There's Cain, of course, whose hue is probably mentioned due to the alleged change in pigment. Other than him, I'm not sure I can think of any other Biblical references to a person's skin color. Were any of the characters in the Bible, other than Cain, darker-pigmented? Was Rameses II--the supposed Pharaoh of Moses' time? Does the Biblical account ever mention it?

The Bible does not say that Cain's skin was black. It says that God "set a mark upon Cain."

[_Fiannan]

Had he been of a completely different skin tone from his contemporaries during his life, it would arguably be of enough importance to include in the New Testament. Was it? I am not aware of any such references.

I also am not aware of New Testament references to the color of Jesus' skin (or hair or eyes). In fact, I think that there are very few references to the color of ANYONE'S skin in the Bible. There's Cain, of course, whose hue is probably mentioned due to the alleged change in pigment. Other than him, I'm not sure I can think of any other Biblical references to a person's skin color. Were any of the characters in the Bible, other than Cain, darker-pigmented? Was Rameses II--the supposed Pharaoh of Moses' time? Does the Biblical account ever mention it?

Esau was born covered with red hair and for a person to be born with red hair that means both parents need to have the recessive gene. What might that imply about Abraham?

King David is also generally viewed as having red hair.

Murial from Pompeii http://www.lessing-photo.com/dispimg.as ... cr=42&cl=1

Note the dark features of people of the Mediterranian region?

[_Cardinal Biggles]

I also am not aware of New Testament references to the color of Jesus' skin (or hair or eyes). In fact, I think that there are very few references to the color of ANYONE'S skin in the Bible. There's Cain, of course, whose hue is probably mentioned due to the alleged change in pigment. Other than him, I'm not sure I can think of any other Biblical references to a person's skin color. Were any of the characters in the Bible, other than Cain, darker-pigmented? Was Rameses II--the supposed Pharaoh of Moses' time? Does the Biblical account ever mention it?

The Bible does not say that Cain's skin was black. It says that God "set a mark upon Cain."

I also did not say that Cain's skin was "black."

Do you want to contend that the mark refers to something other than pigmentation?

[_plunderpunk]

The Bible does not say that Cain's skin was black. It says that God "set a mark upon Cain."

One could 'spose that the Jews were looking to explain dark skinned folks through their lore the way they explained the number of different languages through the tower of Babel fable.
Not unlike with the Epic of Gilgamesh, they "adapted" well established creation stories from other groups into their lore/holy books.

[_Cardinal Biggles]

In the Bible, the only references to "white" skin have a negative connotation. At least, last time I read on the issue.

Ah, yes, that is true. Leprosy and all.

[_Quasimodo]

Afghan child:



http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7hEq6TwiiU/T ... o1_500.jpg

Fiannan, Afghanistan is a VERY long way from Judea. It's had a minor population of Nordic ancestry since before the middle ages. The same as Russia (from the word Russ meaning redheads).

There has been an interjection of European genes into the Middle East since the time of the Romans (the Roman armies were made up of people from all over Europe... lots of Germans, etc.).

The Jewish population in Europe intermingled with the locals (people that looked like William Shatner) for two thousand years.

Your photos don't mean very much. Unless, you're suggesting that Jesus' dad was a Roman legionary as in "The Life of Brian".