The Infinitely Compelling Christ
- Thread starter Thomas
- Start date
The only begotten is continually begotten.
Heck yeah, the stories of Jesus are incredible. Who would not be impressed by the words and miracles purported to be said and done by him in the gospels. And then when you add to those four books the phenomenal efforts of Paul to bolster churches in letter after letter maintain the franchise the movement got an amazing start.
What gers me is the the pictures, the paintings, the desire of westerners/Europeans to white wash this Palestinian person of color to make him palatable for the audience....could we worship a person of color?
Heck yeah, the stories of Jesus are incredible. Who would not be impressed by the words and miracles purported to be said and done by him in the gospels. And then when you add to those four books the phenomenal efforts of Paul to bolster churches in letter after letter maintain the franchise the movement got an amazing start.
What gers me is the the pictures, the paintings, the desire of westerners/Europeans to white wash this Palestinian person of color to make him palatable for the audience....could we worship a person of color?
Faithfulservant
Well-Known Member
Sorry need to fact check you.. lol
Im wondering why you refer to Him as a Palestinian when He was Jewish? Did you inow the word Palestine came from the word Philistine which were enemies of Israel and were actually of Greek descent? You seem to think we wouldnt worship a man of middle eastern descent.. thats insulting. Christianity is not a European religion it was in Africa before Europe.
Thanks AI!
Yes, the Philistines were the people who gave the land of Palestine its name:
The Philistines
In the 12th century BCE, the Philistines settled in a small area on the coast of Palestine, between Gaza and Tel Aviv–Yafo. They established five city-states, including Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza. The name "Philistia" was used by Greek writers to refer to the land of the Philistines.
The name Palestine
The name "Palestine" comes from the name of the Philistines. The Romans revived the name in the 2nd century CE for the southern part of the province of Syria, which they called "Syria Palaestina". The name was used again in the Byzantine era for the provinces of Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda, and Palaestina Salutaris. After World War I, the name was adopted as an official designation for one of the regions mandated to Great Britain.
The Philistines are thought to have originated from the Aegean islands or the Greek mainland, or from the west and south coasts of Asia Minor. They disappeared from history about 2,500 years ago.
Why Were the Philistines and Israelites Enemies - DailyHistory.org
What about the paintings from other parts of the world that depict a Jesus who looks like a man from those parts of the world? The color of Jesus’ skin remains an open question.
I do have to wonder if there is some agenda behind your description of Jesus as a “Palestinian person of color”.
As to the color of his skin....if he was the blue eyed, dirty blonde long hair, white guy that most churches I have been in was accurate seems folks would have definitely mentioned that anomaly....
I said Palestinian because the Bible pictures of my memory showed Nazareth and Bethlehem in Palestine....looking back it was Judea at the time..(palestine when my dad got his bible) ..my memory had the wrong map...thx for the correction! (Both of ya)
All I am saying is a Semitic man would have been less infinitely compelling to the Roman empire and European converts....the marketing ploy was to make him look more European....more infinitely compelling.
But yes, there are many paintings of a black (or darker skinned) mother and son. As it seems every culture uses the same infinitely compelling marketing ploy (make the savior look like us)
Those dark skinned Jesus pictures are not popular in evangelical america...the area of the world I am most familiar.
Dhammañāṇa Bhikkhu
(Not a member, just a guest)
One shouldn't forget that dark skin isn't favored is east and Asia as well. The whiter, the brighter. So it's not at all necessary to assume it's just western marketing. Dark skin means low and poor.
The opposite, modern world cherishes poor and not-blessed looking. So that's more the reason why this days common-equal images are prefered.
And serious: who would seek after dark? God and good is naturally assumed in bright.
Just as food for thought-correction put here.
(just to get sure that not wrong taken: it's not depending on birth or skin that one can lead a sublime live, become worthy of sacrifices)
The opposite, modern world cherishes poor and not-blessed looking. So that's more the reason why this days common-equal images are prefered.
And serious: who would seek after dark? God and good is naturally assumed in bright.
Just as food for thought-correction put here.
(just to get sure that not wrong taken: it's not depending on birth or skin that one can lead a sublime live, become worthy of sacrifices)
Faithfulservant
Well-Known Member
Maybe this is why we arent supposed to worship graven images. The bible describes Him as not a handsome man so that people would be drawn to Him for His looks. Any true bible believer does not think of Him as blue eyed blond hair as a matter of fact He was in His 30's but the pharisees commented that He could not have yet been 50 years of age. That suggests that He probably appeared older than His age from a rough life.
Dhammañāṇa Bhikkhu
(Not a member, just a guest)
So yours regard your prophet being fond in form? 
Yes that's certain compelling for most beings, yet hardly reaches even to lower heavenly realms, seeking refuge in form.
Yes that's certain compelling for most beings, yet hardly reaches even to lower heavenly realms, seeking refuge in form.
'fond' or 'found' in form?So yours regard your prophet being fond in form?
The image was in reference to contemporary, over-sentimental imagery.
My own view of Jesus is 'beyond form'.
Well perhaps we differ in that regard.
