My Name is Charles Johnson. I grew up in Harlem during the 60's. I went to Catholic grammar school at Saint Mark's on 138th and Lennox Avenue which was run by the Sisters of The Blessed Sacrament. My mom had me baptized a Catholic when I was 9 because tuition was cheaper for Catholics. All students were required to go to church every Sunday. The sisters were very dedicated in their efforts to give inner city kids the best education possible. If they had any racist tendencies, I never saw or experienced it. But I also had two African America teachers, Mrs. Norcross in the 3rd grade and Mrs. Williams in the 5th. They taught me the importance of being proud of my history and why its necessary to stand up for truth. That's the reason for this blog. The power of the internet makes this conversation possible. Publications, TV and radio both black and white that depend on ad dollars, would never tackle this controversial subject.
Black Jesus.com is a place for exploring the truth about what Jesus truly looked like and why the denial and cover up of this truth negatively effects people of color all over the world, but especially where ever white Christianity has ever existed any where in the world. If you are new to this site and want to continue to believe in the lie that Jesus was white, blond and blue eyed, please don't bother to post any bigoted remarks. They will be immediately deleted. It is your right to believe what ever you choose. But if you feel it is important to finally know the truth, and why its been hidden, then we welcome your comments on this and any other subjects we will cover.
As a child, I often wondered why I saw no Black Angels or Saints in the pictures of St. Mark's Church. I wondered, don't Black people go to heaven? Is there a black heaven and a white heaven? But in high school at Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx in 1970, I began to raise this question in my religion class. My religion teacher, Father Mitchel became enraged when I said there was no way Jesus Christ could have been white, based on where Jerusalem is located and how sun exposed people looked during that time period. Rather than engaging me in a conversation and opening it up for class discussion, he became very angry, calling me blasphemous and demanded that I leave his class. Over the next 3 years this happened not once, but over three times.
Ironically, it was a white priest by the name of Father John Meehan, who came to my defense on several occassions to lobby on my behalf on the side of truth, against his fellow priests who refused to consider the facts. He also became, in many ways, the father figure I never had. To this day, he is still a dear friend.
Why are so many people afraid of the truth? What is this fear of dark skin and where does it come from? Why does this fear appear to be pervasive all over the world where white, brown and dark skin people try to coexist. As the originator of this blog, I want to explore the issue of race in the US and around the world that appear in the news, in sports, health care, and in every day life world wide. I invite all open minded people to post their ideas.
When you close your eyes, what does he look like? Most white people see Jesus and God as white and this empowers them. Some Caucasians falsely believe their supposed racial superiority starts here. For some Blacks, their image is the same, because they wonder 'If Jesus really did look like me, and he was the son of God, then why have darker people suffered so much through out history. Harriet Tubman, who led hundreds of slaves to freedom by way of the Undergound Railroad said she could have freed many more if they had just believed they should be free. This untrue Caucasian image of Jesus keeps all of us enslaved in a lie.
Good Times The Sitcom Explains This False Image In a Very Humerous Way.
I have long felt the same about my Lords race,the people of that region still are not blonde and blue eyed(ANY lightness of color came from all the race mixing from all over the globe),when ever you see people in the news from these areas they are people of color. They look like relatives...........THE "WORLD" WILL BE TOLD ALL WHEN JESUS RETURNS TO CLAIN HIS EARTH,I hope they wake up and accept him into their lifes before then.
Posted by: Da'rrell Martin I | May 01, 2006 at 01:32 AM
To be honest, I'm not sure why the question is "Was Jesus black or white?" Jesus was born to Middle Eastern parents in the Middle East. Jesus' apparence was therefore of a Middle Eastern man.
And further more, why does it say all over this site that Jesus is often portrayed as having blond hair and blue eyes? I have not once in my life seen Jesus portrayed as such. Go do a Google image search, you dumb nigger.
Posted by: David Lewis | August 13, 2006 at 10:57 PM
I'm a seventeen years old and i just wanted to let you knoe that this site is the truth i've been looking for, Knew this because if he was born in the middle eastern part of the world around africa, there are no white people and if he was white he wouldn't have ever been executed at the cross, im I right.
The bible states the he was a man of greate bueaty, hair of a sheeps wool (nappy/dreaded) skin of bronze (black man's skin tone). ya feel me u may e-mail back at anytime. thankyou
Posted by: Gregory D. Rowe | February 06, 2007 at 04:41 PM
I am a firm believer that Jesus was not what you are stereotypically calling white, but I am also do not think he was black. Unless you are linking the Arabic race as Black. Yeshua is Jewish; he is the lineage of Israel. The Lineage of Israel is also the descendants of the Arab nation. Yet, I am not blonde hair, and blue eyed. I am from a Mediterranean heritage, and would not consider my self white by those standards as well. The Anglo Jesus is the wrong depiction, and so is yours. Jesus was Jewish as was Moses (who had to disguise himself from his Egyptian Step-father) Thoughts like this ponder in my head, and I know that his physical image is irrelevant. We are all made in God's image; therefore, look at each other as brothers and sisters. I am tired of arguing with people about race. We are all one race; The Human Race. Man of Color by definition. Man of God with many colors. "Of God" is the key phrase. The idea of holding on to the people are afraid is judgmental; whereas, the bible tells us not to judge for there is only one who will lay Judgment. Accountability for my actions yes, Forgiveness yes, but really Judging fear by all? The answer is Jesus was of one race the Human Race, and he will answer all of our questions during the rapture, Armageddon,and our entrance into heaven.
Posted by: Jeremy Sampson | March 07, 2007 at 09:26 AM
Jesus whose True Name in Hebrew is YAHWAYSHI Is, Was, and shall always be, a Black Man. No one can breakdown the holy scriptures like the Hebrew Israelites. Why do you think the slave masters didn't want us to read the Old Testament! They knew the ancient Israelites/ Jews/Prophets of old and their modern day ancestors were and are still BLACK/BROWN today. The Black Jesus Movie was not scriptural because it was based upon christian/pagan (slave master) lies. Just making the Savior Black is not enough. It is truth that makes us free.
Posted by: M. Franklin | April 17, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Jesus whose True Name in Hebrew is YAHWAYSHI Is, Was, and shall always be, a Black Man. No one can breakdown the holy scriptures like the Hebrew Israelites. Why do you think the slave masters didn't want us to read the Old Testament! They knew the ancient Israelites/ Jews/Prophets of old and their modern day ancestors were and are still BLACK/BROWN today. The Black Jesus Movie was not scriptural because it was based upon christian/pagan (slave master) lies. Just making the Savior Black is not enough. It is truth that makes us free.
Posted by: M. Franklin | April 17, 2007 at 02:54 PM
Firstly, compliments on your great site. Im 23 writing from Australia and come from mixed ancestry, my Father would call himself Australian (I would call him Irish as the white settlers have only been in our beautiful country for a quick minute!), my Mother is Filipino/Spanish. While it doesnt matter seeing as though we are talking about complexion mine is what anyone Black would call white, but anyone white in Australia would ask me 'Where do u come from?' hehe. I have the blood of the opressed Filipinos running through me and the blood of the conquering colonialist Spanish running in the same veins.
For me I couldnt say anything other than that Jesus was a strong, man of Colour. He was a man of his times and our times. A worldly figure who has stood the test of time. I dont understand the few comments even arguing his existence and the relevance of Christianity today. All true Religions were revealed to us by God and our various prophets. All Religions that worship ONE GOD, are worshipping the SAME GOD and ONLY TRUE GOD. Once people (and those running the various religious establishment) start recognizing this fact, then boy this will be a more peacefull world to live in!
It is understood by me that Modern Man was born in Africa, through my readings I understand that Ethiopa is believed to be the cradle of civilization, (anyone who is more learned on this please feel free to write to me or correct me on here!) and that from there humankind spread out through the world and in varying climates 'evolved' (not meant to be used in the darwin sense) different features to suit these climates. I dont believe in the notion that many preach (or scientifically try to prove) that all the races started on their own. Spiritually we must all understand that our origins are united and we all originate from the same place.
Relating this back to Jesus, if we are all decended from the one family, then of course Jesus was representative of our whole family. For those who believe Jesus was a 'mere man', than at least acknowledge that he was a Great Man, who stood for and died for what he believed even with sooo many oppurtunities to save himself. He did this for Us. What a perfect example of self sacrifice.
We should all no matter where we are or where we come from, take this example of self sacrifice and use it to better our whole human race. For the majority of those visiting this site, we are already FREE as we have been blessed with knowledge, wisdom and TRUTH. Our job is to spread it worldwide as in todays society, not only as someone claimed in Black culture, but all cultures, our history is something being lost. African history is human history and should be taught to all as 'Our History'. Then of course of even more importance than our Physical History is our Spiritual History where we all truly do come from the ONE SOURCE.
What we do need in this world is intellectual, spiritual, friendly debate on not just this topic but all. So once again love your website and keep up the good work. Im just a student so if anyone could direct me to any websites teaching about early Afrikan spirituality would be most appreciated.
ONE LOVE.
Posted by: JC | May 18, 2007 at 08:03 AM
I think many people are overlooking an important point. Racial groups are just that... racial groups, not regional. Just because Egypt is in Africa does not mean Egyptians are black. Ancient Egyptians themselves thought of the human race as 4 races. Egyptians and nubians were 2 of them, nubians being black, egyptians being... egyptians. It's not as if anyone born in Africa can only be "black." Brown skinned people come from there also. Just like not everyone from Europe is white. Brown skinned people come from Europe too. Pictures of ancient egyptians are created all over the place in temples and tombs. We've all seen the hyroglyphs and murals, egyptians are brown Africans, as opposed to the black Africans in other parts of the continent.
I don't mean to belittle anyone, but come on and pick up a book or turn on the TV. Egyptians aren't negro. They've also been in egypt since forever, so it's not as if people from further north swept in and changed the face of the country. The egyptians of today are the same as the ones in ancient times. They are brown skinned with features typical of mid east people. Logically, mideast people came from egypt, being that it's the gateway to asia and europe from africa. Egyptians are not black skinned with negro features.
Jesus definately wasn't white though, and i've never seen him depicted as an Aryan. Maybe some neo-Nazi propagandists might depict him that way. He would have looked like any other person of mid east descent: brown skin of semite lineage. Saying Jesus was black is just as wrong as saying he's white. Both are disengenuous and both are untrue.
I don't even believe in Jesus, but i believe fair is fair. It's wrong for white people to portray Jesus as white. For the same reasons, it's wrong for black people to portray Jesus as black.
Posted by: D. Fenton | July 24, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Mr. Fenton I appreciate your intelligent, thoughtful, comments. That's the
purpose of this site, to allow for open discussion. I agree that although the Egyptians, thankfully may not have used color and race as a means of defining superiority and privledge, our society does and anywhere else in the world where dark and white skinned people try to coexist. That includes Brazil, Mexico,Cuba, Australia and India where dark skinned people have considerably less opportunity.
As for your statement that Egyptians are not Black skinned with Negro features, that is not true. Although the Discovery and History Channels animated depictions tend to show a lighter version of the ancient Egyptians with pointed noses, the statues carvings and mummies show otherwise.
Since life began in Africa, and Egypt is in Africa, my definition of Black is anything that originates from this continent. History shows that whites did not originate in Africa, they migrated there. Since you stated you believe in 'fair'. Don't you think it's fair that the truth finally be told. Not what we see annually on the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines, as well as the major television networks.
Posted by: C. Johnson | July 25, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Thanks Mr.carles johonson for giving me this opportunity to express my thoughts on this matter. all of life history points to originality, in the bible Rev 1:14-15 it quot His hairs were like wool, and white as snow,and his eyes as a flame of fire,and His feet like unto fine brass,as if they burned in a furnace. Now the prophet john or no man could stand to see GOD's face and live but fell flat on his face and only made record of his hair of wool and feet like brass. God made man in his image and there is only one group of people on earth have this image, are Africans. and for those who have not read Lev 13:25-37 was the first recorded image of a white man.
Posted by: Mr Mondesir | July 27, 2007 at 11:01 PM
I think it is important for the world to know the truth but we all have to remember that it doesn't matter what race Jesus was it's the sacrafices he made for us all that is most important.
Posted by: james | February 02, 2008 at 10:39 AM
I agree with everything you have said, but why is it that some African-Americans choose to just ignore these facts. Maybe partially because they were never taught. I do understand that years ago very few of us had access to these facts.
In response to the comments about Christianity being White man's religion, I agree, however,I also think that even things that are taught in Christianity (the Bible) still teaches you the history of our people. It has just not been taught to you from that perspective. If each Christian read the Book as a history and not a religion, there is much to be learned about African as well as everyone's history by what it said. In my opinion, the reason why it's such a painful discussion to some people is mostly embarassment that they have followed the wrong path all this way, and don't want or care to retrack those steps to correct themselves. I could go on and on. Anyway, I ran across this blog while researching something else. I encourage you to keep up the good work. Someone is listening or reading. God Bless You!
Posted by: debora | February 03, 2008 at 09:57 AM
im overwhelmed by all the unneccessary comments of race and religion. God is and HIS SON JESUS is for everyone people the bible teaches that God created the heavens the earth and all that dwells therin and all belongs to him. we are all creations of God Almighty himself whether you call Him Yahweh, Jehovah, Elshaddi, Elohim, etc.. its refering to the self same creator our Heavenly Father. The bible which teaches Jesus Christ and promotes the christian faith in no wise implies discrimination or superiority of one given race--though the handlers of this scriptural word (preacher,teachers,deacons,priests,scholars,etc.)can comprehend and teach this same scriptural word anyway they see fit so can anyone. people are entitled to believe what they may. God gave everyone the right and freewill to believe and behave in anyway they see fit for themselves eventhough it may not be the right thing to do. The bible teaches that Gods word was given by the inspiration of the HOLY SPIRIT and that Gods word was good for edification, reproof, correction, rebuke and the likes. Gods word is His self help book for people of all nations, religions, races, etc... when God created mankind He gave mankind his own freewill to do whatever and believe whatever he wanted to.but God left the best foolproof blueprint for a productive and successful life for mankind in the form of the HOLY BIBLE. and to anyone that believes that christianity is for white people and their white god is being deceived already by the enemy satan and theirselves. thats why its so important for everyone to establish their own personal relationship with God for themselves. in doing this you will have to put aside everything you have ever been taught and ever heard about God and His son even HIS HOLY SPIRIT and enter into the presence of the most HOLY GOD in prayer, belief and ask for Gods Holy Spirit to be your teacher. this is what i did , and it was through Gods word and belief in His son that i was delivered from depression, suicidal thoughts, adultery, low self esteem, selfishness, alcoholism, premiscouseness, it was through Gods word that i began to see the signs and teachings of oppression and suppression of how we hold our selves back because of ignorance and other slothful behaviors we indulge in. if the white man teaches a blue eyed blonde haired jesus and oppresses you with their own self indulged tactics is that fair to God and Jesus when you take hold onto what others teach instead of finding truth for yourself. the bible was left for everyone to be set free and no longer held captive. the color or nationality of a person does not hold the power of change anyway, in that case if blacks could only feel free and powerful because jesus was black, that means that all the other races will still be captive and the blacks are only free.change comes and happens because of the spirit of the
person and thats why Jesus was so and is so powerful because of the spirit that was within him that was unquestionably the SPIRIT OF GOD. its the power of the spirit that brings about life , change and hope, fullfillment and prosperity, newness of life and unity. Jesus was sent here to bring mankind together and restore mankind back into the original state in which God created them----good(holy,united,loving,caring,giving), and God sent Jesus here to connect us in spirit by the power of His spirit. having the sameness in color, nationality, origin, financial status, sex, and all other catergories brings about exclusions and seperations and this was not Gods intention. we all are the creativity of God different on the outside but the same on the inside. and if we are truly to be called His children we must be recognized by HIS SPIRIT DWELLING ON THE INSIDE OF US. WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT THE BODY WILL DIE AND PERISH AWAY BUT THE SOUL MUST HAVE A ETERNAL RESTING PLACE IN FIRE OR IN PEACE====ITS OUR CHOICE MAKE THE RIGHT ONE TODAY===GIVE GOD YOUR HEART TODAY AND MAKE AN SINCERE EFFORT TO KNOW HIM FOR YOURSELF IF YOU SINCERELY SEEK GOD HE WILL TEACH YOU IN THE RIGHT WAY. GOD IS A SPIRIT AND WE MUST SERVE HIM IN TRUTH AND IN SPIRIT NOT RACE AND NATIONALITY.
Posted by: loretta wright | February 05, 2008 at 12:00 PM
It amazes some of us that white people find it so hard to accept that Blacks were made in the image of our father in heaven. I guess to accept this as truth, they would have to live with the fact of how horrendous they and their past generations have treated blacks for decade and whats awaits them on judgement day according to God's word.
One of the facts scripture gives us about Israel is in regard to their physical appearance. Throughout scripture Israel is described as physically looking like the sons of Ham (Khawm) in appearance.
Ham was one of Noah's three sons, Shem and Japheth were the other two. Noah's descendants repopulated the earth after the Great Flood. Ham's descendants are traced to the families of Africa. Ham (Khawm) in Hebrew means BLACK, HOT AND BURNT.
Ham had four sons....1. CUSH (Ethiopians / Cushites & Nubians),
2. MIZRAIM (Egyptians / Khemet), 3. PHUT (Ancient Somalia),
4. CANAAN (Canaanite, the original inhabitants of the land of Israel) genesis 10:6-19.
All four of Ham's sons and their descendants settled in and around the continent of Africa, this includes the so called Middle East which is also a part of the Continent of Africa. Ham sons are the people of the African continent, the Ancient Egyptians, Ethiopians, Somalia's, Canaanites etc etc.
Posted by: Kai | February 15, 2008 at 06:59 PM
The testimony of the ancients, the scriptures, & many Egyptologists, along with many archeologist have already confirmed that the Egyptians during ancient times were a "BLACK" PEOPLE. This is important to know because.....Jacob sent his ten sons to Egypt to buy bread. When Joseph's ten brothers came into Egypt they were brought before him. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn't recognize him (Genesis 42:1-8).
Since the ancient Egyptians were a black people, Joseph had to be black also. If Joseph and the Hebrews looked like Donny Osmond (Donny Osmond protrayed Joseph in a stage Play),his brothers would have recognized him easily among the "black" Egyptians. But Joseph's own flesh and blood brothers thought he was an Egyptian.
Gerald Massey, English writer and author of the book, Egypt the Light of the World, wrote, "The dignity is so ancient that the insignia of the Pharaoh evidently belonged to the time when Egyptians wore nothing but the girdle of the Negro." (p 251)
Sir Richard Francis Burton, a 19th century English explorer, writer and linguist in 1883 wrote to Gerald Massey, "You are quite right about the "AFRICAN" origin of the Egyptians. I have 100 human skulls to prove it."
Scientist, R. T. Prittchett, states in his book The Natural History of Man, "In their complex and many of the complexions and in physical peculiarities the Egyptians were an "AFRICAN" race (p 124-125.
The Ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who visited Egypt in the 5th century B.C.E., saw the Egyptians face to face and described them as black-skinned with woolly hair.
Anthropologist, Count Constatin de Volney (1727-1820),spoke about the race of the Egyptians that produced the Pharaohs....."The ancient Egyptians were true Negroes of the same type as all native born Africans. That being so, we can see how their blood mixed for several centuries with that of the Romans and Greeks, must have lost the intensity of it's original color, while retaining none the less the imprint of it's original mold "
Posted by: Kai | February 15, 2008 at 07:41 PM
After Jacob died in the land of Egypt, all the Hebrews and Egyptians went down to the land of Canaan to bury him (He asked his son to bury him in the land of Canaan with his forefathers ....(Genesis 49:29-30).
Genesis 7:8, states that all the elders of Pharaoh's house and all the elders of the land of Egypt along with all the Hebrews (except for their small children) went down.
Genesis 7:9 says, "It was a very great company." Genesis: 7:11 says, that the Canaanites saw the funeral procession and said "THIS IS A GRIEVOUS MOURNING TO THE EGYPTIANS".
When they describe this great mourning for Jacob the Hebrew, they saw Israelites mourning the greatest, and they thought these Hebrews were Egyptians. Common sense dictates that if the hebrews were a white people they couldn't have possibly been mistaken for Egyptians.
Another fact: ....Moses had the same physical characteristics of Black Egypt. He was raised in the house of Pharaoh, as the grandson of Pharaoh, when Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew males to be killed at birth. If the Israelites were a white-skinned people, how could Moses the Hebrew survive (secretly) in the house of Pharaoh among black-skinned Egyptians for 40 years, and not be noticed.
Another Fact....Moses fled to the land of Midian (located in Saudi Arabia) where he helped seven daughters of the priest of Midian water their flock, after chasing away several bully shepherds. The girls went home to their father, Reuel and told him what happened.
Exodus 2:16... Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
Exodus2:17.... And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
Exodus 2:18... And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
Exodus 2:19... And they said...... An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
Use your common sense and note that the daughters of the priest did not say a Hebrew in Egyptian clothing saved us, they described Moses as an Egyptian...Ancient Egyptians are black-skinned descendant of Ham (Egyptian).
Posted by: Kai | February 15, 2008 at 08:15 PM
More facts you need to know:
Book of Acts 13:1
"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain PROPHETS AND TEACHERS: as Barnabas, and SIMEON THAT WAS CALLED NIGER, AND LUCIUS OF CYRENE, and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Shaul (Paul)".
The word Niger is a Latin word that means BLACK, and Cyrene is a city in Libya, which is located in North Africa. Historians and scholars both agree that the city of Cyrene was a black area, meaning it was heavily populated with black skin-people in "biblical" times. Cyrene is also the place where Simon, the man who helped Yahshuah carry the cross (stake) was from (Matt. 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26). Simon (the cross bearer) was also "black" man.
Another Biblical Fact.....The Sumerians called themselves "Saggig", which means "black headed ones", because they shaved their heads. The ancient Chaldeans were their cousins.
Yet Another Fact: ......Abraham's father Terah, was a relative of Nimrod. He was a merchant who sold idols in the city of Ur. It's a widely known fact that Nimrod was the son of Cush. Cush is the progenitor of the Nubians / Ethiopians, and the Nubians are a black skinned people. So, this means that Nimrod was also black. Abraham came from this part of the world, which in his day was overwhelmingly populated with black skinned people.
Ancient Egypt was known indigenously as Kemet (Land of the Blacks) The pharaohs and their priests were certainly not Black. The Romans didn’t get to Egypt until 300 BC. We are talking 6000 years before that. There weren’t any white people present before the Rome invasion.
Posted by: Kai | February 15, 2008 at 09:07 PM
LAND OF THE BLACKS–LAND OF THE BIBLE: Ancient Egypt was known indigenously as Kemet (Land of the Blacks).
Africans are the indigenous Native Hebrews (Jews). The greatest secret of Africa has never been told, and Christian Europe has been seeking to conceal for the past two thousand years is the African origin of the concepts, doctrines, sacramental practices of religion, and the documents that became the foundations of Christianity in Europe.
Do a thorough research on the facts below:
The names of Abraham, Isaac, Esau, and Jacob were all derived from African tribal words and names.
The earliest “Hebrew” name for God, Adonai, was derived from an African tribal word
The other name used by blacks for "God" is Yahweh or Yah, this name was derived from an African tribal God
The names of the authors of the Old Testament are actually transposed African tribal names.....Just Do your Research!
Posted by: Kai | February 15, 2008 at 09:40 PM
The idea of a Black, Jewish Jesus meeting Hitler to reject him at the end of times judment makes one smile. If you go to South America, Jesus looks South American. I saw a picture of Jesus in a church in Korea, and Jesus looked Korean. It doesn't surprise me that all the pictures of him in our culture that he looks white. It seems silly that we would even consider that he would be white.
At the very least, if Jesus has to be singled out by Judas in the garden, he couldn't look that different from his disciples. He had to at least look middle eastern, if modern day Arabs are any clue.
It is very probable that all the areas that were invaded by Greece and Rome, even in the middle eastern area, got a bit lighter in race over time. We see when the Moors invaded Spain, that the Spanish became a bit darker, so that is not a radical hypothesis.
So, it is not that strange an idea to consider that Jesus could have been black. I don't see how that's offensive. I'm thankful that a man came around to pay the penalty for my sins. He could have been purple with pink polka dots, but he did the one thing that made my salvation possible.
As far as the Christian religion is concerned, there are quite a few variations out there. There doesn't seem to be much agreement on anything. I don't think you're looking at a conspiracy as much as you are probably seeing entrenched tradition.
You probably see people who are ethnocentric to where they don't look much beyond their little suburban bubble.
I guess my point is, you be you. Live your life as if Jesus was your actual brother and don't let any kind of peer pressure make you stray from what you know to be true. Narrow is the path...
Posted by: Lynn Hadley | February 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I found this site while searching for a more logical depiction of Christs likely physical characteristics. There is no real question that He did not resemble the classic portraiture. The picture I see on http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcfa.htm, while not being claimed as His actual portrait, is more in line with what I know of the area and time He lived in.
Perhaps there is a social comparison to be made here..... He suffered prejudice at the hands of His own race, likely black. The Romans, whose social makeup included peoples of "white" Hispanic, Greek, Italian and Oriental nationalities. {I'm probably leaving some out} He was despised for where He came from, what He said, for what He represented and for the Truth He spoke. After being beaten with fists clad in iron, whipped to the point where his bones were exposed and He had to be turned so the iron hooks in the leather whip strands had enough flesh to grip and rip asunder, forced to walk from one judicial official to another while bleeding from His wounds, made to carry the wood (which most accounts put at about 200lbs) on which He would have his hands and feet impaled with nails......I can't go on..... after all this torture, while being jeered at, while He died...what was one of the last things He did? He asked His Father to forgive them...all of them... for they knew not what they did. That includes each of you. Every person ever to have lived on this earth. Whatever your perception of Him .....real, not real... prophet, lunatic... He died a death more horrible than most can imagine, willingly...proclaiming himself as the ONLY path to the one true GOD, forgiving his torturers and betrayers.
When anyone propagates any kind of bias based on race, nationality or color, they might as well be one of the people who helped nail Him to that cross.He taught forgiveness and love of your fellow man above all. There is no love or forgiveness in continuing pointed discussions of which race abused which other race. Of who is keeping whom "down". Every human being on this earth can tell a story of misery and woe, of being unfairly treated by another. Perhaps...maybe....we each would be better people if we thought less about who owes who what and more about praying for and forgiving those we have been wronged by. "Christian" or not, the world would be a better place and we would be better people for having done so.
Posted by: Izatech | March 13, 2008 at 08:38 PM
I found this site while searching for a more logical depiction of Christs likely physical characteristics. There is no real question that He did not resemble the classic portraiture. The picture I see on http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcfa.htm, while not being claimed as His actual portrait, is more in line with what I know of the area and time He lived in.
Perhaps there is a social comparison to be made here..... He suffered prejudice at the hands of His own race, likely black. The Romans, whose social makeup included peoples of "white" Hispanic, Greek, Italian and Oriental nationalities. {I'm probably leaving some out} He was despised for where He came from, what He said, for what He represented and for the Truth He spoke. After being beaten with fists clad in iron, whipped to the point where his bones were exposed and He had to be turned so the iron hooks in the leather whip strands had enough flesh to grip and rip asunder, forced to walk from one judicial official to another while bleeding from His wounds, made to carry the wood (which most accounts put at about 200lbs) on which He would have his hands and feet impaled with nails......I can't go on..... after all this torture, while being jeered at, while He died...what was one of the last things He did? He asked His Father to forgive them...all of them... for they knew not what they did. That includes each of you. Every person ever to have lived on this earth. Whatever your perception of Him .....real, not real... prophet, lunatic... He died a death more horrible than most can imagine, willingly...proclaiming himself as the ONLY path to the one true GOD, forgiving his torturers and betrayers.
When anyone propagates any kind of bias based on race creed or color, they might as well be one of the people who helped nail Him to that cross.He taught forgiveness and love of your fellow man above all. There is no love or forgiveness in continuing pointed discussions of which race abused which other race. Of who is keeping whom "down". Every human being on this earth can tell a story of misery and woe, of being unfairly treated by another. Perhaps...maybe....we each would be better people if we thought less about who owes who what and more about praying for and forgiving those we have been wronged by. "Christian" or not, the world would be a better place and we would be better people for having done so.
Posted by: Izatech | March 13, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Whether Jesus was black or white sounds like trivial matters, and individuals who raise such questions seem a distance from discovering the idea purpose of Christianity.
Theres nothing wrong with asking questions, but your position may be easily spotted.
I like Islam's rules of not depicting any human figures, unlike mainstream Christianity.
P.S. on another topic, I think its a bad idea for African communities be spoken of as being black...Its an insult, study ya prefixes and roots in latin terminology, and no latins not dead its the glue that holds the common meanings and definitions of english words. But I guess, words shouldnt offend anyone.
Posted by: BP | May 07, 2008 at 01:24 AM
I am not a religious person, I never have been but I do believe in a higher power and I am not arrogant enough to assume that I a mere mortal can understand that power, why? How could we as mere humans even comprehend such a power/force?
As to the argument was Jesus a black man? Well I would have to say “yes he was” and yes I am a white man. Anyone who is open and understanding can see this. Historical fact is there for all to see and understand, if they want to understand that is. Only a bigoted person would discount the facts of the regional ethnicity of that time.
I am white and yes most of the biblical characters portrayed in the bible where black, am I upset or disturbed about this “NO” of course not at the end of the day the message is still the same “treat everyone with the same amount of respect that you would expect for yourself”.
David
Posted by: David | August 31, 2008 at 12:37 PM
they hate ur becuase we have a special gift a spirit tht they cant comprehend or understand so they replace the glory which is rightousness to a bordom dead religion which is world wide dominion and oppress ur becuase they dont want us to tap into our spirit i say these things because i bare the arm or god the shade in my rite hand and the mark in the bosom area and i know my spirit and my glory
Posted by: shane | September 03, 2008 at 10:47 AM
First, before I speak, I'm letting you know I am a Caucasian male. This doesn't make me the least bit biased though, about 1/2 of my family is black, as is the band i perform with. I would like to say though that neither the white Europeans who first depicted Christ or you yourself are right. If you have ever read the bible, you would know that Christ was a JEW. Our holy book blatantly says this. It is proven that most events documented in the Bible occurred in what is modern day Israel, Iraq, and the surrounding area. This says to me that our Savior would have looked more like a Middle- Eastern man than what he is usually portrayed as or what you claim him to be.
Posted by: Ricky | September 05, 2008 at 11:09 AM