Why are some people offended by the idea that Jesus may have been some color other than white?

Question

Let's just think about this for a minute.

Jesus was from Nazareth, which is located in modern-day Jordan. As you may know, Jordan is in the Middle East. At the time of Jesus's birth, most European nations that would be considered "white" hadn't even entered the history books yet. Civilization was centered almost entirely around the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. Even the lightest skinned people native to those regions would not be considered to be "white".

How was Jesus supposed to have been white? The facts say that he was not.

Then again, religious types have never been good at drawing logical conclusions from the facts.

Answer 1

That's the common thread among religiously centric thinking, to place what they consider to be the ideal "messiah race" onto their visually subjective depictions of their particular deity.



It usually is something seen as handsome and non-threatening, not like the vengeful deity described by the bible, of course it's a lot harder to worship an entity if you actually were capable of taking all the information presented in the bible and forming an objective opinion.



Failing to do so means theists are baffled by those of us here in reality when we describe their deity as maniacal, Bi-Polar or just plain insane in the membrane.

Answer 2

I have never heard a person saying that they were offended by the idea that Jesus may have been some color other than white.



Historically there are pictures painted of Jesus showing that he looked European, however everyone knows in the 21st century where he was born, that he was and looked Jewish and had olive coloured skin.



Your evidence does not seem to be based on any logical reason other than your own intolerant prejudice about a certain group of people.

Answer 3

"At the time of Jesus's birth, most European nations that would be considered "white" hadn't even entered the history books yet."



So? They still existed up there. And all knowledgeable people already know that Jesus was Middle Eastern in descent.

Answer 4

It may just be the circles I run in, but I have never heard a Christian refer to Jesus as White. Most Christians that I know, understand that Jesus was Jewish, and Jewish people tend to be darker skinned.





But in reality, what difference does it matter what color Jesus was?

Answer 5

The most important thing is not what color Jesus was but what kind of man he was, and what he has done for the benefit of mankind. Physical features has nothing to do with truth and benevolence.

Answer 6

Yeshuah was a descendant of Abraham, it is only in some paintings you see him represented that way, I have seen Jesus painted as black, japanese, white (yes with blond hair)..... I suspect your statement has more to do with your prejudices than facts.





Now as for paintings there has only been one artist's painting that have stuck in my head .... a little girl called Akiana, as a child she talked about God visiting her and eventually her parents became Christians. Her art is beyond what most masters attain after decades.



Here is the one she did of Jesus at 8 years old!

http://www.artakiane.com/paintings/age_08/age08_02.htm?TB_iframe=true&height=420&width=605



and her painting that picture.

http://www.artakiane.com/creating_painting.html



and at age 9

http://www.artakiane.com/paintings/age_09/age09_11.htm?TB_iframe=true&height=420&width=605



It is not what Jesus looked like, it is who He is!







Prof. Daniel B. Wallace (wrote the textbook on ancient Greek & Greek translation) in an interview in the book "The Case for the Real Jesus" says "It's disturbing that when it comes to the Christian faith, people don't really want, or know how, to investigate the evidence", perhaps you should try learning about Him.







Reinventing Jesus: How Contemporary Skeptics Miss the Real Jesus and Mislead Popular Culture

http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=42982X&netp_id=446304&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers



Jesus: Man, Messiah, or More? (8-Part DVD)

Jesus has always been controversial. Ever since He walked the shores of Galilee and the streets of Jerusalem, the questions have remained the same: Was He merely Jesus the man, the rabbi-teacher? Could He have been Jesus the Messiah of Israel? Or, most controversial of all, was He Jesus the Son of God?...One group of scholars is trying to clear up the confusion. For more than 10 years, they’ve studied key events in the life of Jesus.

http://dod.org/Products/DV750.aspx





Uniqueness of Jesus in History - Ravi Zacharias

http://www.rzim.org/CA/Resources/Listen/LetMyPeopleThink.aspx?archive=1&pid=942

http://www.rzim.org/CA/Resources/Listen/LetMyPeopleThink.aspx?archive=1&pid=943



The Case for the real Jesus - Lee Strobel

http://family.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=242109&event=CF



Will the Real Jesus please stand up - Paul Copan

http://store.rzim.org/product/tabid/61/p-76-will-the-real-jesus-please-stand-up.aspx

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Answer 7

Everyone that knows anything about the Bible knows that Jesus was Jewish and was from the tribe of Judah. Jesus was your typical olive skinned black slightly curly haired Jewish man.

Answer 8

I completely agree with you - Jesus wouldn't have been white - but what's with the attack at the end? It's not really necessary.



I'm pretty sure that the only people who thought He was white were from several hundred years ago and not particularly bright!

Answer 9

All I can say is that I can't believe people are opposed to such a thing. Those people must be extremely racist and it saddens me. We are all God's children regardless of skin color. How stupid.

Answer 10

Jesus, if he existed, would look like a typical man from an Arabic country. He would not be white, and the notion that he would is ridiculous.

Answer 11

How do you draw a logical conclusion [a product of this 'natural' realm] - about a supernatural issue such as God.?

Answer 12

Jesus was not racist, the bible never mentioned about race, only that He was Jewish

Answer 13

I was with you until that very last sentence. You can't just ask a question without being rude?

Answer 14

I'm not offended by the idea. Who cares what color he was.

Answer 15

hahaha...because brainwashing by the church and parents is a powerful thing on a young mind!

Answer 16

facts and religion aren't typically made to go hand in hand.