Seriously, What's The Deal With 'Manifest Destiny Jesus'?

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.wonkette.com/seriously-what-s-the-deal-with-manifest-destiny-jesus

The mainstream image of Jesus Christ is a pasty white guy. He doesn't even have much of a tan. Yes, J.J. painted a Black Jesus in an episode of "Good Times" and Madonna might have hooked up with a Black Jesus in her "Like a Prayer" video, but Jesus is usually presented as a blonde surfer dude, who the disciples might've nicknamed “Moondoggie."

When I was a child, family members would point out the Bible verse that described Jesus as having hair like wool and “feet like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace" (i.e. a dark brown complexion like someone from the Middle East). This didn't wear down my religious skepticism, because a Jesus of any other shade is still a scam. It's like when a corporation makes its CEO a woman or a man of color without actually changing any of its awful policies.

I've been contemplating the conflicting images of blonde surfer Jesus and Soul Brother Jesus after watching the Seattle-era documentary Manifest Destiny Jesus from filmmakers Josh Aaseng, Daemond Arrindell, and T. Geronimo Johnson, who also serves as narrator. Aaseng and Arrindell met author Johnson in 2017 when they adapted his novel Welcome to Braggsville to the stage. I know Aaseng from our time at Seattle's Book-It Repertory Theatre, where he was literary manager and later associate artistic director. He adapted and directed an amazing version of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five in 2015. Aaseng's a white guy from Montana, but he nonetheless questioned the popular conception of Jesus as white.

He told South Seattle Emerald:

"I was in New York City during 9/11, and I started thinking, 'Jesus looks more like Osama Bin Laden than he does Mel Gibson,'" Aaseng said. "There is this complete fantasy of what Jesus looks like and how mind-altering that is for the people who think that's an accurate representation of Jesus."

*snip*

[Girard442]

1. From Exodus 20, KJV:

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;...

I'd think this would be relevant. I suppose one could claim that a photograph isn't a graven image, so....

[Thomas Hurt]

3. The christofascists would find that image blasphemous of white Jesus.

Funny, that the right in this country have no problem worshiping Trump as chosen and divine though.

[erronis]

14. That is sooo Olde Testament. Besides Peter, Paul, and Mary - whoops Luke

wrote the New And Improved Testament in their images.

[Tommymac]

2. Hmmm, I've seen that guy before...

[yonder]

5. That looks like Mr. "Don't give me negative waves, man"

Gonna have to chase that old movie down.

[paleotn]

15. Ha! I love that movie.....

"All for the Love of Sunshine" followed by "I've been working on the railroad".

A very young paleotn once asked... Dad, was that what it was like in Europe? Dad says...not only no, but H E L L no. Well, mostly. The character "Crap Game" did exist in various forms. He still thought the movie was a hoot.

[amb123]

17. Tank Commander "Oddball" from the movie "Kelly's Heroes" (1970)

One of my favorite movies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly's_Heroes

[Aristus]

4. What Bible verse describes Jesus' hair?

I had been under the impression that the Bible included no physical descriptions of Jesus.

[Docreed2003]

7. It's in Revelations

Chapter 1 vs 14-5

14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.

[Aristus]

8. That's more a description of the Holy Spirit in the visions of the Revelation of St. John.

I meant first-hand descriptions of Jesus in the Gospels.

[Docreed2003]

9. 🤷🏻‍♂️

That's the quote that was referenced and is usually referred to when people speak of Jesus having "hair of wool" and "bronzed skin"

[Aristus]

11. Okay.

n/t

[homegirl]

12. Those words were written

by John the Good (circa 100-200 A.D.) in the cave where he was living on the now Greek island of Patmos. there were some mighty powerful mushrooms growing in that cave. Been there, seen it. A minor tourist attraction.

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[Grasswire2]

10. I sure remember the depiction of Jesus from Baptist Sunday school days in my childhood.

The shepherd, Jesus. Blonde. White skin. Holding lambs while animals gather 'round his white robes.

[not fooled]

20. And Caucasian children!

gathered 'round Jesus, in the picture at my Sunday school, anyway.

[burrowowl]

13. LOL!

[Roy Rolling]

16. The Real Insidious Myth

Is there an insidious myth of a white supremacist savior? I’ve been to a variety of temples, mosques, and churches in my life and I didn’t ever see a white supremacist Jesus.

I think you’re confusing some assholes present in the same percentage at Christian churches, grocery stores, and society in general. Racist assholes are everywhere, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, atheists, Hindu, or whatever faith there is.

Singling out Christians as racists—when practically every religion is somewhat bigoted—may need more evidence to convince me.

[Beartracks]

21. This makes sense. There's no reason to think Christians have a lock on racism and bigotry. n/t

[soldierant]

18. Alfred Burt.

"Some Children See Him."

I don't see a problem with seeing Jesus as looking like yourself - PROVIDED you extend the same vsion to everyone, including and especially people who look different from you.

And provided you remain aware that your own visualization is only a symbol - a convenience.

There's a coffee table book called "The Faces of Jesus" - out of print now - I'm fortunate to own a copy - which should be requred reading and viewing for every Christian IMO. Of all the images, I think the one of the rich mahogany sculpture of him with wooly hair and African features sticks in my mind.

Full disclosure: I am white myself.

[keithbvadu2]

19. What color/ethnicity was Jesus?

What color/ethnicity was Jesus?

It depends on whose wall his portrait hangs.

Ben Carson and Jesus

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2015/nov/07/ben-carson-house-homage-to-himself-in-pictures#img-4

[roamer65]

22. As defined by the Bible...IDOLATRY.