Philosophy Now Forum

Here's one from Ethiopia.

It all goes back to what Xenophanes said:
But mortals suppose gods are born,
Wear their own clothes and have a voice and body.
The Ethiopians say that their gods are flat-nosed and black,
While Thracians say that theirs have blue eyes and red hair.
Yet if cattle or horses or lions had hands and could draw,
And could sculpt like men, then the horses would draw their gods
Like horses, and cattle like cattle; and each would shape
Bodies of gods in the likeness, each of their own kind.

Since there is only one god in Christianity, it is the bodily form, Jesus to his mates, that is depicted according to local preferences. This is so that people can still believe that the god they worship is their god. Polytheism grants everyone who wishes a personal god who has a special interest in their concerns; in Christianity, that function is delegated to saints.

maybe in the multi-dimensional control that God has Jesus truly is portrayed to the believer in the form most identifiable in likeness to their region.

Well, that's one option. It does rather raise the question of whether there was an historical Jesus and what he actually looked like.

uwot wrote:Well, that's one option. It does rather raise the question of whether there was an historical Jesus and what he actually looked like.

Here he is.

He looks as surprised as I am. I didn't realise you believed in Jesus.

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

uwot wrote:Well, that's one option. It does rather raise the question of whether there was an historical Jesus and what he actually looked like.

Here he is.

Isn't that assuming they 'all looked alike'? How very unPC.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

uwot wrote:Well, that's one option. It does rather raise the question of whether there was an historical Jesus and what he actually looked like.

Here he is.

Isn't that assuming they 'all looked alike'? How very unPC.

He was born in Bethlehem, and basically he looked much like that. More than this....

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

uwot wrote:Well, that's one option. It does rather raise the question of whether there was an historical Jesus and what he actually looked like.

Here he is.

Whatever the accuracy, he would get looked at sidelong when boarding a plane these days.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

uwot wrote:Well, that's one option. It does rather raise the question of whether there was an historical Jesus and what he actually looked like.

Here he is.

Whatever the accuracy, he would get looked at sidelong when boarding a plane these days.

http://www.divinerevelations.info/docum ... ctures.htm

Two hundred pictures of Jesus. I think it's settled. There are a number of websites that "prove" that Jesus was definitely white, but he just happened to be born in the middle east. That makes sense, since white men are the pinnacle of creation. God's representative could not possibly be female or coloured; if you are going claim that darkies (or *ugh!* females) might be capable of being a messiah, you might as well ascribe divinity to a dog, right? [sic]

Greta wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:
Here he is.

Whatever the accuracy, he would get looked at sidelong when boarding a plane these days.

http://www.divinerevelations.info/docum ... ctures.htm

Two hundred pictures of Jesus. I think it's settled. There are a number of websites that "prove" that Jesus was definitely white, but he just happened to be born in the middle east. That makes sense, since white men are the pinnacle of creation. God's representative could not possibly be female or coloured; if you are going claim that darkies (or *ugh!* females) might be capable of being a messiah, you might as well ascribe divinity to a dog, right? [sic]

I think Jesus kitch has actually come into fashion haha. 'Jesus chic'.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:jesus clock.jpg

:)) That "white Jesus" is exactly the kind of JC to adorn my home in childhood. Weirdly, I never thought to question it once. Then again, I saw nothing wrong with The Black and White Minstrels show or Mum's love of Al Jolson. I can still hear his voice clear as day, singing, "Ah mammy, how ah love ya, how I love ya, mah dear old mammy ...".

One of the things I love about philosophy is the questioning of things that one might have never thought to question. To me, that's when philosophy is at its best and most inspiring and useful.

Mannie, see what you did? You, just posting in a thread, move the discussion away from crazy folks who wanna cut off their willies (a source of great amusement) to 'God' (*yawn*).

Shame on you, you theist.

henry quirk wrote:Mannie, see what you did? You, just posting in a thread, move the discussion away from crazy folks who wanna cut off their willies (a source of great amusement) to 'God' (*yawn*).

Shame on you, you theist.

How oddly expected that Dalek would go ape-shit at Lacewing and me, yet say nothing about your genuinely callous comments. Just sayin'.

Daleks are mysterious that way.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote: How oddly expected that Dalek would go ape-shit at Lacewing and me, yet say nothing about your genuinely callous comments. Just sayin'.

It's probably because that's what you expect from henry. It's like when the neighbourhood mad dog barks at you as you walk past, you don't take it personally.