why do catholics paint jesus as white?

Answer 1

They don't always. Jesus is portrayed in many different ways in Catholic religious artwork:

Vietnamese:

http://www.adoptvietnam.org/vietnamese/lavang.htm

Japanese:

http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/gallery/exhibits/oldshw30.html

African:

http://www.swanslaexpressions.com/madonna1.jpg

http://angelstudiostore.com/images/5.jpg

Chinese (and others):

http://www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20051212JJ.shtml

I like these two:

http://www.monasteryicons.com/monasteryicons/Icons-of-Christ-amp-the-Virgin-Mary_M10/Item_Face-of-Virgin-Mary_613_ps_cti-M10.html

because there was apparently some sort of historical research that went into these composite images.

Answer 2

Catholics all over the world have portrayed Jesus as every race - and there's nothing wrong with that because the people of every race belong to God.

There is a shrine not too far from where I live. It is a popular place for locals to go for Christmas pilgrimage. Among the displays they have are nativity sets from all over the world, depicting Jesus as white, black, oriental, native American, pacific native, eskimo - you name it.

Seeing the nativity portrayed in so many different ways is a great display of just how truly Universal the Catholic/Christian world is.

This beautiful Truth is often lost by people who cannot see deeper than someone's skin color.

Answer 3

Catholics painting Jesus as white is a FALSE statement.

I have seen several non-white ones, say, black or brown. I think some natives adhering to the teachings of Christ follow their color to the looks of Jesus Christ. The reason why is another question to ask.

But whatever the color, I also found out that adherents had all the same deep belief in the MYSTERY OF FAITH. And that is - Christ has died, Christ has risen and Christ will come again.

Answer 4

Why do black Baptist churches and other black churches paint Jesus as black? Same reason Catholics paint him as white. They do it because it helps their followers relate to him more easily. It takes away the ethnic Jewishness of Jesus and makes him whatever they feel most comfortable with instead.

Answer 5

You must live in the US and in the Northern part of the US. Jesus is generally depicted as whatever race and nationality he happens to be worshipped in. The exception to that, of course, is in iconography, where he isn't northern European. The goal of iconography is to faithfully reproduce the last icon. It is the ancient effort at xeroxy. However, literally thousands of copies mean that the current images do not reflect original images. The oldest icons are by Luke, according to the ancient stories. Icons are easier than writing since you do not need to be able to read and they are quicker to produce. You can leave the Gospels behind as images easier than in writing. We would call them teaching aids now. Jesus is only white in white areas.

Answer 6

We go with the Middle Aged view, it is likely Jesus was a little darker, however, it is certainly not only the Catholic Church who gives a Caucasian Jesus. Most people realize the biblical Jesus was darker skinned, however, it is just our pictures as long as we get the message, does it really matter how we picture Jesus.

Answer 7

Based on his being born from a Semitic mother you would expect him to be a bit brownish but with an all powerful dad it is of cause no problem to turn him Caucasian. There are no portraits or concrete descriptions known and "the shroud" most likely portraits Leonardo Da Vinci.

Answer 8

Only white Catholics do so. There are portraits ofJesus of any color, including black, olive, red and oriental. That you've only seen white ones indicates that you've not seen all of them.

Too, it's not Catholics alone: Look at Mormon and other religion's depictions. They all depict Jesus as one of their own.

Answer 9

Christendom for most of its history was a European Culture, with White as the symbol of holiness.

Today this is no longer acceptable.

Answer 10

Why not? Nobody knows what colour he was.
He would most likely take his colour from the dominant genes of his father, not his dark skinned mother. Since we don't know his father's colour, any colour will do.