how come jesus is white when he was born in the middle east?

Answer 1

Have u ever seen a jewish person before

Answer 2

Okay, I am not a geneologist by any stretch of the imagination; though, it is important to note that modern Jews are very different than they were 2,000 years ago. The destruction of the temple in 70 a.d. caused a major diaspora. Over the centuries they did migrate back towards their homeland; though, thanks to Hitler, many of them became displaced from their homes. Today's Jew (Israeli) is the middle eastern equivalent of an American--a hybrid of various races. There are very few pure Jews in the world. Of course, I'd be lynched if I insuated Jerry Seinfeld was a Samaritan; but as the saying goes, "it is what it is." With that said, the link I attached will give you some information. Think of it from a historical point of view. Maybe the artists couldn't mix a color that they felt portrayed him best, yet complemented the other colors. Or, maybe they wanted a Jesus who looked more like them. Does that make it right. No. But who cares? It's been 2,000 years. Right or wrong; it's a moot issue, and to bring it up is kind of pointless. Honestly, I am against the portraly of the pseudo-christ in churches or book stores, as it's not even him.

Answer 3

Hello,

His skin, hair and eye color were never mentioned in the bible. We have to assume he'd be a typical middle eastern person of that era, perhaps coppery skin and dark hair and brown eyes. Much art done on Jesus was during the middle ages to the Reneissance and Europeans then could only relate to their local environments since there was no TV, geography books etc. Moors and Arabic people were not popular so I doubt anyone wanted him painted to look like Muhammed or Saladin.

That said, perhaps he was white. Some say he must of been an Irishman who found his way down from Hibernia (Roman name for Ireland) somehow to Jerusalem. Why? Who else but an Irishman would be 30 years old, unmarried and living at home with his parents.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Answer 4

Everyone has basically summed this up. e would have been darker than portrayed in medieval, European artwork. On top of that he is usually depicted clean-shaven with long hair. This would NEVER have been the case. Males lacking a beard in that time we labeled as children, therefore Jesus would have had facial hair or would not have been accepted as an adult member of society (making a revision of the covenant of Moses a bit more difficult). Long hair at that time was considered effeminate, again not making it any easier to leading a religious movement. As a distant member of the House of David, Jesus had a claim to the throne of the Jews and as such likely toed the line in matters of culture not directly effecting his message. And one more side note, Jesus was not born on December 25th, nor was it in the year 1. He was actually born on April 17th 4 B.C. (or BCE for those who know the new dating method (Before the Common Era)).

Answer 5

Jesus obviously wasn't white. As Maria said, it is an artistic portrayal that came out of the Renaissance era right after Roman Catholicism developed and since Europe is largely populates by caucasians it became somewhat of a tradition.

Answer 6

Ever been to the middleast? that area you either look white or you look like a beduin. Syrians and Lebanese look mostly white.

As for Jews during Jesus time, some looked like Egyptians, some looked like arabs and others looked white. A lot of Hitites and Greeks converted to Judaism as did Egyptians who went with the israelites out of Egypt and converted. So Jesus could have looked like any of them

Answer 7

Better to say "why is jesus so often portrayed as being white when he was born in the middle east?".

The answer to your question really is ignorance and perhaps also a touch of denial from white people. It made it easier to portray him as white to subjugate people at the time. That might seem a bit pessimistic but that's my opinion.

Jesus would certainly have been of darker skin (not too dark - more tanned looking), most modern theologans agree.

After this obvious revelation of darker skin, people were so used to seeing him as a white man I think they couldn't change!

Personally I'd LOVE to see them change him to darker skin in western portayals of jesus, imagine the uproar it would cause, it might actually make people take a good hard look at themselves and what they believe in.

Answer 8

Jewish looks white isn't it?
but it is also true that Jesus being portrait the way the culture desire. In Indonesia, i come across small Javanese statue of Mother Marie, St. Joseph and baby Jesus, really Javanese looks, also with traditional Javanese costume:))

Answer 9

It's just how people portrayed Jesus after years of the religion of Christianity being set in Europe. Plus the whole white supremacy thing that was also going on in Europe at the time didn't help to get the race of Jesus right.

Answer 10

Advertising / propaganda. It made the easier for the Europeans in the Dark Ages to believe in a "white" Jesus, rather than a darker skinned Jesus...especially during the ages of the Crusades.

Answer 11

Another weird question about Jesus and Christianity....
Who said He is white? Have you seen it written somewhere? I am sure you have not.
Why can't you, people leave Jesus alone, either believe Him (and be saved) or not.