I'm not an overly religious person, I have my own spirituality which I identify with, I was raised a catholic, and enjoy hearing about other religions and their beliefs.

I have some very religious people around me, my sister studies and teaches catholic children in school, and studies the catholic religion.

So who was Jesus? Sometimes it what is not said that speaks volumes about a person, and Jesus is not exception. When studying his life, more so his lifestyle, it reveal that Jesus was far from a poor man. He came from, and worked with, the wealthy people, and his friends were men with financial wealth.

Can you imagine a modern Jesus, with the flash car and nice house? (Yeah I can't quite picture it either)

But still, that is what is revealed about this man. Even his trade, a carpenter, reveal his potential wealth. 200+ years ago, very few people could afford anything made by a skilled professional.

Some of Jesus' followers were fishermen. Again a profession of the time that was run by the wealthy. The fishermen themselves worked for men who could afford a boat, and the maintenance associated with it. (not quiet a trawler we see today), still though, most could not afford to do this.

Any thoughts?

Hey :)
Im not overly religious either.
I dont believe in God. I wouldnt say there is no God, but there is only a God for those who believe in him.
I never read the bible. But from what i learned in religious education in school and church I think Jesus was just a normal guy. He was like everyone else. What he did and the stories about him were then used in the bible for...sort of a user-manual to christianity. Also i think allot of people have a totally wrong picture of Jesus due to allot of translation mistakes in the bible. But then again... it doesnt change anything to ones beliefs. You can find to God without even knowing who jesus is or even knowing what the bible is in my oppinion.
Modern Jesus?...He would be exactly the same only addapted to the year 2010. Instead of healing blind (dont think thats true as discribed in the bible) Curing cancer or maybe Aids...and things like that.

Hope i didnt step on anyones foot^^ ...please correct me i im wrong here.
cya...Jsh

I do believe that Jesus is the son of God and that he rose from the dead and also had healing powers. I don't think too much about it as a lot of it doesn't make much sense to me.

I wonder if modern day Jesus would be wearing baggy pants with his boxers showing :eek:

Anyway, when it comes to religion, I gave up trying to understand it. I believe what I choose to believe. I do believe in the power of prayer. Although, I don't understand for the life of me the suffering that goes on in the world.

I do not agree with the wealth comments as related to Jesus. I have heard this espoused often, especially by prosperity preachers, but there is nothing historically to truly support that.

There are a number of unknowns about his life, and I am not sure where you have done your research, but you shoulod not accept that at face value..

Mark I think you’re a very courageous man to bring up such and emotionally charged and dogmatic topic. The truth about the man is elusive since the stories shroud his reality

Can you imagine a modern Jesus, with the flash car and nice house? (Yeah I can't quite picture it either)
Well, I imagine back in the day a nice robe and some handmade sandals were the thing to wear. After all, he lived in the hot desert and was tho only Aryan white man, blue eyes with blondish hair in the region, he needed protection from the sun. Today I would assume he would wear the same clothing that a professional would wear, Dockers, Handmade huaraches and maybe a Tommy Bahama shirt. The Climate is different and the silks cools better than cotton. He was a traveler so he would probably need a nice Suunto or Casio watch with a compass. Maybe a nice wide brimmed hat to protect his face from the sun. I'd think he would drive a land rover or a hummer H1 since those are great Desert vehicles.

"Who was Jesus?"

I do not believe in God or the supernatural. All I have to go on in regards to Jesus is what I have gathered from the Christian bible, as well as a little from Islam and Mormonism. If you believe what is in the Christian bible, you have a LOT to go on in terms of describing Jesus. Also, as Christians believe Jesus is alive, and fashion sense would be relatively unimportant, I think it would be more fitting to most of them to say who Jesus IS, not who he WAS.

After all, he lived in the hot desert and was tho only Aryan white man, blue eyes with blondish hair in the region, he needed protection from the sun.
Where did you get that information?

Where did you get that information?
I just make some assumptions. Middle East, Not many white folk back then, Most paintings or artists conceptions I see of Jesus shows him to be fair skinned, sandy to light brown hair. Makes me wonder who is projecting what image on whom. It isn't like they had Kodak back then. I say Aryan because if people really knew the word and what it meant it is the only reasonible explaination. However many probably jump right to racism when I say Aryan. Did you jump there?

http://kendraburton.com/kendra%20burton%20images/kendra%20burton%20art%20jesus%20smiles%205x7-60.jpg

http://witnessed.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/jesus-christ.jpg

Jesus was most definitely not Aryan. He was Jewish, most likely he looked like the people who inhabit the region today.

Pretty safe to say he did not look anything like the depiction of Jesus that we see in the pictures.

Not with a 100 ft pole :D

Awesome! this thread has potential. I predict only one person gets banned this time instead of two, like last time. :)

Awesome! this thread has potential. I predict only one person gets banned this time instead of two, like last time. :)

:biglaugh:

I predict no one will get banned.

I guess we cleared up what he might look like then. :D
Who was he? :dontknow:

I guess it all depends on which historical accounting you subscribe to.
Being born Mormon, I have a pre-programmed belief system around Jesus, one that I am not 100% on board with but as any religion, they get into your wiring at a very young age.

Obviously, the current and most commonly accepted record of the man and his life is the Bible and unfortunately it is the King James version which packs in certain political agendas. It seems that we are now opening up to other ideas, possibilities that might shatter the status quo. At least that is what is seems watching all the shows trying to guess his life on the discovery channel. I just want to know if Jesus was married and could there be kin. If so, wouldn't that be the bomb. Hebrew history and law seems to point to the fact that he was married so the possibility of a kid in those days through a marriage is fairly high.

I guess we cleared up what he might look like then. :D
Who was he? :dontknow:

I guess it all depends on which historical accounting you subscribe to.
Being born Mormon, I have a pre-programmed belief system around Jesus, one that I am not 100% on board with but as any religion, they get into your wiring at a very young age.

Obviously, the current and most commonly accepted record of the man and his life is the Bible and unfortunately it is the King James version which packs in certain political agendas. It seems that we are now opening up to other ideas, possibilities that might shatter the status quo. At least that is what is seems watching all the shows trying to guess his life on the discovery channel. I just want to know if Jesus was married and could there be kin. If so, wouldn't that be the bomb. Hebrew history and law seems to point to the fact that he was married so the possibility of a kid in those days through a marriage is fairly high.
I can see the headlines now - "Scooter - The Barefoot Buddha - The Descendant of Jesus" :D

I'm in line with Scooter's thinking. I was raised Catholic and we have images of Jesus everywhere; but I'm teaching my daughter that He was most likely had Middle Eastern looks. The Catholic church had to make Him more mainstream for their potential European customers and therefore came up with this image.

I have this belief that Jesus, Allah, Budda, etc. are all the same person/being. They all teach the same mindset of love your neighbour and belief in a higher power. We have bastardized Their teachings to 'our needs', but the underlying message is the same the world over.

I'm hankering to purchase the Easton Press set (The World's Great Religions - , Buddhism • Catholicism • Hinduism * Islam • Judaism • Protestantism) but just haven't gotten around to it yet. I think it would be great reading and open my mind to ideas and possibilities not yet personally considered.

Obviously, the current and most commonly accepted record of the man and his life is the Bible and unfortunately it is the King James version which packs in certain political agendas..

Recent archeological digs make this not really true in this day and age.

Interestingly as the Bible "goes through time' and we humans find new comparison items, it actually gets more refined not less like you would think of a document that is thousands of years old

That is all I will say at this time. If you are inclined to look into that further do some research regarding Archeology's effect on scripture

back to my 100' :D

I have this belief that Jesus, Allah, Budda, etc. are all the same person/being.

I think you mean Muhammad. Allah is the arabic name for God and the others you meantioned (Jesus and Buddha) were human incarnations of the spirit of God (per their religions). Muhammad was the equivalent "messenger" in Islam.

I think you mean Muhammad. Allah is the arabic name for God and the others you meantioned (Jesus and Buddha) were human incarnations of the spirit of God (per their religions). Muhammad was the equivalent "messenger" in Islam.
Good catch. You're right, I did mean Muhammad. Must go buy the books ...

I think you mean Muhammad. Allah is the arabic name for God and the others you meantioned (Jesus and Buddha) were human incarnations of the spirit of God (per their religions). Muhammad was the equivalent "messenger" in Islam.First, for Christians Jesus is not a human incarnation of the spirit of God, Jesus is the Son of God, and is One in Being with Him and the Holy Spirit, significant difference (search on Holy Trinity for more).

Second, Muhammed was the 'supreme prophet' of Allah, not an incarnation of Allah, according to Islam. Related, Islam considers Jesus to have been a Muslim prophet and does not accept the Christian belief that Jesus was Divine - in Islam, Muhammed is superior to Jesus, not equivalent.

Third, Buddha, within Buddhism, is regarded as the most enlightened human spirit, but is not a God. Within Hinduism some believe Buddha was the physical manifestation of one of their divine beings, but I don't remember what name.

Personally, I believe that Jesus was the Son of God, I believe that He died for my sins, and I don't really give a rip what He might have looked like.

Third, Buddha, within Buddhism, is regarded as the most enlightened human spirit, but is not a God. Within Hinduism some believe Buddha was the physical manifestation of one of their divine beings, but I don't remember what name.

Vishnu

Vishnu
Gesundheit

I do not agree with the wealth comments as related to Jesus. I have heard this espoused often, especially by prosperity preachers, but there is nothing historically to truly support that.

There are a number of unknowns about his life, and I am not sure where you have done your research, but you shoulod not accept that at face value..

Thanks for your comments Phil.

When I first heard this theory I too was unsure. Then I realised that nothing I had read or taught (that i can remember) really mentioned if Jesus was poor, middle class, or wealthy. If the stories of Jesus are even somewhat truthful, then it does beg the question could a poor man do what he did?

Even just to travel to see people would not have been an easy task, and he would have required many supporters/aids to help pull it off.

I believe it's important that if you believe Jesus was the man claimed to be, then his wealth is irrelevant. I'm simply asking the question outside of his divine existence, who was he, how did he live.

Mark I think you’re a very courageous man to bring up such and emotionally charged and dogmatic topic.

Only those who take issue with my comments have within themselves the battle. I open this thread to encourage open discussion for those willing to participate, and for those unwilling, to choose not to.

I did grin to myself that the first thread of discussion that took hold was "what did he look like". Ahh it's true what they say, you can start a thread but you cannot control it's destiny :)

My own research reveals that Jesus was most likely dark haired dark eyes dark skin. Which makes sense for the region he lived. But I do find it odd that for a man with such influence no-one stopped to document what he looked like. It is possible though that to be accepted as the son of God he may have looked different - nothing I've read supports this, in fact some things says he was just an ordinary man (looks wise).

Jesus was most definitely not Aryan. He was Jewish, most likely he looked like the people who inhabit the region today.

Pretty safe to say he did not look anything like the depiction of Jesus that we see in the pictures.
OMG I'm going to agree with Wanderer on a religious matter.

Jesus was:
1. Jewish.
2. He was, therefore, at least somewhat dark skinned.
3. Given the region assigned to his mother's ancestry, he was probably slightly squat in shape, round faced, slightly sloped back in his forehead.
4. Similarly, his hair would have been cut short with the token curlies on the side. It would have been dark and curly.
5. BROWN eyed.

But more to the point - I feel discussing his appearance only matters in so far as it helps us break out of establishment boxes, of people who use him to suit their purposes. Given Jesus' philosophies in the Bible, he would probably want us to focus more on what he was like - on the inside.


Then there's the discussions of The Jesus Mysteries, that site the many reasons to believe he didn't exist at all, but was a reframing of several thousand year old traditions. You know, like we do with legends and ancient tales today - we rewrite them, reshape them so we can relate them to what relevant to us today. If you go that route - you can pretty much pick your packaging of Jesus.

Joseph did not impregnate Mary, so He could've been white, if God is white.

OMG I'm going to agree with Wanderer on a religious matter.

Jesus was:
1. Jewish.
2. He was, therefore, at least somewhat dark skinned.
3. Given the region assigned to his mother's ancestry, he was probably slightly squat in shape, round faced, slightly sloped back in his forehead.
4. Similarly, his hair would have been cut short with the token curlies on the side. It would have been dark and curly.
5. BROWN eyed.
There've been history or discovery type of programs whereas scientists used computers to depict what Jesus supposedly may have looked like.

I just make some assumptions. Middle East, Not many white folk back then, Most paintings or artists conceptions I see of Jesus shows him to be fair skinned, sandy to light brown hair. Makes me wonder who is projecting what image on whom. It isn't like they had Kodak back then. I say Aryan because if people really knew the word and what it meant it is the only reasonible explaination. However many probably jump right to racism when I say Aryan. Did you jump there?
Like you said it was just an assumption. Otherwise one really cannot assume what he may have looked like just cause of the way he was often depicted in paintings.

Sammy Davis, Jr. was Jewish. Maybe he LOOKS like Sammy Davis, Jr.
Or Rod Carew.

On a side note- some of the LIGHTEST-skinned people I've known are Jewish. And red-haired Jews aren't all that rare, either.

There've been history or discovery type of programs whereas scientists used computers to depict what Jesus supposedly may have looked like.

Ooooeee - I love that kind of stuff. I would love to see those! It's Google time!


Sammy Davis, Jr. was Jewish. Maybe he LOOKS like Sammy Davis, Jr.
Or Rod Carew.
LOL Now, Jason, I'm not sure which post is going to get you into more trouble one day, this one, or the one about Cat jokes.

On a side note- some of the LIGHTEST-skinned people I've known are Jewish. And red-haired Jews aren't all that rare, either.

I was speculating based on the sub-group that his mother must have come from.


Otherwise one really cannot assume what he may have looked like just cause of the way he was often depicted in paintings.
I think the Islamic relgion has this kind of debate avoided nicely by forbidding depictions of the Prophet Mohammed.

I think the Islamic relgion has this kind of debate avoided nicely by forbidding depictions of the Prophet Mohammed.Yes, "nicely" is one way to sum it up :p

Joseph did not impregnate Mary, so He could've been white, if God is white.

Good point.

What if God was ginger?

You mean, like, from Gilligan's Island?

Oh - I see.

Hmmm... Biblically, people are made in God's image. There are a lot of coloured people in the world - more than there are white people. So I'm backing coloured here. Tricky premise, though, if you extend it to the gender issue. :D


And I must say, Chuck, I've been waiting for some discussion that Jesus must look like you do in your Avatar.

Who was he? :dontknow:Some dude in a dress walking from town to town asking a lot of deep questions. And then ofcourse he picked up some friends along the way. :D

Sorry, but that's REALLY what I think. :o ;)

Hi Mark,

As a Christian, I was going to write a very long post with scriptures to answer your question.

Then it occurred to me, I bet somebody has already posted this information on the Internet.

The following two links were at the top of my search results and so I decided to go with them.

Was Jesus and his disciples rich or poor?

http://www.letusreason.org/wf15.htm


What did Jesus look like?

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/looklike.htm


To answer the question “Who is Jesus”?

For me personally, Jesus is the true Son of God, Jesus is my Lord and Savior, Jesus spiritually came into my heart when I was 29 years old and I was Spiritually Born Again and through Him I have my eternal salvation in heaven.

I was not raised in a Christian home and have found Jesus to be EXACTLY whom He claims to be when I fully opened up my heart to Him and truly asked Him into my life that day! Much to my surprise, I went from a complete non-believer to a 100% believer in an instant! Wow! Spiritually I was changed in an instant and it was extremely, extremely powerful! I will never forget that day! :) Thank You Jesus!


Hugs, :)
GGG

On a side note- some of the LIGHTEST-skinned people I've known are Jewish. And red-haired Jews aren't all that rare, either.
Yes, Jews are from all over. Thus not all Jews are dark skinned. And some with Northern European ancestry are light skinned and blonde / red haired, etc.

Were posts deleted? :hmm:

What if God was ginger?
Of course God is a redhead, they have more fun!

...I fully opened up my heart to Him and truly asked Him into my life that day! Much to my surprise, I went from a complete non-believer to a 100% believer in an instant! Wow! Spiritually I was changed in an instant and it was extremely, extremely powerful! I will never forget that day! :)

Yes - the power of opening up your heart completely. It works well in relationships, too. :)

Originally Posted by Stoic_Jason View Post
On a side note- some of the LIGHTEST-skinned people I've known are Jewish. And red-haired Jews aren't all that rare, either.

Yes, Jews are from all over. Thus not all Jews are dark skinned. And some with Northern European ancestry are light skinned and blonde / red haired, etc.

Yes, lets remember that Jewish people were scattered around the globe for thousands of years, having lots of time to mix genetically with a wide range of races. Even though they liked to marry within their religion, 2000 years is enough time for the occasional stray types to mix well in. So, when they regathered in Israel after WWII, they would show a lot of genetic variety.

We're talking about Jewish people in Israel 2000 years ago. A different mix from a different time.


On that note, one of our clues about what Jesus looked like is in the Bible. The authorities needed someone to point out to them which person was Jesus. That suggests that he was just ordinary looking for the region and didn't have anything remarkable about his appearance. Certainly, if he looked very different in some way, it would have been mentioned in the Bible.


My husband just mentioned a side joke here, that's somewhat applicable. He likes to say that if the authors and prophets of the Bible were illustrated on the back cover, (like most best sellers do with their authors), the book might not have done nearly so well in the West. :p

My husband just mentioned a side joke here, that's somewhat applicable. He likes to say that if the authors and prophets of the Bible were illustrated on the back cover, (like most best sellers do with their authors), the book might not have done nearly so well in the West. :pIt least until Photoshop was invented. ;)

:biglaugh:

Yes, Jews are from all over. Thus not all Jews are dark skinned. And some with Northern European ancestry are light skinned and blonde / red haired, etc.


This is because of intermarrying and such. There wouldn't have been light skinned jews in Jesus time. They were all in the middle east

Ooooeee - I love that kind of stuff. I would love to see those! It's Google time!
The History channel website is a good source to find those kind of programs:

http://www.history.com/

Speaking of those kind of programs and Jesus, did you see the one whereas some scientists depicted that the face of the famed Shroud of Turin's may actually be, of all people, that of Leonardo DaVinci's!

Wand

Good point.

You dont see many gingers with dark skin.

Thus, it is unlikely that Jesus was a ginge.

Wand
You dont see many gingers with dark skin.

Thus, it is unlikely that Jesus was a ginge.

Oh I don't know, Jesus was persecuted...
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Ginger

Was Jesus and his disciples rich or poor?

http://www.letusreason.org/wf15.htm


What did Jesus look like?

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/looklike.htm



Thanks GGG. First article I cannot subscribe to. It's not objective and is written with an agenda. That aside, it said one thing that put me off, it states that carpentry was not known for its wealth - look back 200 years and how the people lived, in a place were a forest was rare. This alone doesn't mean Jesus was wealthy, it just can't be dismissed with throw away comments though.

The second seems to reason that he was like everyone else, which seems consistant.

Even just to travel to see people would not have been an easy task, and he would have required many supporters/aids to help pull it off.


That, or some kind of divine intervention right? ;)

1. Jewish.
2. He was, therefore, at least somewhat dark skinned.
3. Given the region assigned to his mother's ancestry, he was probably slightly squat in shape, round faced, slightly sloped back in his forehead.
4. Similarly, his hair would have been cut short with the token curlies on the side. It would have been dark and curly.
5. BROWN eyed.

As much as he is said to have looked like an "average man". He wasn't. He was the only perfect man who ever lived. So what does a perfect man look like? I don't think skin colour and height are as relevent. But in theory, wouldn't darker skin be considered more perfect than light skin that gets irritated by sun and the elements?

I would also think that being perfect, there was no beer belly....unless of course that is the way we are meant to look originally....wait a minute...


Wand

Good point.

You dont see many gingers with dark skin.

Thus, it is unlikely that Jesus was a ginge.

Nice. Haha.

But in theory, wouldn't darker skin be considered more perfect than light skin that gets irritated by sun and the elements? Depends on the context. There are contexts where having lighter skin correlates to higher production of vitamin D or, looking at it another way, where darker skin correlates to deficiencies in vitamin D production.
And then there's the ole "sexual selection" angle that must be considered.

I would also think that being perfect, there was no beer belly....unless of course that is the way we are meant to look originally....wait a minute...Again, context-dependent. Some chicks dig the gut. Sexual selection must be considered when evaluating "better".
Or perhaps an external indicator of ability to provide for one's needs? Protective karate fat maybe? "That guy knows how to party"? "He's got the hookup"?

Actually Sean, thats an interesting point.

In certain times, being a chubster was seen as good, cos it meant that you could provide yourself with food.

I am certainly taking that approach...

I carry a little extra weight so the ladies can see I know where to get good cheeseburgers.

franky1.com has answers for Mark and also for others who are seriously interested in who Jesus was and how He lived.
you can download many books free.

Hello all, I'm a newbie and wanted to say hello. :wave:

Who Jesus was is not easy to pin down. Church formulas aside, he was and is one of the most influential figures in history. Love him or hate him, deny him or adore him as Lord, no one can deny the impact this man has had in human history.

Hello all, I'm a newbie and wanted to say hello. :wave:

Who Jesus was is not easy to pin down. Church formulas aside, he was and is one of the most influential figures in history. Love him or hate him, deny him or adore him as Lord, no one can deny the impact this man has had in human history.

Hello and welcome :wave:

Jesus is my coworkers brother ... really he is!! He looks just like Jesus (or what we think Jesus looks like) he even photographs for photos of Jesus! Monday when I go back to work, I'll find his photos on line and post them here.

That of all people, why was the calendar years based on just that one person as in "BC" and "AD". It's interesting if you look at it from that perspective.

That of all people, why was the calendar years based on just that one person as in "BC" and "AD". It's interesting if you look at it from that perspective.

Marketing Genius

He was the co-Creator of the universe - the eternal uncreated Word of God

Wow, this thread is really interesting and the pictures are awesome. For me Jesus, first I believed in him, because it is stated in the Bible, second one God gave him to us and we should accept it :) For me Jesus is really heartful, he gave his life for us sinners. :)

It's interesting that you never see Yoda and Jesus in the same place at the same time.

It's interesting that you never see Yoda and Jesus in the same place at the same time.
Coffee all over the monitor! Thanks!

It's interesting that you never see Yoda and Jesus in the same place at the same time.

I wonder if the two are having the same social media identity crisis Superman/clark kent have been having!

Lois contacts Apple Support (http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/1209.html)
Superman vs. Google+ (http://http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/1584.html)