Was Medieval Europe Aware of Jesus's Race?

[jankren]

From what I heard, Medieval Europeans did not really know that Jesus probably looked like a first century Jewish man with dark skin as the above pictures show. So Im wondering if they knew from the beginning of the real physical appearance of Jesus, would they still accept the new faith which features a dark skinned god? And would Christianity still spread all over Europe and wipe out other local pagan religions?

I do not understand that even in my country Indonesia, Christians hang a picture of Jesus in which he looks like an Irishman as the below image displays.



I think if all Europeans accepted that Jesus indeed had a dark skin, then there would be no such a thing as White Supremacy anymore.

Peace,

[Sétanta]

I don't think they knew. Information like that is pretty inconsiquential and thus probably wasn't spread. Besides, any Jew they met probably looked the same as them. Jesus' race is of no importance to Christians, he was God and because of that loved every race equally. Obviously he looked like the people he was born too, and obviously people who did not know what he looked like invented their own images about him.

[Sher Khan]

The only image people would have of Jesus in Medieval Europe would be handed down from Byzantine iconography, I believe.

Iconography, like many other forms of art, emphasizes the message or action depicted rather than the realism. Thus, Jesus as a human image would be greatly idealized to suit the artist's personal ideal - like Ancient Egyptian art and even Anime/Western cartoons to a degree.

[bdh]

So Im wondering if they knew from the beginning of the real physical appearance of Jesus, would they still accept the new faith which features a dark skinned god? And would Christianity still spread all over Europe and wipe out other local pagan religions?

It probably wouldn't have made a difference at the time because European supremicism as we know didn't develop till relatively modern times.

[mischief]

i think you'll find that Jesus was english. and possibly from the home counties.

[jankren]

It probably wouldn't have made a difference at the time because European supremicism as we know didn't develop till relatively modern times.

Hmm.. I forgot that during the Dark Age, the Middle Easterners and North Africans were probably the ones who looked down on Europeans.

[SickBoy13]

Cultures display Jesus according to their own features. I have seen a Japanese rendering of Jesus, and he has Japanese features. In Armenia, he has darker skin, and dark hair. In Europe, he looks like a European.
In reality, though, the man was semitic, so he was much darker than Europeans and had dark hair.
However, his "human" appearances are inconsiquential and his "human" form is really insignificant, especially to those of us who are considered monophysites (Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, Nestorian, just to name a few).

[Sadreddine]

Well Setanta, Jesus is God only for Catholics, not all Christians, as far as I can tell.

About Jesus having Japanese appearance, that´s just too much. However this kind of nonsense can be found also, for instance, in Islam, where some describe Muhammad as having blue eyes and blond hair.

People tend to present their "idols" out of personal preference and what they´re accustomed to see, that´s for sure.

[Sétanta]

Well Setanta, Jesus is God only for Catholics, not all Christians, as far as I can tell.

No, Jesus is considered by a vast majority of Christians to be God.

[Giorgos]

No, Jesus is considered by a vast majority of Christians to be God.

that's right. Greek Orthodox Christians included.

[Sadreddine]

that's right. Greek Orthodox Christians included.

The opinion of both catholic and orthodox people proves me wrong then, since I erroneously thought many orthodox christians didn´t considered Jesus (pbuh) to be God. I was thinking also in sects like Arrianism, although you can´t expect them to have significative acceptance anymore.

In fact, Jesus to be considered God is the main cause why I left christianity (although I never passed on being an agnostic christian, just for being raised as one), I ought to say. I felt attracted by the abstract concept of God as represented in Islam, and its strict monotheism.

[KaerMorhen]

hhhmmm I think it could be matter of politics either cause I remember I saw a document on TV about missionaries in Africa. The nuns to help familiarise locals with christian beliefs had a pictures of Jesus portrayed as black man in natives clothing.

[Sadreddine]

The nuns to help familiarise locals with christian beliefs had a pictures of Jesus portrayed as black man in natives clothing.

That sounds more like a dishonest manipulation in my view.

[the_mango55]

That sounds more like a dishonest manipulation in my view.

No more than presenting him as a blue eyed european.

It really doesn't matter what race he was born, his physical appearance doesn't matter.

[KaerMorhen]

That sounds more like a dishonest manipulation in my view. 

as far as I'm recall the doc it has to show the natives that Jesus was an average man like them, cause if they saw "europeised" Jesus they connect him with some of their gods from outer realms.

[SickBoy13]

Foytaz is right. It is easier to connect with something similar to yourself.
This discussion is good, but let's remember that Jesus' appearances mean nothing.

[LoZz]

in medeval times, people (the pesents) knew nothing of the world outside of where they lived, and they belived anything their local prest or vicar told them, so if he said jesus was white, he is. Its also alot easyer to follow someone if he is from the same culture as you, back then arabs where the enemy(whats changed?) he wouldnt of been so easy for people to follow if he wasnt white.

but its a view still held today. go to one of the bible belt states, ask them what colour jesus is.

[jankren]

Its also alot easyer to follow someone if he is from the same culture as you, back then arabs where the enemy(whats changed?) he wouldnt of been so easy for people to follow if he wasnt white.

I believe the Arabs embraced Christianity earlier then the Europeans. So why would they see them as enemies? I suppose you thought that Christianity started during Islamic period, yes?

First of all, I feel obliged to correct this false designation of "Race." Judaism is a religion, not an ethnicity.

I wish it was true but from what some Jews told me it is in fact the opposite.

By the way, as I said earlier if all Christians in the world are more aware that Jesus indeed probably had dark skin then people like Hitler with racial supremacy ideas would not have gained much popularity among Christians.

[Shigawire]

I wish it was true but from what some Jews told me it is in fact the opposite.

Wish no more, for it is indeed true. This definition is not up to popular opinion or "truthiness." Ask any anthropologist, grammarian or theologist of the definition of the word.

[Real]

Presuming that I'm ofending no one alive, they were all ignorants! Plus, the intelligent weren't that intelligent, because only centuries later they started investigating. And even now a days people seem to still believe in all those religions, instead of taking the path of Science... no offence to the religious (the living ones, of course), but being an atheist, this is my point of view.

With all due respect,
Lord Sigilus