Is God A "white Man" In A Robe?

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Having been raised in america, every image that was presented to me as GOD and for that matter (Jesus) have been of a "White male" with long hair and a beard and Euro-centric facial and body features.


If I were to come from a place that knew nothing of GOD or any other diety, Would it be "ok" to present this image of GOD or any other diety as
Euro-centric, Asian, or any other race?


My question: Is GOD a "White Male" with long hair and a white beard with Euro-centric facial and body features?

Any thoughts?

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

And also, I forgot. Could GOD be a woman?

[InLove]

I can't effectively nor quickly answer the first part, but from what I can understand, there is the occasional "robe-wearing".

InPeace,
InLove

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by InLove

I can't effectively nor quickly answer the first part, but from what I can understand, there is the occasional "robe-wearing".

InPeace,
InLove

[lunamoth]

What color is God? As a very nice book by the same title answers, "the color of water."

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

Having been raised in america, every image that was presented to me as GOD and for that matter (Jesus) have been of a "White male" with long hair and a beard and Euro-centric facial and body features.


If I were to come from a place that knew nothing of GOD or any other diety, Would it be "ok" to present this image of GOD or any other diety as
Euro-centric, Asian, or any other race?


My question: Is GOD a "White Male" with long hair and a white beard with Euro-centric facial and body features?

Any thoughts?

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

What color is God? As a very nice book by the same title answers, "the color of water."

Yes, but does the water have Euro-Centric features, Asian Features etc..?

Or it GOD just like Water?

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

Yes, but does the water have Euro-Centric features, Asian Features etc..?

Or it GOD just like Water?

???

Water is a symbol, so no, God is not just like water. But, I also to not hold to a white-man-in-the-sky view of God. I don't view God as a being, God is Being, and in Him I live and move and have my being.

luna

[Dondi]

Actually, Jesus ought to have features distinctive to the 1st century Jew. I imagine that if the indigeneous peoples of that time had the same characteristics of people that occupy the Middle East region today, then He might have looked Arab.

I've heard the argument that since from Adam all the races came to be, then Adam had to be black, for genetically the only way to obtain all the races from one common stock is for the parent to be black. All other colors are a derivative of that. It wouldn't work that way with a white man.

Sooo then....if God originally made Man in His image, then God must have been black.

Does that give you any comfort, YO-ELEVEN-11?

[lunamoth]

This thread reminds me of an icon I saw in my mother's church once. It portrayed Jesus as a black woman.

luna

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by Dondi

Actually, Jesus ought to have features distinctive to the 1st century Jew. I imagine that if the indigeneous peoples of that time had the same characteristics of people that occupy the Middle East region today, then He might have looked Arab.

I've heard the argument that since from Adam all the races came to be, then Adam had to be black, for genetically the only way to obtain all the races from one common stock is for the parent to be black. All other colors are a derivative of that. It wouldn't work that way with a white man.

Sooo then....if God originally made Man in His image, then God must have been black.

Does that give you any comfort, YO-ELEVEN-11?

Dondi, if you notice below in one of my statements, that was not my intention to say that GOD is black, I was just wondering is it right to present that image or any other for that matter as the image of GOD in church's etc..

Please do not get offended if someone challenges the current image of GOD that is in so many forms of media and books. This question was not intended to ruffle any feathers. If I did offend you, I do apoligize, but my question still stands and I would really like a wide variety of thoughts from people of different ethnic backgrounds.

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

If I were to come from a place that knew nothing of GOD or any other diety, Would it be "ok" to present this image of GOD or any other diety as Euro-centric, Asian, or any other race?

Any thoughts?

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

Dondi, if you notice below in one of my statements, that was not my intention to say that GOD is black, I was just wondering is it right to present that image or any other for that matter as the image of GOD in church's etc..

Please do not get offended if someone challenges the current image of GOD that is in so many forms of media and books. This question was not intended to ruffle any feathers. If I did offend you, I do apoligize, but my question still stands and I would really like a wide variety of thoughts from people of different ethnic backgrounds.

Nonsense. I was just demonstrating the absurdity of trying to envision God. Or Jesus, for that matter.

I personally think it matter how we see God. But what counts is how we see Him in our hearts and souls. All mystery will dissolve when we translate out of this abode and into the next. I hold to this promise myself:

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." - I John 3:2

[InLove]

Hi, and Peace to All Here--

Having been privileged to direct a children's choir at a Christian church, I'd like to offer this. The key word here is "children".

Some Children See Him

Some children see him lily white
The baby Jesus born this night
Some children see him lily white
With tresses soft and fair.

Some children see him bronzed and brown
The Lord of heaven to earth come down
Some children see him bronzed and brown
With dark and heavy hair.

Some children see him almond eyed
This savoir born we kneel beside
Some children see him almond eyed
With skin of yellow hue.

Some children see him dark as they
Sweet Mary's son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they
And ah, they love him, too.

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace
And filled with holy light.

Oh lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering
Come worship now the infant king,
'Tis love that's born tonight.

(Burt Hutson (1951), from Set II of "The Alfred Burt Carols")

I realize that this is, in a strictly historical sense, not a solution. And I realize it is coming from a Christian point of view. But I thought it might be relevant to the discussion.

By the way, some children see "Him" as Irish/Cherokee.

InPeace,
InLove

[Dondi]

Cool song, InLove.

"...Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise" - Matthew 21:16

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by Dondi

Nonsense. I was just demonstrating the absurdity of trying to envision God. Or Jesus, for that matter.

I personally think it matter how we see God. But what counts is how we see Him in our hearts and souls. All mystery will dissolve when we translate out of this abode and into the next. I hold to this promise myself:

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." - I John 3:2

Dondi, if there were more people on this planet like you, I would not be asking that question, but unfortunately there isn't.

Also the verse up there is a good starting point for those ,who like to (what I call) put GOD in a nice neat box (religion).

But, how do you feel about the images around the world showing GOD in human form, be it Black, white, asian, etc..Do you feel that it is wrong to do that?

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by InLove

Hi, and Peace to All Here--

Having been privileged to direct a children's choir at a Christian church, I'd like to offer this. The key word here is "children".

Some Children See Him

Some children see him lily white
The baby Jesus born this night
Some children see him lily white
With tresses soft and fair.

Some children see him bronzed and brown
The Lord of heaven to earth come down
Some children see him bronzed and brown
With dark and heavy hair.

Some children see him almond eyed
This savoir born we kneel beside
Some children see him almond eyed
With skin of yellow hue.

Some children see him dark as they
Sweet Mary's son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they
And ah, they love him, too.

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace
And filled with holy light.

Oh lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering
Come worship now the infant king,
'Tis love that's born tonight.

(Burt Hutson (1951), from Set II of "The Alfred Burt Carols")

I realize that this is, in a strictly historical sense, not a solution. And I realize it is coming from a Christian point of view. But I thought it might be relevant to the discussion.

By the way, some children see "Him" as Irish/Cherokee.

InPeace,
InLove

That is a beautiful poem. Irish-Cherokee is also very beautiful

Inlove, do you feel that images should be should be used in religion?