Curiosity over perceptions of Jesus

[Suade7]

I have never had a religion in my life, I have always wanted to believe, but science has always detracted me away from this. I know religion can be a really controversional subject and I apologise in advance if this question offends anybody. I'm just curious, in particular after watching The Passion of Christ, what different people believe Jesus to be like. I have friends from a variety of different cultures who believe Jesus to be a white man and worship him greatly, but yet are not overly fond on white people, and unfortunately have perceptions and stero typical ideas. What do people know Jesus to be like? This question is aimed at all cultures. Thanks for all answers in advance.

[Theland]

Jesus was the best example of selfless love you could come across. Even if you don't believe in Him, you can still study the message and decide if what I say is true.

[naomi24]

No one can know what Jesus was like, but since he was a Jew, I imagine his skin colouring would have been fairly dark. In my view he was a well-educated man who had possibly studied other cultures. I don't believe he was supernatural, but a philosophical rabbi who had no intention of forming a new religion, whose message has been wantonly misinterpreted and whose hiistory has been shamelessly embroidered.

[naomi24]

Morning Theland: You can believe he existed; you can agree with his philosophy, but in order to follow his teaching, is it necessary to believe he was supernatural - or are you just as Christian if you don't?

Are you feeling better?

[Theland]

Naomi - Much better thank you.

I was shocked to see on the BBC web site, categories of so called christians who don't believe in God! Apparently they think the social gathering in church is beneficial somehow, wihout the need for God. New to me.

I suppose so many people adhere to the teachings of Jesus in varying degrees that it is difficult to categorise them.
I won't try to. "Judge not etc."

[naomi24]

Theland: you haven't answered my question. I'm not asking you to judge anyone - I'm asking for your opinion. Do you need to believe in a supernatural Jesus to call yourself a Christian, or is following his teaching enough?

[Theland]

Just following His teaching is enough for some who still say they are Christians. For me, I believe in His deity also.

[luna-tic]

Suade, Think of Bob Marley and you probably wouldn't be that far out from what Jesus looked like.
That's not racist, is it?
Oh Dear Theland, I'm back with the musical links again.
Sorry :0}

[Octavius]

Jesus is often portrayed in Western art as a Greco-Roman priest and king. Though depictions of Jesus are culturally important, no undisputed record exists of his actual appearance. Many dispute on the differences between the biblical Jesus and the historical Jesus � and some that there was no historical Jesus at all.

If we were to assume that there was a historical Jesus, then he is likely to have been of Middle Eastern origin, and perhaps as some have written, Nubian. It is also of course possible that he was mixed race and may have had Greek origins and even some Roman genes, after all, the area was Hellenized and Romanised for many years. As a practising Jew it is likely he would have had a beard and long hair (Image of Edessa). The earliest depiction thought to be of Jesus was a piece of roman graffiti (Alexamenos graffito) which depicts a crucified Jesus with the head of an ass! If you believe in the historical and biblical Jesus, it is most likely that we could never be certain what he truly looked like.

[Theland]

Octavius - First of all, thank you for posting - I always look forward to your comments.

I saw a programme on TV that said that at the time, men wore their hair short, so Jesus would have had hair no longer than say two inches at the back. The difference between men & women - a womens hair being her crowning glory.

[Octavius]

I only said �likely�. You are assuming that he conformed to the fashion of the time, which is an even greater leap of faith!