Imagining Jesus part three
Without a doubt, whatever the reasons for a white European Jesus in Europe, that image was sometimes used to reinforce colonialisation. Christianity came from white people; God was white.
Some of the missionaries to Asia, the Americas and Africa might have actually believed that Jesus was white. Images learned in childhood go very deep. But along with changing peoples names to 'Christian' ones, along with changing peoples modes of dress, the white Jesus was part of a programme.
However.
The 20th century saw a change of attitude in many western churches. What was technically called the 'inculturation of the Gospel' encouraged expressions of Christian faith to draw on indigenous sources. One of the most noticeable changes was the way in which Jesus was portrayed.
Jesus the Sundancer, by Fr John Guiiliani.
This image draws on the Lakote practice of sundancing, when the skin of young mens chests were pierced, and they were hoisted into a ceremonial tree to take away the sins of the community.
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Jesus the Masai herdsman
Jesus wears the traditional Masai robe, and glows with orange light signifying holiness.
Jesus Rastafari
The Jesus who goes into bondage with his people.
Jesus the Holy Man
I showed this to a group of Sikhs and they insisted that this could not be Jesus: it was obviously a Guru. We finally agreed that perhaps it was both.
This fertile re-imagining of Jesus has borne fruit for others too.
Raoef Mamedov
Douglas Blanchard.
But what if I am not a man?
To my mind, there have been no satisfactory female images of Jesus. I am aware of the various christa projects, but these seem to have degenerated into images of naked women on crosses or being flagellated. At the very least, I suggest that the intention of these works is dubious.
But here is one which which has met wide acclaim as an image which seems to embrace all.
A Jesus for all people, at last?
Nancy Burson
2003?