# Nordic Jesus **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425 "2010-11-12T14:47:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/21 "2010-11-18T03:38:48Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > The most famous picture of Jesus is Warner Sallman’s _The Head of Christ_: > > [Warner Sallman - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Sallman) > > In fact, there are some estimates that it’s the most reproduced picture of all time. That’s the Jesus I grew up with! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/22 "2010-11-18T04:02:48Z")
I’ve never seen a picture of Jesus that didn’t look like yours in the OP. Do you have a better picture of what he/apostles looked like to post? Not religious myself. But curious. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/23 "2010-11-18T14:21:16Z")
The Virgin Mary is equally anglicized. I didn’t notice that until a friend mentioned she’d been cast as the Virgin Mary in a school play. (Yes, this is a public school. What can you do?) At first I thought she was a perfect fit, but quickly realized that there is no way she was that pale. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/24 "2010-11-18T14:52:52Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > What kind of bindings does Nordic Jesus use? I never figured Jesus was a Winter Olympics kind of guy. I picture Him sweeping the medal table in swimming, even if He isn’t a particularly fast runner. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/25 "2010-11-18T15:55:59Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Can somebody explain to me why Jesus is blond and Teutonic-looking? He’s normally got brown hair in paintings but why not? You’re assuming that he would look like other people in that area but that’s not necessarily the case in a Christian’s mind. His dad wasn’t from around there remember? 😉 Of course I believe he did look like the other Hebrews. If he was blond and everyone else had brown hair I’m sure it would have been mentioned in the bible. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/26 "2010-11-18T21:03:49Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > The most famous picture of Jesus is Warner Sallman’s _The Head of Christ_: > > [Warner Sallman - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Sallman) > > In fact, there are some estimates that it’s the most reproduced picture of all time. Matthew McConaughey & Jesus, separated at birth! ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/27 "2010-11-18T22:23:43Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > The most famous picture of Jesus is Warner Sallman’s _The Head of Christ_: > > [Warner Sallman - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Sallman) > > In fact, there are some estimates that it’s the most reproduced picture of all time. I think I remember a copy of that picture on the wall of every single room in the church in which I was raised. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/28 "2010-11-18T22:35:42Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > Matthew McConaughey & Jesus, separated at birth! Except Matthew McNaugahyde would have his shirt off. I once attended services at a black Baptist church that had a picture of Soul Brother Jesus. Dy-no-mite! Stranger ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/29 "2010-11-19T00:02:33Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Except Matthew McNaugahyde would have his shirt off… Well Jesus is often depicted wearing (a historically inaccurate) loincloth. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![misterkrc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@misterkrc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterkrc)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/30 "2010-11-19T03:08:32Z")
there is no such person.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/31 "2010-11-19T09:16:16Z")
I’m reasonably sure that lots of Renaissance artists did not depict a Jesus that anybody could think of as either “blonde” or “teutonic”: you people are projecting like crazy, I swear to God. Renaissance artists in Germany probably did, though, for the reason **monstro** gave. I mean, if you guys think [this](http://www.google.es/images?q=velazquez+cristo) or the central image in [this](http://www.google.es/images?q=%C3%BAltima+cena+da+vinci) are blonde, y’all need cataracts surgery. There is a blonde in the second image, but it’s John. As **monstro** said, people tend to use representations which are close to themselves, it’s easier to identify with someone who looks like you. I’ve seen Chinese Jesuses, Black Jesuses, Amerindian Jesuses… one of Nat King Cole’s most famous songs is “Angelitos Negros”, Little Black Angels: it asks a black painter to paint black angels, so black people seeing them will see that “God wants us (black people) in Heaven too”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/32 "2010-11-19T12:21:26Z")
Mental image, based on Thread Title: Jesus on skis. With a stocking cap, Green & red. And a pom-pom on top. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/33 "2010-11-20T22:06:44Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I’m reasonably sure that lots of Renaissance artists did not depict a Jesus that anybody could think of as either “blonde” or “teutonic”: you people are projecting like crazy, I swear to God. Renaissance artists in Germany probably did, though, for the reason **monstro** gave. It did happen. [This one](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nKa-dM7PvEo/TJkYEuh6sEI/AAAAAAAAErY/VKNVaUtGw2w/s1600/jesus_blond31246138290.jpg) is super-popular with Catholics here. Or [this](http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/jesus-1.gif). Or [this](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1850BSvxiHY/TIZHIKEpbDI/AAAAAAAABro/96gL7pyZD20/s1600/jesus71.jpg). Or [this](http://www.jesus2kidz.com/Rubens-baby-jesus.jpg). Or [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Benvenuto_Tisi-Garofalo-Baby_Jesus_Sleeping.jpg). Or [this](http://www.terminartors.com/files/artworks/3/8/8/38807/Rosselli_Cosimo-The_Mother_of_God_Holding_Baby_Jesus_with_St._Cosmas_and_St._Damien.normal.jpg). Or [this](http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/jesusbirth/Madonna_of_the_Magnificat.jpg). Only some of this are from the Renaissance. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/34 "2010-11-20T22:14:16Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Or [this](http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/jesus-1.gif). _sings_ “Turn on your heartlight, let it shine wherever you go. Let it make a happy glow For all the world to see” ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/35 "2010-11-20T22:41:05Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > It did happen. > > [This one](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nKa-dM7PvEo/TJkYEuh6sEI/AAAAAAAAErY/VKNVaUtGw2w/s1600/jesus_blond31246138290.jpg) is super-popular with Catholics here. > > Or [this](http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/jesus-1.gif). > Or [this](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1850BSvxiHY/TIZHIKEpbDI/AAAAAAAABro/96gL7pyZD20/s1600/jesus71.jpg). > Or [this](http://www.jesus2kidz.com/Rubens-baby-jesus.jpg). > Or [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Benvenuto_Tisi-Garofalo-Baby_Jesus_Sleeping.jpg). > Or [this](http://www.terminartors.com/files/artworks/3/8/8/38807/Rosselli_Cosimo-The_Mother_of_God_Holding_Baby_Jesus_with_St._Cosmas_and_St._Damien.normal.jpg). > Or [this](http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/jesusbirth/Madonna_of_the_Magnificat.jpg). > Only some of this are from the Renaissance. Don’t forget [this](http://www.michaelarnoldart.com/max-ernst-the-blessed-virgin-chastizes.jpg) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425/36 "2010-11-20T22:49:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Apparently,[Jesus actually looked like one of the kings at the Argonath](http://www.metro.co.uk/news/846371-jesus-statue-in-poland-is-worlds-biggest): Oh, cool! Touchdown Jesus now has a worthy successor. > [@runner pat](#): > > _sings_ > “Turn on your heartlight, > let it shine wherever you go. > Let it make a happy glow > For all the world to see” Rassin’frassin’…it’s going to take me DAYS to get rid of that now! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nordic-jesus/560425.md?page=1)