Why have there been no feminine representations of Jesus in art?

[Taverner]

I was thinking - we've had several modern Jesus', a black Jesus, a Muslim Jesus and asian Jesuses.

But why never a woman Jesus? If the Christian ideal of becoming more Christlike, wouldn't this seem a natural? Think about it - a play where Jesus and the 12 disciples are women. Pharisees, Romans and Judas men.

[Beware the Beast Man]

1. There has.

Sister Wendy Beckett had a contest a few years ago to create a modern rendering of Jesus. This was the winner. The model was an African-American woman.

[Taverner]

2. I like it

[Beware the Beast Man]

4. There was quite a stir about it as well.

Especially with the Eastern and Native American religious symbolism in the background. Never mind the Christ's teachings were heavily influenced by Eastern thought...

[Taverner]

7. Of course go to any Methodist church and you'll find all kinds of

Eastern and Native American symbolism. As well as African and Pre-Columbian symbolism - all part of Wesley's belief that bible needs a cultural interpretation.

[realisticphish]

3. well

i think it's because the bible doesn't say jack about what race jesus is, so it's open to interpretation. But it's pretty clear that he's a dude :shrug:

not to say i would have a problem with a female jesus, it's just that to me it would be like a female Julius Caeser, or a male Queen Elizabeth.

[Taverner]

6. The bible does say what race he is

A Semite from Nazareth. Most likely looked something like this:

[realisticphish]

13. well, i grant you that

and i love that picture (it's from popular mechanics, if i recall)

but being from nazareth doesn't mean one's parents are from there (or grandparents, etc, etc)

I, personally, think he was a Semite from Nazareth, as that makes the most sense. I'm just saying that that aspect is at least open to some degree of speculation

[LostinVA]

12. Of course it says which "race" -- he was from Nazareth

Home of very dark, SEmite-looking people... and it still is.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. It is pretty clear that Jesus is meant to be the "son". I am more interest

ed in seeing feminine representations of God.

[Lilith Velkor]

8. Because his mom represents that idea in Christian art

Or sometimes, his girlfriend.

[Joe Chi Minh]

9. I think my wife would make a very good model for one. I mean,

if she'd been a male, I think she'd look like Jesus. Though I think her nose is smaller than Jesus' one on the Shroud of Turin.

[tjwmason]

10. There have been - usually attracting a great deal of controversy.

1984
Cathedral exhibits Christa, a bronze crucifix by British sculptor Edwina
Sandys depicting Christ as a woman. A controversy erupts, with some
hailing the work as liberating and others decrying it as blasphemous.

From the history of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York. http://www.stjohndivine.org/documents/CathedralHistory.pdf

[ZombieNixon]

11. I thought Jesus *was* a woman...

long flowing dress, long silky hair...
































:hide:

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. That's what I love about you, ZN

You're willing to be wicked in such subtle ways
:spank: