The world is different ...

[Mulder]

I was recently talking to someone about an example of a simulacrum. To him it was the face of Jesus. To me, it was a not very convincing facial-like pattern that could have been absolutely anyone, anything or (most likely) nothing at all. When I pointed this out, also wondering just what Jesus was supposed to look like, I got a blank stare.

Then it hit me - this person literally experienced the world in a radically different way to me. Obviously, we all see the world slightly differently but to this man, an accidental pattern of light really WAS Jesus! No question! It felt weird talking to someone who saw things so differently!

[bobdezon]

did he think jesus was blonde and blue eyed?

[Mulder]

That's the thing - it was just a black and white pattern (not even a pattern to me). I've no idea what he saw but I suspect it was quite different!

[fallible]

I'm often stopped dead in my tracks by just how differently some people see things. I've met people who are actually genuinely shocked by the fact that I don't believe in God and what's more, was never christened. I really didn't think anyone would give much of a stuff these days. But they look and me and say things like 'Aren't you worried?' Worried? About what? It's no big deal is it? And then I realise that they deeply genuinely believe that I am on my way to Hell. They believe in a literal Hell. A lake of fire. A real, corporeal Devil. They believe it all.

[koolg]

did he think jesus was blonde and blue eyed?

Is he not ????

[dalriada]

I think this is earliest description of what Jesus looked like:

"Both his nature and his form were human: for he was a man of simple appearance, mature age, short growth, three cubits tall [about 4 and a half feet, based on the Jewish cubit], with scanty hair, but having a line in the middle of the head after the fashion of the Naziraeans, eyebrows meeting above the nose so that the spectators could take fright, with a long face, a long nose, and with an undeveloped beard, dark skin, and hunchbacked."

Josephus, Jewish historian ( circa 34 A.D)

This may of course be, complete nonsense...

[dalriada]

Double post removed. Oops!

[siestatime]

Hunchbacked? ???

Heck of a job getting him to lie flat on the cross then.

[Mulder]

I think this is earliest description of what Jesus looked like:

"Both his nature and his form were human: for he was a man of simple appearance, mature age, short growth, three cubits tall [about 4 and a half feet, based on the Jewish cubit], with scanty hair, but having a line in the middle of the head after the fashion of the Naziraeans, eyebrows meeting above the nose so that the spectators could take fright, with a long face, a long nose, and with an undeveloped beard, dark skin, and hunchbacked."

Josephus, Jewish historian ( circa 34 A.D)

This may of course be, complete nonsense...

You know all references to Jesus in Josephus are regarded by scholars as interpolations, don't you?

[dalriada]

You know all references to Jesus in Josephus are regarded by scholars as interpolations, don't you?

Indeedy. Hence the "could be complete nonsense" caveat..,
I quite like the Jesus as ginger theory myself though:

"man of stature somewhat tall, and comely, with very reverent countenance, such as the beholders may both love and fear, his hair of (the colour of) the chestnut, full ripe, plain to His ears, whence downwards it is more orient and curling and wavering about His shoulders..."
Publius Lentullus

We studied that passage quite seriously at school as a possible "primary source" and now I find out, as of this afternoon, that it was a hoax and Publius Lentulus is actually in the Catholic Encyclopedia as a fictitious person!

So much for a classical education....

[Toad]

I think this is earliest description of what Jesus looked like:

"Both his nature and his form were human: for he was a man of simple appearance, mature age, short growth, three cubits tall [about 4 and a half feet, based on the Jewish cubit], with scanty hair, but having a line in the middle of the head after the fashion of the Naziraeans, eyebrows meeting above the nose so that the spectators could take fright, with a long face, a long nose, and with an undeveloped beard, dark skin, and hunchbacked."

Josephus, Jewish historian ( circa 34 A.D)

Holy Shit. No wonder Joseph said he wasn't the father - ugly little git.

Actually, I'm reminded of an episode of Jeremy Kyle now....

Toad.