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Stolen baby Jesus figurine comes back black
MAUMEE, Ohio (AP) - Someone who took a baby Jesus figurine from a church's outdoor Nativity scene painted its skin black and then brought it back.
The figurine was accompanied with a note that said the darker paint more accurately represents his skin color.
"I thought I would point out that Jesus was not an Aryan but actually a man of color,'' the note said. "Although you probably knew this but would rather not be reminded.''
The note apologized for taking the statue and said the statue's painting wasn't racially motivated. The Fiberglas figurine was reported missing from St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Dec. 13.
The darker-skinned Jesus is probably more historically accurate than the light-skinned image often seen in the U.S., said Henry Bowden, a Rutgers University professor and executive secretary of the American Society of Church History.
"He was of Jewish heritage, from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. Most Jews were swarthy, with olive skin, brown eyes, and brown or black hair,'' Bowden said.
He noted that many cultures change Jesus' appearance to match their own.
The Nativity's owner, John Stout, said he was not sure whether he will leave the paint or change the figurine's color. "Somebody went off the deep end,'' he said. "I have no idea what weird things went on in people's minds. But I think God has a sense of humor.''
I think its preferable that the little baby Jesus statue was only painted black...imagine if the REAL baby Jesus had been actually born black . That would mean God was a Nigra, and we'd be eating watermelon and drinking malt liquor for communion.
Jesus weeps.
MAUMEE, Ohio (AP) - Someone who took a baby Jesus figurine from a church's outdoor Nativity scene painted its skin black and then brought it back.
The figurine was accompanied with a note that said the darker paint more accurately represents his skin color.
"I thought I would point out that Jesus was not an Aryan but actually a man of color,'' the note said. "Although you probably knew this but would rather not be reminded.''
The note apologized for taking the statue and said the statue's painting wasn't racially motivated. The Fiberglas figurine was reported missing from St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Dec. 13.
The darker-skinned Jesus is probably more historically accurate than the light-skinned image often seen in the U.S., said Henry Bowden, a Rutgers University professor and executive secretary of the American Society of Church History.
"He was of Jewish heritage, from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. Most Jews were swarthy, with olive skin, brown eyes, and brown or black hair,'' Bowden said.
He noted that many cultures change Jesus' appearance to match their own.
The Nativity's owner, John Stout, said he was not sure whether he will leave the paint or change the figurine's color. "Somebody went off the deep end,'' he said. "I have no idea what weird things went on in people's minds. But I think God has a sense of humor.''
I think its preferable that the little baby Jesus statue was only painted black...imagine if the REAL baby Jesus had been actually born black . That would mean God was a Nigra, and we'd be eating watermelon and drinking malt liquor for communion.
Jesus weeps.
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