 |
Diverse celebrations of Advent
centuries old
Pastoral Pondering: Advent -- A time
of preparation
for the coming of the savior
What
is the true
image of Jesus? |
In the centuries since his death artists the world over
had differing view on how he really looked |
By Schellene Clendenin, Newberg
Graphic reporter
E-mail Schellene at sclendenin@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Long, wavy red hair frames a lightly bearded face. Sometimes the hair is
more blonde, sometimes brunette.
His skin is always luminescent, but like his eyes range in color from fair to
dark. His expression changes from sweetly caring to pained and he is always dressed in
either long white robes or a loin cloth and a crown of thorns.
Perceptions of the image of Jesus have been part of religious art for
centuries.
With the days until Christmas ticking quickly by, images of Christ from the
cradle to the cross are everywhere but no two are exactly the same.
“God made humans in God’s image and humans have been returning the
favor ever sense,” quoted Cory Beals, assistant professor of religious studies at
George Fox University.
He said there is a vast variety of representations of Jesus, including
artistic. Beals added that one project he had students undertake was to bring in four
different images of Jesus. The images, which numbered more than 100, were taped about the
room and ranged in representation from the human to the divine and happy to angry.
“Even though we are able to get over 100 images readily, they are a
small fraction of what is available,” he said.
One false perception people have about the imagery is there are so many
representations that none can be truly accurate. In many different ways some
representations are truer than others and more historically accurate, Beals said. However,
it is also possible that each image represents a part of Christ.
For example, if a group of art students are asked to paint the same model in
an art class each artist will paint something different. The same sort of response would
be true for images of Christ, Beals said.
However, the representations, historically accurate or not, have met with
objections for centuries.
“Especially with iconoclast controversies — these occurred
when there were those who went and basically destroyed any visual representation of Christ
— they felt it was idolatry,” he said.
The controversy is old, beginning in the seventh century. Notions of images
of Christ as idolatry have continued through history; some religions were more comfortable
with the imagery, some remain opposed.
Some feel that these religions’ feelings and the images keep us from
seeing the true Christ, and even Quakers don’t want idolatrous images of Jesus. Their
response: No visual can be a substitute.
But Beals disagrees. He feels it is still possible that someone
else’s perception can help us to see different features of Christ and feel the
presence of Christ in a fresh way, allowing people a more complete, fuller encounter with
the historical man as well as the reality of Christ.
Beals said research has affected the imagery by pointing out that the image
of a blue-eyed, blonde Jesus is probably not accurate.
What research has discovered from historical representations is there tends
to be a fixation with who Jesus was in history, as opposed to who Christ was in faith.
There is a wide variety of belief, even in historical scholars, of the true
image of Christ. However, Beals said, the best source of what he looked like can be
imitated from the gospels.
“We like things that are tangible,” he said. “We tend to be drawn to the
picture more than the person the picture is representing. Why look at a picture if you
have the real thing?”
According to Paul Almquist, pastor at West Chehalem Friends Church, Quakers
historically emphasize the inner reality of the experience of Christ, so there are not as
many paintings and art from Friends.
He said often cultures base their depictions of Jesus on the culture that
paints him. Whether it’s South American or African, the image of Jesus is based on
the appearance of that culture.
Almquist said his favorite portrayals of Jesus are ones in which he is
smiling or spending time with children. He also enjoys the images of Jesus praying over
the city of Jerusalem and the portrayal of Jesus knocking on the door, which symbolizes
Jesus’ knocking on the door of our hearts.
He recalled as well a semi-transparent image of Christ in the painting
“Presence in the Midst.” The painting is a portrayal of Jesus standing over a
Friends worship service watching over and praying with the congregation.
Almquist said Friends have always been cautious about placing too much
importance on physical symbols. This is not wrong, he said, but added that a physical
symbol is only as good as what’s going on inside of a person.
There is a risk that if people take communion without recognizing the
powerful, inner work of Christ, the event can become a ritual. But as a symbol, it can
have a strong value to people and can be used appropriately.
Friends were concerned that there were people who did religious acts but
their lives were not transformed by the acts. Friends felt it was better to demonstrate
reality by making a difference in the world by living a righteous life.
“Friend’s testimonies came from and focus on the inward work of
Christ in peoples hearts and spirits,” Almquist said. |
|
From Dec. 13,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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