Ep.141 - Contrast and Comparisons: White Jesus, Black Jesus w/ Prof. Edward Blum

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Who was Jesus—and what did he look like? And more significantly, what colour was his skin? In this provocative episode, the Curious team are in conversation with professor Edward Blum who, alongside Paul Harvey, co-wrote the intriguing and highly informative “Color of Christ”. Together they unravel the centuries-long struggle over the colour of Christ.

From Warner Sallman’s iconic white Jesus to Black liberation theology’s reimagining of a Christ who shares the suffering of the oppressed, Professor Blum and the team explore how race, power, and identity have shaped - and been shaped by - the image of Jesus.

Drawing on Professors Blum and Harvey’s work ‘The Color of Christ’; this episode examines how art, theology, and politics have collided in the portrayal of the Messiah - from 1950s Sunday school cards to Mormon imagery, from ancient myths like the Letter of Lentulus to modern racial reckonings. This isn’t just about art history - it’s about who gets to see themselves in the divine.

Join the team this week as we traverse some controversial and at times, delicate terrain.

Further Reading
Here’s a bit of homework for you….please note, articles are featured here for balance and provocation and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and convictions of the Curious team.…

What colour was Jesus? - Theologetics.org

Jesus is black. Get over it - PremierChristianity.com

What we’re reading?
As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes…enjoy;

Prof. Edward Blum and Prof. Paul Harvey - The Color of Christ

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