Rick Dean
Registered
http://www.cleveland.com/crime/plaindealer...87743730840.xml
:angry:
Nativity Jesus stolen, returned painted darker
12/31/03
Associated Press
Maumee - Someone who took a baby Jesus figurine from a church's outdoor Nativity scene painted its skin a darker color and then brought it back.
The figurine was accompanied with a note that said the paint more accurately represents his ski
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 re
inded.
"
The note apologized for taking the statue and said the statue's painting wasn't racially motivated. The fiberglass figurine was reported missing from St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Dec. 13.
The darker-skinned Jesus is probably mo
re historically accurate than the light-skinned image often seen in the United States, 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 J*ws 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 whet
her 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."
:angry:
Nativity Jesus stolen, returned painted darker
12/31/03
Associated Press
Maumee - Someone who took a baby Jesus figurine from a church's outdoor Nativity scene painted its skin a darker color and then brought it back.
The figurine was accompanied with a note that said the paint more accurately represents his ski
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 re
inded.
"
The note apologized for taking the statue and said the statue's painting wasn't racially motivated. The fiberglass figurine was reported missing from St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Dec. 13.
The darker-skinned Jesus is probably mo
re historically accurate than the light-skinned image often seen in the United States, 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 J*ws 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 whet
her 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."