The Real Face of Jesus
Though there is no actual evidence Jesus ever existed anthropologists have constructed what he’d have looked like from the stories of his proposed place and time of birth. Essentially, he’d have looked much like some of the Palestinians today.
I do think heros can be great models… Ghandi, Mandela, MLK all did great things… if there was any written or physical evidence Jesus existed and that even 30% of the stories written 200 years after his death were true I may well say the same of him. But I don’t think that Jesus would approve of Christianity today.
(white) MAN made today’s Jesus (narcissistically) in their own image and narcissistically, insecurely, controllingly, and systematically projected onto Jesus everything that suited their own self image, interpreting, touting, revising and editing the bible accordingly throughout European cultures and the 1800 year history of the book and then spreading this Cultural imperialism to every other race (with a white, blond, blue eyed face on it of course) which was rather like subliminal advertising of white power really. 
Religion makes some people feel better, stronger, some feel too weak, lost, helpless without someone with superpowers having the ultimate control, a safety net… some may need to feel they are significant, watched over, looked after and that a god or god head listening to all their thoughts, deeds, prayers, gives them that… some can’t cope with the belief that their much cherished life ends when their body, or that of their loved ones, ‘gives up the ghost’ so feel comforted knowing these ‘ghosts’ will go ‘rest with Jesus’ in a heaven somewhere. Some may feel religion is their culture, that they have been IN-Doctrin-Ated and this gives them identity, a sense of who they are. Some may feel that without ‘the word’ of a ghost of a dead Jewish political activist from 2000 years ago, that they would have no idea how to live a good life, treat others well or be happy. This is their reality and for them it is a valid and absolute heartfelt truth.
Personally, I’m not religious. I’m comfortable with being only as significant as any creature… an ant, a rabbit, an elephant… that we apes are only that significant… it doesn’t scare me to be humble, to be equal, to simple be. I’m happy to be the one watching over me and watching out for me, and listening to me. I’m happy knowing that I can trust that I’m a good enough, happy enough person who can endure and face up to brutal realities and significant challenges and adapt if necessary. I’m fine with the knowledge that the spirit of anyone I’m close to or have ever been strongly inspired by or influenced by, lives on in me and that so too shall I live on in all those who have loved me, being inspired by me, been influenced by me, and in all things I have created that I’ve left behind.
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Polly Samuel (aka 'Donna Williams') Author, artist, consultant and presenter. http://www.donnawilliams.net I acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of this country throughout Australia, and their connection to land and community.
