Are people from MENA white?

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Sep 17, 2022
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#1
The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today, and I think the main problematic factor behind this is the disputed racial classification of MENA natives.

It is very common to hear from people and media that Jesus was brown skinned, simply because he was a Jew from the Middle East, and to accuse anybody who disagrees of being an anti-Semite and a white supremacist.

Many ignorant Westerners assume as well that all MENA people are dark skinned and form a race of their own. Some even go further and extend those stereotypes to Southern Europeans, because their average complexions are slightly darker than those of other Europeans.

The thing however is that there are many different peoples inside the Middle East and North Africa, and Westerners have universalized the image of the stereotypical Gulf Arab for the whole region. Many think the average person from Lebanon looks exactly the same as the average person from Oman. Many don’t realize the only actual Arabs are those found in the Arabian Peninsula. The rest are assimilated peoples from diverse backgrounds like Assyrians, Chaldeans, Arameans, Phoenicians, Philistines, Egyptians, Berbers and others.

From what I have noticed, many people, and I mean many, from countries like Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia or Algeria look as fair as a typical European, and not few of them even have light hair and eyes. Sorry to burst your bubble Anglocentrists. And I know this is very politically incorrect to say, but honestly, I can’t distinguish a Syrian from a Greek, nor a Tunisian from an Italian. They can all be siblings!

In southern MENA countries people are generally darker, due to the higher African admixture. But even in Yemen there are some people with light complexions, and I’m not talking about foreigners.

Nevertheless, I’m interested in seeing your perspective on the topic. This can open an interesting debate.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
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#2
Well, I'm one of those ignorant westerners.. I haven't a clue what MENA is🤔
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
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#4
There's only one race, the human race, and what difference does the color of Jesus' skin during his incarnation make?
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#5
Acronym for Middle East and North Africa.
Now I know.. Thanks 👍

All I can give is my opinion. That is Jesus was born into a Jewish family @2000 years ago. What did he look like? I don't know.

We can make an educated guess, but at the end of the day that's all it would be.

And my last point is, does it really matter? Maybe it's a good thing we don't know or else we would make statutes and worship the statue🤔.
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
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#7
Now I know.. Thanks 👍

All I can give is my opinion. That is Jesus was born into a Jewish family @2000 years ago. What did he look like? I don't know.

We can make an educated guess, but at the end of the day that's all it would be.

And my last point is, does it really matter? Maybe it's a good thing we don't know or else we would make statutes and worship the statue🤔.
But this is not the central part of the question.

The question is whether or not would you consider some of the peoples of the Middle East or North Africa white?
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
639
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#8
I don't believe so. We are different, but equal.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/#

None, but nothing will kill my curiosity.
Not even this?

Revelation chapter 5

[8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
[9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
[10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,260
2,111
113
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#9
But this is not the central part of the question.

The question is whether or not would you consider some of the peoples of the Middle East or North Africa white?

Skin colour is just pigmatation as far as I'm aware. So if your skin is coloured dark then you have dark skin.. If white then you have white skin 🤔
 

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
Sep 17, 2018
3,645
2,865
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#10
His race is very controversial? We must travel in different circles.
Never heard anyone accused of those things for not believing that.
So far you seem to be the only one making a controversy of it. No one else here seems too concerned about his race.
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
639
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#12
One question for you,

Are these dogs the same race?

Genesis chapter 1

[24] And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
[25] And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
9
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#13
Not even this?

Revelation chapter 5

[8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
[9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
[10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Well, I said all races are equal.
 
Sep 17, 2022
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#14
Just a reminder you are all diverting from the topic I was intending to be discussed here.

Read again the OP please.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#17
The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today, and I think the main problematic factor behind this is the disputed racial classification of MENA natives.

It is very common to hear from people and media that Jesus was brown skinned, simply because he was a Jew from the Middle East, and to accuse anybody who disagrees of being an anti-Semite and a white supremacist.

Many ignorant Westerners assume as well that all MENA people are dark skinned and form a race of their own. Some even go further and extend those stereotypes to Southern Europeans, because their average complexions are slightly darker than those of other Europeans.

The thing however is that there are many different peoples inside the Middle East and North Africa, and Westerners have universalized the image of the stereotypical Gulf Arab for the whole region. Many think the average person from Lebanon looks exactly the same as the average person from Oman. Many don’t realize the only actual Arabs are those found in the Arabian Peninsula. The rest are assimilated peoples from diverse backgrounds like Assyrians, Chaldeans, Arameans, Phoenicians, Philistines, Egyptians, Berbers and others.

From what I have noticed, many people, and I mean many, from countries like Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia or Algeria look as fair as a typical European, and not few of them even have light hair and eyes. Sorry to burst your bubble Anglocentrists. And I know this is very politically incorrect to say, but honestly, I can’t distinguish a Syrian from a Greek, nor a Tunisian from an Italian. They can all be siblings!

In southern MENA countries people are generally darker, due to the higher African admixture. But even in Yemen there are some people with light complexions, and I’m not talking about foreigners.

Nevertheless, I’m interested in seeing your perspective on the topic. This can open an interesting debate.
I have never heard about any of this. Who is debating this stuff?

What race was Jesus? I have never heard anybody say that it matters.

About those dogs: Dog "breeds" are chimeric at best. A dog breed is just a certain specific kind of mutt that some human decided he liked. We're always adding new breeds.

Actually it's the same with humans. Cross a white and asian, then cross that with a mexican, and what do you get? A human. (And a few lawsuits for human experimentation, but that's your problem.) :p
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,799
8,103
113
#18
I don't believe so. We are different, but equal.

None, but nothing will kill my curiosity.
By the way, welcome to the forum. I don't think anybody else has ever heard of this controversy you mention, but please stick around and join in the fun in some of the threads around here.
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
1,233
593
113
#19
The race of Jesus is a very controversial topic today,
Maybe to people who don't have anything IMPORTANT to obsess about. I imagine he had a typical unremarkable Middle Eastern appearance. Isa 53:2

It is very common to hear from people and media that Jesus was brown skinned, simply because he was a Jew from the Middle East,
And He probably was just that. Totally unimportant.

and to accuse anybody who disagrees of being an anti-Semite and a white supremacist.
That's funny!!! Tell us another one.

Nevertheless, I’m interested in seeing your perspective on the topic.
My perspective is that it's totally unimportant.
 
Sep 17, 2022
73
9
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#20
Folks, this topic is NOT about Jesus. It is about the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.

Let's keep it simple, would you consider certain peoples from the region to be light skinned?