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Jesus, Gender, and the Importance of Christian Art
A Bible and Beyond Discussion
Monday, June 26, 2023
Facebook Event Page
Presenter: Dr. Shirley Paulson
with guest scholar Dr. Chad Venters
Jesus, Gender, and the Importance of Christian Art
Monday, June 26, 2023
Presenter: Dr. Shirley Paulson
with guest scholar Dr. Chad Venters
During the early summer months, we are turning our Bible and Beyond focus toward some unexpected things about Jesus. We are learning how modern-day surprises may have more to do with the depth of our deep-seated assumptions than the discovery of new details or facts about Jesus. In this Bible and Beyond Discussion, we will turn to the importance of art and its role in our understanding of Jesus. Unlike texts that have been redacted, or altered, by later interpreters, the physical remains of art tend to offer more enduring images of antiquity. Dr. Chad Venters will illustrate for us how different portrayals of people impact the way we view figures and ideas. From these images, he will give us a chance to explore the ancient concepts of gender and how these concepts may surprise us, especially our mental images of Jesus. Some of the artwork will challenge our preconceived notions of Jesus, because other images have dominated our general art education about Jesus and the world he lived in. Dr. Ally Kateusz, a previous guest on the Bible and Beyond Discussions and an expert on ancient Christian art, will also be on hand to contribute to the conversation.
This is one item in our May–July 2023 focus on “Surprising Things about Jesus.” Check this page for related content.
I have to say that the image construct presented by Dr. Venters is, to me, very attractive. He looks earnest and vigorous, and, if I were to see him on the street, I would love to hear what he has to say. I feel this appearance has an authenticity and engagement that I don’t get from most of the religious paintings conjecturing Jesus’ appearance. I also often wonder ruefully about the representations of him in voluminous snow white robes–trudging around all those dusty Galiliean roads. The description of what he is more likely to have worn hits me as much more reasonable and accessible.
Thanks for this discussion. Enjoyed it a lot.