Renewable Revolution

Agelbert NOTE About J.C.s Homo SAP physical appearance: Yes, we Homo SAPS tend to picture our God(s) in the most hyped and glorified appearance possible according to our own provincial, narrow, racist, 'take car o' yer own' (and so on) prejudices. 

BUT, trhe Judeo Christian Bible, according to the prophet Isaiah, stated that J. C. was UGLY, as well as POOR and not particularly popular either.

Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

No one really has a literal view of Scripture, no matter where on the spectrum one falls, every interpretation must allow for figurative language. But in the above case, I believe the only interpretation that is logical is the literal one. OF course , the fact that J.C. did not show up for centuries after Isaiah's prophecies is a (rather tawdry, but they'll use it anyway  ) excuse that God did NOT reveal the future to Isaiah because, uh, God doesn't exist and Isaiah was smokin' some great stuff!     .

Yes Ashvin, that passage has been interpreted (wrongly, I think  ) as a reference to what J.C. looked like when he was being punched, whipped, poked and beaten to a pulp. I disagree. I think that passage, just because it is linked prophetically to the crucifixion, is NOT a justification for claiming the Lamb of God (i.e. perfect  PHYSICALLY unblemished and SPIRITUALLY sinless specimen of Homo SAPdom) looked like Michelangelo's handsome side kick.

I agree that the Shroud of Turin is an extremely accurate representation of J.C. (i.e. a run of the mill Jew). There was nothing special in J.C.'s appearance.