JESUS CHRIST's Hair, Unacceptable.

[kpete]

JESUS CHRIST Himself is too ‘counterculture’ for this place: No ‘Counterculture’ Hair Allowed At Liberty University – the rules governing hair on Liberty’s campus are very strict. From the rules for men: Hair and clothing styles related to a counterculture (as determined by the Student Affairs Deans’ Review Committee) are not acceptable. Hair should be cut in such a way that it will not come over the ears, collar or eyebrows at any time. Ponytails for men are unacceptable.

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/romney-style-hair-preferred-at-liberty-univ.php?ref=fpb

[spanone]

1. wasn't the 'counterculture' in the sixties? what war are these clowns fighting?

[WingDinger]

2. Um, most are now saying that Jesus mop was very Mormon looking. Hippy hair, is our conception.

But, I would LOVe to see a cartoon with romney and thugs making Jesus cry.

[hlthe2b]

4. Who is this "most"?

[WingDinger]

7. Biblical anthropologists

[hlthe2b]

9. I've not seen any credible literature on this..

It goes against everything I've seen published on men of that geographic region and era. What is this theory (assertion?) based on?

I don't really care one way or the other and certainly the Ted Neeley blonde, Caucasian portrayal of Jesus is undoubtedly wrong, but I am hesitant on those who might craft "findings" to their own purposes and that might include a conservative-leaning fundamentalist "archeologist" or two..

[provis99]

32. Jesus probably had a short Roman style haircut.

this idea that he had long hair came about in the Dark Ages, when the barbarians had long hair.

[malthaussen]

33. This assertion has been made several times in this thread

No one has offered evidence.

-- Mal

[provis99]

34. statues,paintings, and writings give evidence.

Roman men's hair at the time of Tiberius:


Charlemagne's hair:


who looks more like the common modern stereotype of Jesus:

[malthaussen]

35. I address this a little downthread

Yeshua was not a Roman citizen. Torah says (Lev 19:27) not to cut the hair or beard. Ezekiel (44:20) says one should. It's still moot: Yeshua was a prophet out to reform the Law. What artistic evidence exists for the grooming (and habits) of common Palestinians?

-- Mal

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

36. Romans didn't have or like beards either

I don't know if Roman hairstyles are a good model. If you see busts of Jewish people from that time and place, that may be more revelatory. Romans weren't exactly liked as they were occupiers and there may have been some resistance to adopt their cultural styles. I'm particularly wondering about the beards. Anyone know if Jews in Jesus' generation customarily wore beards?

[KurtNYC]

40. ..but Jesus was Jewish -- not Roman (?)

[ibegurpard]

8. who cares

perception is often reality and this is the image most people have of Jesus. rub these fuckers' faces in it.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. Funny as if hair changes a person. In the day of Jesus every man had long hair.

Counterculture my ass. Sad to say this isn't the america I was raised in. There was a time were individuality meant something. God forbid if you move from that.

[malthaussen]

6. I think individuality is more about time of life than time

High school students, college students: these are great conformists. Even if one hopes to be a non-conformist in those environments, one must do so in an accepted way, or one is really in trouble.

Similarly, if one wishes to succeed in certain milieus as an adult, one must conform to certain standards of dress, grooming, etc. It has ever been thus. I read quite a bit of history; I get a chuckle over how when men began to cut their hair during the Napoleonic Wars, the Establishment resented them for not wearing ponytails.

Thus, when I read of Mr Romney's assault and battery of a fellow-student at Cranbook, I conclude his action stemmed more from outrage over his victim not "conforming" to expected standards, and less from the victim's sexual orientation, although the two reasons could easily exist at the same time.

-- Mal

[southernyankeebelle]

10. Your right but it makes me so sad. Go along to get along.

[malthaussen]

11. The virtues of collective action, conformity, and duty

... are what made the West great. The vices of collective action, conformity, and duty are what is causing our downfall.

-- Mal

[NeverEnuff]

17. Truth

Actually they didn't. The Apostle Paul said it was a shame for a man to have long hair. I consider the images of Christ with long hair to be like images of him with blue eyes and light skin.

[malthaussen]

18. Saul of Tarsus was a Roman citizen

Different standards apply.

-- Mal

[Igel]

28. But he was also Jewish.

At least those who think he actually existed are in fair agreement on this point.

Greeks, Romans, lots of other nondescript people who managed to be put into bas reliefs had short hair. Cut down on lice.

As we go from "every man had long hair" to different standards, don't stop sliding down the slope. The usual interpretation for Jesus' long hair is that Jesus was a Nazirite and therefore had long hair, although I haven't seen a cogent reason given for this interpretation except, oddly, that his long hair seems to justify that interpretation.

[malthaussen]

29. How often were nondescript people put into bas-reliefs?

In both ultra-conservative Judaism and Islam (to name two religions), long hair and beards are requisite -- I think there is some obscure OT reference about not cutting the hair that justifies this. Short hair usually comes from military culture -- both for the lice reason and because helmets fit better when there is less hair (and of course, short hair won't get in your eyes when some other guy is trying to put a pointed stick in your guts). Since the Romans were a militarized society, it is understandable that they went in for short hair, as did the Greek upper classes in classical times (at least, according to extant artistic evidence), who were also expected to be soldiers. I really don't know how much evidence exists for the grooming (or habits) of commoners or well-off middle class families. I think in Saul's case, however, his citizenship trumped his religion. His Romanism is evident throughout his epistles and his career. Yeshua was not a Roman citizen, although he was certainly the scion of a pretty well-off family. Whether or not he and his posse imitated Roman styles or rebelled against them does not appear, although one might expect the latter. But then Yeshua also aimed to reform Judaism, so if long hair and beards were Establishment standards at that time, he might have cut his as an act of rebellion. Certainly we know Mary Magdalene had long hair, since she used it to wash his feet.

And Yeshua was a Nazarene, not a Nazarite. There is a difference. The former refers to place of birth, the latter refers to a man who has taken a specific vow -- one of the conditions of which, incidentally, is not to cut the hair. Samson was a Nazarite.

-- Mal

[Hissyspit]

25. According to scholars, Jesus probably wore his hair moderately short.

Paul was a jerk.

[Brother Buzz]

5. Hell, Mitt's 'Counterculture' hair was on to long for Liberty University

[summerschild]

20. Hard times at the Romney House?

Do you think Ann was brunette back then because she couldn't afford the upkeep on the blonde coif?

See, they told us they'd had some hard times!

[virtualobserver]

12. the Mormon Christ had shorter hair when he showed up in the old west

n/t

[rhett o rick]

13. I think men should be allowed to wear their hair however they choose, er maybe except mullets.

I know, I know, I am a hypocrite.

[malthaussen]

22. Mohawks? Dyed pink and green?

With bangles in?

-- Mal

[SunSeeker]

30. Hey, no hatin'! "All business in front, party in the back" mullets are a true American icon.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. Jesus Christ's hair was hardly counter culture

he was a Jewish male in 1st century palestine...

sP

[Honeycombe8]

19. Jesus' hair was normal for his people for the times. nt

[ProdigalJunkMail]

26. that was the point... n/t

[Chorophyll]

15. Jesus Christ's religion (Judaism) also unacceptable.

[NeverEnuff]

16. Hair

Thats o.k. They probably don't accept one parent Jews either. These people's attitudes are far from Christian. The Christ would say " depart from me I hardly knew you"

[Honeycombe8]

21. Are young men starting to wear long hair again? I thought counterculture hair was more...

the different colors, the spikes, the shearing into figures cut into the hair, dyeing it gothic black, things like that.

My favorite male hair is Hugh Grant hair....any decade. His hair always looks great. Very sexy.

[Hissyspit]

24. Mid-70s styles are back in again.

I bought some shoes the other day from a guy at Belk's who was wearing his hair like I did in 1976.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

23. The Founding Fathers, like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson

Romney would have gotten carpal tunnel trying to trim the locks of virtually every man he met in those days. Liberty University would have called the founders of our liberty "misfits". Paul Revere supposedly wore a ponytail.

[Gregorian]

27. Leibniz was a LOSER!!!!!

[struggle4progress]

31. Didn't we have this discussion about Jesus' hair 45 years ago?

... They'll be ga-ga at the go-go when they see me in my toga:
my toga made of blond brilliantined Biblical hair

My hair like Jesus wore it: hallelujah! I adore it!
Hallelujah! Mary loved her son: why don't my mother love me?

Hair, flow it, show it, long as God can grow it ...

[eridani]

37. Someone should photoshop Rmoney cutting Christ's hair

Don't have the capability myself.

[L0oniX]

41. +1000000

[markpkessinger]

38. Have a look at my new avatar . . .

It's actually a photo of my great grandfather, William Frederick Kessinger, who lived from 1875-1947 (a clearer image appears below). I use his image as an avatar because, growing up, my Dad always held his grandfather up as an example of someone who had the courage to do his own thing. In the small PA town where he lived (and where I grew up), the Trustees of the local Church of Christ where he was a member wrote him a letter requesting that he not return to Church until he had obtained a "proper" haircut and shave. He opted not to return -- ever. The church was happy enough, though, to continue accepting a regular check from him, which he continued to send every month until the day he died.

He was apparently a voracious reader. My Dad said that when he died and they were cleaning out his house, virtually every room was filled, floor to ceiling, with books. Among the books they found was a very well-thumbed copy of an English translation of a Koran, with my great grandfather's notes in the margin. I find that pretty extraordinary for 1947!

[rug]

39. Imagine that, huh

[L0oniX]

42. Long hair makes you strong ...just ask Samson ...or didn't you read that in your bible?

[snooper2]

43. Isn't he supposed to be brown or something? And have a uni-brow?

And jesus look at that smooth skin. I didn't know they had facial product for men back then