Why do we all have this similar image in our minds when we try to imagine God? Is it an internal creation or simply a result of the media?
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| I'm guessing you're imagining something similar to this. Looks a bit like Gandalf doesn't he? |
Let's take a look at the human population from a global perspective. About 26% of the 7 billion people living here as under the age of 15 and 11% are over the age of 60. 54% are Asian (which includes East, South, and Southeast Asian), 15% Black, 15% White, 8% Hispanic, and 8% Middle Eastern. The gender ratio is about 1.01 males for every female. Clearly, not every human on the planet is an old Caucasian man. Then how come when you google "God" nearly every result is this same?
Old Caucasian men make up a very small percentage of people on this planet, so it seems unlikely that only these select few were created in God's image. The Bible tells us that we all were. The only explanation then, must be the influence of the media. Looking back in time, the majority of paintings and images created of God appeared in Western Europe during the Renaissance. Since the majority of artists in this area were white males at the time, it makes sense for them to have portrayed God in this godfather-like image. I guess people liked the innocence and wisdom they saw in his old age and white beard, because the image stuck.
Gandalf's similarities to Jesus Christ and God the father help to explain his appearance. There's a reason why Peter Jackson cast Ian McKellen as Gandalf and not Morgan Freeman. The Ian McKellen version of Gandalf holds true to the traditional representations of God, his flowing white beard and wrinkles of wisdom helping to satisfy the image that viewers have of God when they close their eyes.
It's interesting to look at how, as times and attitudes change, so do our representations of God. When J.R.R. Tolkien began writing his novels that took place in Middle Earth over 70 years ago, racist attitudes were still predominant in much of the white man's culture. As a Christian growing up in Western Europe, he was certainly exposed to the traditional depictions of God as an old man with a Gandalf-like appearance.
Fast-forward to today. We've made it past the slave era, through the hippy age, and into the 21st century. Racism in many places is nearly nonexistent, especially in the younger generation. The 26% of the population that is under 15 might very well have an entirely different image of God in their minds now as a result of the media.
Hands down, one of the most famous and recognizable voices among today's celebrities is that of Morgan Freeman. Perhaps that's why he has been cast as God in several different movies. The average viewer might have been surprised during Bruce Almighty, to watch a wise-sounding, deep voice turn into a tall, black man. But Freeman did such an excellent job portraying God in this film that he was chosen to play this role again in Evan Almighty.
Depending on your age, you must either be nodding your head in agreement or shaking it with confusion. Casting Morgan Freeman as God was certainly a devation from His typical portrayals, but for the younger crowd this is becoming normal. Personally, I'm a bit conflicted. As a nineteen-year-old in this society, I can't decide what image my mind most often creates when I try to imagine God. Sometimes I picture Morgan Freeman, while other times Gandalf appears. The script-writers of Bruce Almighty were clearly aware of the belief that God created us in his own image, for they rejected the stereotype and introduced a new possibility for his appearance. Unless, like Jesus Christ or Gandalf, you've died and been resurrected, you don't know what God truly looks like. But at least now we know why we've been trained to image him in the ways that we do – simply a result of the ever-changing media.
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| We're not all old, white males... |
Old Caucasian men make up a very small percentage of people on this planet, so it seems unlikely that only these select few were created in God's image. The Bible tells us that we all were. The only explanation then, must be the influence of the media. Looking back in time, the majority of paintings and images created of God appeared in Western Europe during the Renaissance. Since the majority of artists in this area were white males at the time, it makes sense for them to have portrayed God in this godfather-like image. I guess people liked the innocence and wisdom they saw in his old age and white beard, because the image stuck.
Gandalf's similarities to Jesus Christ and God the father help to explain his appearance. There's a reason why Peter Jackson cast Ian McKellen as Gandalf and not Morgan Freeman. The Ian McKellen version of Gandalf holds true to the traditional representations of God, his flowing white beard and wrinkles of wisdom helping to satisfy the image that viewers have of God when they close their eyes.
It's interesting to look at how, as times and attitudes change, so do our representations of God. When J.R.R. Tolkien began writing his novels that took place in Middle Earth over 70 years ago, racist attitudes were still predominant in much of the white man's culture. As a Christian growing up in Western Europe, he was certainly exposed to the traditional depictions of God as an old man with a Gandalf-like appearance.
Fast-forward to today. We've made it past the slave era, through the hippy age, and into the 21st century. Racism in many places is nearly nonexistent, especially in the younger generation. The 26% of the population that is under 15 might very well have an entirely different image of God in their minds now as a result of the media.
Hands down, one of the most famous and recognizable voices among today's celebrities is that of Morgan Freeman. Perhaps that's why he has been cast as God in several different movies. The average viewer might have been surprised during Bruce Almighty, to watch a wise-sounding, deep voice turn into a tall, black man. But Freeman did such an excellent job portraying God in this film that he was chosen to play this role again in Evan Almighty.
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| Morgan Freeman as "God". I'm liking the new white suit that has replaced the traditional white robe. |
Depending on your age, you must either be nodding your head in agreement or shaking it with confusion. Casting Morgan Freeman as God was certainly a devation from His typical portrayals, but for the younger crowd this is becoming normal. Personally, I'm a bit conflicted. As a nineteen-year-old in this society, I can't decide what image my mind most often creates when I try to imagine God. Sometimes I picture Morgan Freeman, while other times Gandalf appears. The script-writers of Bruce Almighty were clearly aware of the belief that God created us in his own image, for they rejected the stereotype and introduced a new possibility for his appearance. Unless, like Jesus Christ or Gandalf, you've died and been resurrected, you don't know what God truly looks like. But at least now we know why we've been trained to image him in the ways that we do – simply a result of the ever-changing media.
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