Census and the Bible: Was Judas Iscariot black?

**ecochuck** · 03-25-2010, 11:43 PM

The guy who betrated Jesus was portrayed by a black man in the movie, Jesus Christ Superstar. So is he supposed to be black or was the movie directed by a racist? Please note that I am not asking if Jesus was white.

**phillyaggie** · 03-25-2010, 11:49 PM

If the Jesus story happened in the Middle East as it's supposed to have happened, then my guess is that both Jesus and Judas were brown folk.

Happy?

**Bob_Head** · 03-26-2010, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by ecochuck

The guy who betrated Jesus was portrayed by a black man in the movie, Jesus Christ Superstar.

They got it wrong. Rufus was the only black apostle.

**Seanibus** · 03-26-2010, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by ecochuck

The guy who betrated Jesus was portrayed by a black man in the movie, Jesus Christ Superstar. So is he supposed to be black or was the movie directed by a racist? Please note that I am not asking if Jesus was white.

Actually, I think the more accurate conclusion to draw would be that Jesus, all of the Disciples, and in fact everyone living in and around 1st Century Judea happened to be Broadway-trained actors, singers, and dancers.*

*I believe this fact was revealed in one of the long-suppressed Gnostic Gospels, but I am not sure which one.

**OldMama** · 03-26-2010, 09:04 AM

I think it was the long-lost gospel of St. Andrew of the Lloyd Webber.

**Seanibus** · 03-26-2010, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by OldMama

I think it was the long-lost gospel of St. Andrew of the Lloyd Webber.

Yes, that was the one.

**desolate** · 03-26-2010, 09:52 AM

They were all middle eastern looking.

Neither white nor black.

**raider.adam** · 03-26-2010, 10:05 AM

Is "betrated" when you betray someone and then proceed to berate them for it?

"Johnny stole money out of my account and then proceeded to call me an idiot for letting him have access to it. I can't believe he betrated me like that."

**OldCityTans** · 03-26-2010, 01:02 PM

I'll put on my nerd glasses for a moment, because this is my fav movie ever & of course, the greatest story ever told...

Ben Verene originally played Judas on stage, and then was replaced by the guy who sang that 80s hit One Night In Bangkok (white guy.) The guy in the film was chosen because they wanted to stay close to the broadway version, and his voice was similar to Verene's. The guy who originally played Jesus was from Simply Red. (sorry for forgetting & misspelling names. I'm not a very good nerd, but my cuteness makes it ok)

**OldCityTans** · 03-26-2010, 01:06 PM

Hub is correcting me (as usual) Not Simply Red, DEEP PURPLE.

**OldMama** · 03-26-2010, 03:21 PM

Okay, I'm showing my age here but here goes. The Broadway version is NOT the original. The first JCS was not performed live anywhere; it was simply on vinyl- a two record set with a book of lyrics. Ian Gilliam of Deep Purple was Jesus. I was madly in love with him. Sometime after the album came the Broadway version with Ben Vereen as Judas (the best role in the piece as far as I'm concerned), then came the movie with Ted Neely as Jesus.

My favorite version by far, though, is the first one. I still have it memorized. I still have the album but, alas, nothing to play it on.

By the way, One Night in Bangkok is from the musical "Chess." My science knowledge may be sparse but my musical theatre knowledge is excellent. I'm a nerd too and proud of it!

**OldCityTans** · 03-26-2010, 03:47 PM

Thanks OldMama. Hub had corrected me on some of that but I didn't bother to post...

My fav is the movie! I love acting out Judas, how he waves his arms, hunches over, and makes wild eyes. "it seems to me a strange thing MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYstifying! How a man like you! kin waste his time, on WIM in of, her, kind."
I am so into this I had hub make a mix CD of my favs of the different versions!

**OldCityTans** · 03-26-2010, 03:55 PM

Hub corrects OldMama, its Gillian, not Gilliam. You're correct on it being an album before play.

Then he did a face-palm and groaned. He hates it when people get music stuff confused.

Also he's reminding me I like to mimic Simon too. "You'll get the power & the glory! For ever and ever and ever!"

**Colin P. Varga** · 03-26-2010, 04:01 PM

Judas Black? I don't care, I think race is very unimportant in this piece of history. However, was Judas Bi-Polar?

As to race I know Jesus is Japanese because I've seen it. And he was/is Native American, seen that too.

**OldMama** · 03-26-2010, 05:25 PM

OTC, hub is correct. In my case, I plead blindness. I typed Gilliam instead of Gillian because I don't want to admit I need glasses for the computer now. BTW, in the album original, Judas was sung by Murray Head who did have a bit of a hit with One Night in Bangkok. The movie Judas; however, was Carl Anderson (a black man again). Mary Magdelene was sung by Yvonne Elliman on both the album and in the movie.

My son played keys on the companion CD of the documentary Rock School a few years ago. The vocalist on one of his tracks was Ian Gillian. I nearly had apoplexy. I intended to follow my kid into that studio and meet Ian. Oh well, thanks to modern recording methods, Ian did his vocal track halfway across the world and never came to Philly. Damn that sound mixing technology! This same son also played one of the priests in the Rock School's production of JCS, the one who sings, "what then to do about Jesus of Nazareth." He also got to play the cool synthesizer music that opens the show and is heard in the title song. Good times.

**niloroth** · 03-26-2010, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Seanibus

Actually, I think the more accurate conclusion to draw would be that Jesus, all of the Disciples, and in fact everyone living in and around 1st Century Judea happened to be Broadway-trained actors, singers, and dancers.*

*I believe this fact was revealed in one of the long-suppressed Gnostic Gospels, but I am not sure which one.

best post of the day seaibus.

**Seanibus** · 03-26-2010, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by niloroth

best post of the day seaibus.

Thanks. I'm here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitress.

**phillyaggie** · 03-26-2010, 07:39 PM

but did Judas have god on his side? hmmm? hmmm?

**OldCityTans** · 03-26-2010, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by phillyaggie

but did Judas have god on his side? hmmm? hmmm?

Of course: Jesus was god, and this was god's plan. It couldn't have happened without Judas' sacrifice too (you know he dies also right?) The beauty of this film is that it shows the interconnectedness of Judas & Jesus elegantly.

Watch the movie!!!!

This is (I think) the song OldMama mentioned, the first vocals, which are, of course, Judas...

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

**phillyaggie** · 03-26-2010, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by OldCityTans

Of course: Jesus was god, and this was god's plan. It couldn't have happened without Judas' sacrifice too (you know he dies also right?) The beauty of this film is that it shows the interconnectedness of Judas & Jesus elegantly.

Watch the movie!!!!

This is (I think) the song OldMama mentioned, the first vocals, which are, of course, Judas...

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

There is a similar story in Hinduism too; afterall, if "God" is in charge of everything, then s/he is also in charge of all the actions and inactions that lead to events in history...right?

I was just humming an old Bob Dylan song with that line about Judas Iscariot...