Christology crossing boundaries: The threat of imaging christ as other than a white male

Abstract

In this paper I explore the psychological origins of resistance to multiple representations of Christ, particularly those which cross gender and racial boundaries. I suggest that the image of a white-male Christ, often internalized at a young age, becomes part of psychic structure. Imaging Christ as other than a white male forces crossing of racial and gender boundaries which serve to maintain self-concept as either identified with or different from the internalized Christ.