The myth of a white Jesus is one with deep roots throughout Christian history. As early as the Middle Ages and particularly during the Renaissance, popular Western artists depicted Jesus as a white man, often with blue eyes and blondish hair. Perhaps fueled by some Biblical verses correlating lightness with purity and righteousness and darkness with sin and evil, these images sought to craft a sterile Son of God.

The only problem was that the representations were historically inaccurate.

Modern Western Christians have carried these images over into their own depictions of Jesus. Pick up a one of those bright blue "Bible Story" books in a Sunday School classroom and you'll find white Jesus waiting for you, rosy cheeks and all. Or you could survey the light-skinned Jesus in any number of modern TV or film portrayals, including History Channel's hit series The Bible.

Interestingly, the Bible is far less descriptive on the matter of Jesus' skin color than we are. Christian scriptures say very little about Jesus' physical appearance. They do not comment on his nose, eye color, skin pigmentation, or hair. The glaring exception is Isaiah 53:2, which prophesies that the messiah won't be much to look at, another fact that places the Bible at odds with the "well-groomed surfer-dude Jesus" who's often put forth.

MISSISSAUGA — Churchill Meadows Christian Church (CMCC) is promoting Biblical literacy in Mississauga with help from the best-selling book The Story.

The Story is a novelized version of the Bible that aims to ease understanding of the scriptures. The church will be hosting a 31-week program that covers a chapter a week, and begins on Jan. 12.

According to a survey done by Lifeway Research, only 11 per cent of Canadian churchgoers read the Bible. CMCC aims to use this program to foster interest and understanding in its congregation.

People have described me as fearless, which is funny because I'm scared of everything. A good friend once told me I was the bravest person he knew, also amusing because I live in a perpetual state of anxiety.

I've struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember — though it wasn't diagnosed until high school. As a kid, I would pace the halls, peering out the window while I waited my mom to return home. Until I saw her car headlights, my brain swirled with dark, brooding thoughts that maybe she'd been in an accident or kidnapped. I would utter repetitive prayers up to God until I saw the lights. These prayers were the only way to deal with the spiraling thoughts in my head. While they felt redundant and ritualistic, they were better than plaguing myself with more worry. Later, I realized these moments as held one of my truest insights into coping with anxiety: prayer.