From Savior to Symbol: Shattering the Stained Glass Behind the White Christ Open Access
Hanlin, Brittany (Spring 2026)
Abstract
This thesis examines the theological and cultural impact of depicting Jesus as White within American Christian visual culture, particularly in White progressive mainline Protestant congregations. Drawing from personal pastoral experience, historical analysis, and visual theology, it argues that the normalized image of a White Christ functions as a subtle yet powerful mechanism that reinforces racial hierarchy and sustains White supremacy within the church.
Through engagement with scholars such as Colleen McDannell and David Morgan, the study demonstrates that religious belief is not formed solely through doctrine or preaching, but also through repeated visual encounters in sacred spaces. Stained-glass windows, paintings, and other forms of church art operate as theological tools that shape communal imagination, defining who is perceived as holy, authoritative, and reflective of the divine. When Jesus is consistently portrayed as White, these images normalize Whiteness as the standard of holiness while marginalizing other racial identities within the theological imagination.
The project includes a case study of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City, a historically significant and racially diverse congregation whose stained-glass imagery continues to depict a White Christ. Analysis of these windows reveals a coherent visual system in which Whiteness remains central across key biblical narratives such as the Nativity, Crucifixion, and Pentecost. Even in moments intended to communicate diversity, non-White figures are visually marginalized, reinforcing a hierarchy in which Whiteness occupies the theological center.
The thesis further argues that progressive congregations are particularly susceptible to this dynamic due to inattentional blindness which is the tendency to overlook familiar visual elements while focusing on stated commitments to justice and inclusion. As a result, churches may affirm racial equity in language and policy while perpetuating racialized theology through unexamined imagery.
Ultimately, this study calls for congregations to critically examine their visual culture as part of their commitment to racial justice. By confronting and reimagining representations of Christ, churches can expand their theological vision of the imago Dei and move toward a more inclusive and faithful expression of Christian identity that reflects the full diversity of humanity.
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From Savior to Symbol: Shattering the Stained Glass Behind the White Christ () | 2026-05-01 19:26:15 -0400 |
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