Did you know that two of the often talked about items focused on the life and times of Christ include portrayals of Jesus by African-American actors?

Maybe you do, and I'm the last to know. In the past two weeks, the new "black audio Bible" and "black Jesus movie" seemed to be a hot topic of conversation and media stories.

I came across the massive audio version of the New Testament while reading a magazine. Soon after reading the article, it seemed to be the thing everyone wanted to talk about. After investigating, I discovered "Inspired By the Bible Experience: New Testament" is a walmart.com top seller and the most popular audio Bible ever stocked by Family Christian Stores.

On one hand, its popularity baffles me. After all, the full package includes an 18-CD set and a DVD about how the piece was created. Called the most ambitious recording project undertaken in recent history, the prospect of listening to it may seem equally daunting.

However, this "Experience" enterprise is closely akin to those old time radio programs that included passionate performances from seasoned actors. The set features a cast of more than 80 well-known actors, like Samuel L. Jackson (God), Blair Underwood (Jesus), Angela Bassett (Esther) and Cuba Gooding Jr. (Judas).

More than 100 musicians round out the recording cast. These performances are further augmented by music and movie quality sound effects. (Listen to an audio sample by going to www.usatoday.com/life/2006-03-28-bible_x.htm.)

While working on the CD set, producers told the Associated Press and other media the all-black cast wouldn't prove a marketing obstacle, and it hasn't, if sales are an indicator.

The second product is the film, "Color of the Cross," a moving depiction of Jesus as a black man. Out this month on DVD, the film proves inspiring for some and controversial for others.

That's because "Color" marks the first film depiction of Jesus as a black man, played by Jean-Claude LaMarre, who also wrote and directed the film. It's also the first to suggest the Crucifixion could have been racially motivated.

Drawing from the Bible and historical documents, LaMarre believes portraying Jesus as a black Jew -- an accurate depiction, according to some biblical historians -- is the most positive image of a black film protagonist to date. Focusing on the last 48 hours of Jesus' life, the film tackles key themes, including Jesus' relationships with his disciples; what motivated the Romans occupying Judea and rabbis of the Sanhedrin; how Jesus' work and subsequent persecution affected his family.

Golden writes the Courier's weekly faith column. E-mail her at onfaith@karrisgolden.com.