Ugly people

[Brandon777]

Do they exist? To me they do. Someone could have a disease or have been burned in a fire and it's not their fault, but that doesn't mean they're not ugly right? And I do think that bitterness, jealousy, cowardice, hate, doubt, pride, and other sins make someone ugly too because they're not as appealing that way. Gluttony can make someone fat and thus less beautiful and growing older can do that too. And then there are people who are simply born physically less attractive than others. My question is why does ugly exist? Why can't everyone be beautiful? Do you think in heaven everyone will be beautiful? And don't say everyone will look the same but we will all except them as beautiful. There ARE standards.

 

[adekruif]

To you ugly people may exist, but to God no one is ugly. Everyone is beautiful to God, because we are created in HIS image. That alone is beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to you, and me, some people may seem physically ugly. BUT!! true beauty lies within. Inner beauty is what it SHOULD all be about, although we all get carried away, myself included, in how somebody looks on the outside.

Ugly exists because God created it that way. We are all different, we all can't think everyone is attractive. To you someone may be attractive, and to me they may seem "ugly".

 

[error]

Who are WE to decide who IS ugly- and who is NOT?!

 

[mrpower]

Do they exist? To me they do. Someone could have a disease or have been burned in a fire and it's not their fault, but that doesn't mean they're not ugly right? And I do think that bitterness, jealousy, cowardice, hate, doubt, pride, and other sins make someone ugly too because they're not as appealing that way. Gluttony can make someone fat and thus less beautiful and growing older can do that too. And then there are people who are simply born physically less attractive than others. My question is why does ugly exist? Why can't everyone be beautiful? Do you think in heaven everyone will be beautiful? And don't say everyone will look the same but we will all except them as beautiful. There ARE standards.

To quote a soppy but accurate phrase, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". In other words, beauty is perceived through the lens of the individual.
Do you perceive a rainy day to be idea and lovely, or cold wet and an inconvenience?
Do you perceive a laughing happily screaming child as a nice sound, or piercing and jarring?
Does the idea of a crowded party seem an enjoyable prospect, or a chore?
Do the girls with dyed black hair seem radiant and beautiful, or dark and sombre?
(all of these of course are contextually based, but that's the point isn't it)

I personally love the rain; a happy baby screaming his head off is music to me; the idea of a crowded party is often a chore; and dark haired girl is radiant and beautiful. All generally speaking.
But of course (for me); rain on the day of an early morning exam is annoying, a happily screaming child when i haven't slept for days is an inconvenience, a crowded party when they're all my close friends is awesome, and a black haired girl who's contemptuously nasty is unattractive.
Beauty is personal perception, and the choice to think past instant biology.
Ask yourself the question. Why do I find that beautiful?.. or more interesting, Why do I find that ugly? and see where it takes you.

 

[Brandon777]

To you ugly people may exist, but to God no one is ugly. Everyone is beautiful to God, because we are created in HIS image. That alone is beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to you, and me, some people may seem physically ugly. BUT!! true beauty lies within. Inner beauty is what it SHOULD all be about, although we all get carried away, myself included, in how somebody looks on the outside.

Ugly exists because God created it that way. We are all different, we all can't think everyone is attractive. To you someone may be attractive, and to me they may seem "ugly".

You say beauty lies within. But how do you know that? It comes from 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." This explains that we as humans discriminate based on height and outward appearance, but God doesn't. It is not sufficient to say that ugliness does not exist. That can not be proven with Scripture.

You at least admit that there is such a thing attractiveness. Talking about physical attractiveness: Although it's true that I may find someone attractive that you don't, we both know you're lying if you say that there isn't a standard. In other words some women, 98% of men would find attractive and some 98% of men would find unattractive and thus we could, by that standard label them as beautiful or ugly. If you've heard of elephantiasis there would be no argument that some people are not physically attractive. If not just paste that into google images and you'll know what I mean.

 

[Brandon777]

Who are WE to decide who IS ugly- and who is NOT?!

99% of people who've ever looked for a romantic partner do decide who is ugly and who is not. It's natural to select someone you like better based on how they look. Although the Bible says God looks on the heart, it also admits that man looks on the outward appearance. Strictly talking about physical beauty if you don't think there are standards then you disagree with statistics that say every culture agrees that physical beauty comes from facial symmetry. If you don't think there is any such thing as a person who we can all agree is physically unattractive all around look into elephantitis on google images. Think of it this way. Who is the most beautiful person ever? God. Everything else has a degree of ugliness below him. Face the music. Some people look better than other people. I don't know why Christians have such a hard time with this.

To quote a soppy but accurate phrase, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". In other words, beauty is perceived through the lens of the individual.
Do you perceive a rainy day to be idea and lovely, or cold wet and an inconvenience?
Do you perceive a laughing happily screaming child as a nice sound, or piercing and jarring?
Does the idea of a crowded party seem an enjoyable prospect, or a chore?
Do the girls with dyed black hair seem radiant and beautiful, or dark and sombre?
(all of these of course are contextually based, but that's the point isn't it)

I personally love the rain; a happy baby screaming his head off is music to me; the idea of a crowded party is often a chore; and dark haired girl is radiant and beautiful. All generally speaking.
But of course (for me); rain on the day of an early morning exam is annoying, a happily screaming child when i haven't slept for days is an inconvenience, a crowded party when they're all my close friends is awesome, and a black haired girl who's contemptuously nasty is unattractive.
Beauty is personal perception, and the choice to think past instant biology.
Ask yourself the question. Why do I find that beautiful?.. or more interesting, Why do I find that ugly? and see where it takes you.

My other two answers are sufficient to answer this one.

 

[Relena7]

99% of people who've ever looked for a romantic partner do decide who is ugly and who is not. It's natural to select someone you like better based on how they look. Although the Bible says God looks on the heart, it also admits that man looks on the outward appearance. Strictly talking about physical beauty if you don't think there are standards then you disagree with statistics that say every culture agrees that physical beauty comes from facial symmetry. If you don't think there is any such thing as a person who we can all agree is physically unattractive all around look into elephantitis on google images. Think of it this way. Who is the most beautiful person ever? God. Everything else has a degree of ugliness below him. Face the music. Some people look better than other people. I don't know why Christians have such a hard time with this.

Yes, ugliness on a superficial level exists.
Our looks are our shells, they're not the entirety who we are, and many Christians realize this, and include what's beyond the superficial level when judging beauty.
Maybe that is why they don't like to focus on it. Cause to say someone IS ugly could sound a bit like saying they are their bodily shell. That isn't fully true. We also have a spirit that can shine through whatever we look like. A more deep beauty.

To say to a physically unattractive person that they're ugly would serve little purpose, other than to make them feel bad, or that their appearance is all they are worth.

There are physically beautiful people who are ugly on the inside. I certainly wouldn't want to surround myself with people who give off negativity vibes and ugly attitudes on life, no matter what they looked like.


As for choosing a mate, as I had mentioned to someone in the chat room earlier, what is unattractive to one person may be very attractive to another. We all have our own tastes on what looks good and what does not.
Also our feelings can affect this. Sometimes the longer you know a person, and the more you enjoy their company, the more beautiful they start to appear after to you after a while.

It all comes down to how open-minded YOU are in what defines a person's true beauty, and what you choose to focus on.

 

[jimsun]

I'm with Error on this one! We have no right whatsoever to insult a person in this way - And you can't come from West Cork & not like the rain!

Errin Go Brach!

 

[Brandon777]

I'm with Error on this one! We have no right whatsoever to insult a person in this way - And you can't come from West Cork & not like the rain!

Errin Go Brach!

We have no right to say if someone is ugly? Why do you think that? What's your reasoning? I don't condone insulting people, but I know that some people look better than others. That's a no brainier. It really doesn't take a genius to know there are levels of attractiveness. Why else would we spend time in the morning with personal hygiene, making up our hair etc...?

 

[Brandon777]

Yes, ugliness on a superficial To say to a physically unattractive person that they're ugly would serve little purpose, other than to make them feel bad, or that their appearance is all they are worth.
As for choosing a mate, as I had mentioned to someone in the chat room earlier, what is unattractive to one person may be very attractive to another. We all have our own tastes on what looks good and what does not.
Also our feelings can affect this. Sometimes the longer you know a person, and the more you enjoy their company, the more beautiful they start to appear after to you after a while.
It all comes down to how open-minded YOU are in what defines a person's true beauty, and what you choose to focus on.

I agree.
"Our looks are our shells, they're not the entirety who we are, and many Christians realize this, and include what's beyond the superficial level when judging beauty." As do I.
"Maybe that is why they don't like to focus on it. Cause to say someone IS ugly could sound a bit like saying they are their bodily shell. That isn't fully true. We also have a spirit that can shine through whatever we look like. A more deep beauty." While this is true, people can also be ugly on the inside; we can't forget that. There are people who are ugly on the outside and the inside.
"There are physically beautiful people who are ugly on the inside. I certainly wouldn't want to surround myself with people who give off negativity vibes and ugly attitudes on life, no matter what they looked like." I wouldn't either.You're the first person to have denial out of the picture on this. But as you attempted to correct me lovingly, you missed answering my questions. No one has addressed my questions.

 

[Relena7]

I agree.
"Our looks are our shells, they're not the entirety who we are, and many Christians realize this, and include what's beyond the superficial level when judging beauty." As do I.
"Maybe that is why they don't like to focus on it. Cause to say someone IS ugly could sound a bit like saying they are their bodily shell. That isn't fully true. We also have a spirit that can shine through whatever we look like. A more deep beauty." While this is true, people can also be ugly on the inside; we can't forget that. There are people who are ugly on the outside and the inside.
"There are physically beautiful people who are ugly on the inside. I certainly wouldn't want to surround myself with people who give off negativity vibes and ugly attitudes on life, no matter what they looked like." I wouldn't either.You're the first person to have denial out of the picture on this. But as you attempted to correct me lovingly, you missed answering my questions. No one has addressed my questions.

I am confused what you thought I was in denial of.
And sorry I missed answering your questions or made it sound like I was correcting you. I guess I didn't understand exactly what you were getting at. It sounded like you want us to "face the fact" that people can be ugly (which I didn't deny, I said yes people can be on a physical level). But apparently you agree with me so I'm confused about what you want.

 

[adekruif]

You say beauty lies within. But how do you know that? It comes from 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." This explains that we as humans discriminate based on height and outward appearance, but God doesn't. It is not sufficient to say that ugliness does not exist. That can not be proven with Scripture.

You at least admit that there is such a thing attractiveness. Talking about physical attractiveness: Although it's true that I may find someone attractive that you don't, we both know you're lying if you say that there isn't a standard. In other words some women, 98% of men would find attractive and some 98% of men would find unattractive and thus we could, by that standard label them as beautiful or ugly. If you've heard of elephantiasis there would be no argument that some people are not physically attractive. If not just paste that into google images and you'll know what I mean.

How do I know beauty lies within? Because I know people who are very nasty inside, and I also know people that are VERY beautiful inside. I can say with confidence that I would rather get to know somebody with beautiful insides than beautiful outsides. It feels good to "know" somebody who is beautiful outside, but actually knowing somebody with TRUE inner beauty is something precious.

I also know people beautiful outside, and some not so beautiful people outside. Of course I am attracted to who I think is pretty. I am also attracted to someone who is beautiful inside, its not the same type of attraction, and it certainly isn't as instant as the physical attraction.

And yes, I would agree with you that there exists a standard of beautiful/non-beautiful people. But this standard is based SOLELY on physical appearance. There are two types of beauty and the "standard" is based on one that doesn't last. Inner beauty lasts forever, and that is what we should all strive for.


Still not sure if I answered your question, but an interesting discussion nonetheless...
-Andrew

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

I'd just like to make a side note (assuming it hasn't already been made), that personal preferences are often derived from cultural standards. Our society has the bar set at a certain level, that most people generally accept.

Even so, I don't put much stock into skin deep beauty. I do have preferences, but they don't extend beyond just that; preferences, not standards.

 

[mrpower]

My other two answers are sufficient to answer this one.

It does?? Perhaps I perceive sufficiency differently to yourself

 

[MissCris]

Do they exist? To me they do. Someone could have a disease or have been burned in a fire and it's not their fault, but that doesn't mean they're not ugly right? And I do think that bitterness, jealousy, cowardice, hate, doubt, pride, and other sins make someone ugly too because they're not as appealing that way. Gluttony can make someone fat and thus less beautiful and growing older can do that too. And then there are people who are simply born physically less attractive than others. My question is why does ugly exist? Why can't everyone be beautiful? Do you think in heaven everyone will be beautiful? And don't say everyone will look the same but we will all except them as beautiful. There ARE standards.

I don't think that having a disease or a disfigurement makes a person ugly. Hard to look at, yes, but is that really because they are "ugly"? I don't think so. I think it's more to do with feeling very bad for them, or feeling awkward and not knowing what to say to them.

I also don't think that growing old makes anyone less beautiful, physically. Just because someone has gray hair, wrinkles, age spots...why should that mean they are "ugly"?

The same with over-weight people. So a person weighs more than you do. So a person is so large they cannot stand up. Is that actually ugly, or is it just uncomfortable to look at?

There are people in the world, I'm sure, who use "ugly" to describe anyone that they are not physically, romantically attracted to.

I don't really have any answers for your questions, at least nothing that hasn't already been said.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

"you are beautifully and wonderfully made"

 

[Ugly]

Who are WE to decide who IS ugly- and who is NOT?!

We are people with free will and personal opinions. Thats who. I don't need special permission, or to be given special 'rights' to form an opinion on if i think someones ugly or not. All i need to do is look at them, and the opinion forms itself. Now thats MY opinion. Doesn't mean anyone else has to agree with it. But i have every right to it nonetheless. Yet i also, out of respect for that person, regardless of my opinion of their being ugly, keep it to myself. And treat them off who they are.
I'm sure God does view all people as beautiful, yet, i'm not God. I'm a human being.

 

[Brandon777]

I agree with everybody now. Preferences would be a better word to use than standards because I think only God can judge what things are physically beautiful as a science. But the response that answered my first question is here:

"you are beautifully and wonderfully made"

I recognize the verse from psalms, but I never took it to mean that. Ugly people don't exist according to the Bible!

At the same time there are flaws in our outward appearance even at our zenith of health in our mid 20's because of genetic flaws due to the fall. There are dead skin cells on the outside of our epidermis that I suppose will be alive when we have incorruptible bodies in heaven and the new earth that will give a radiance that we don't see today. That and any scars, warts, blemishes etc... will be gone because those are all a product of sin.

 

[Jullianna]

For me, the word "ugly" applies more to one's behavior rather than what appears to the eye. It's not how we look that matters. It's how we see.

 

[seas]

Mother Teresa said She uses her bare hands to clean the wounds of people with Hansen's disease(Leprosy) because she saw Jesus Christ in that person.We might not be mother teresa but if we are able to Jesus in the other person then the term ' ugly' becomes null and void.