Comments on: The Distortion of Beauty http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/ reb•e•lu•tion (reb’el lu shen) n. a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture. Fri, 9 Jan 2009 23:18:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Amanda http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-388066 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:37:35 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-388066 P.S. I highly recommend John and Stasi Eldrege's book Captivating. P.S. I highly recommend John and Stasi Eldrege’s book Captivating.

]]> by: Amanda http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-388063 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:36:16 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-388063 Yeah, great clip! I agree with Mahaney's statement about how absurd it is for girls to strive after photoshopped versions of models, but I fundamentally disagree about some of the other things she says about beauty: "What freedom and hope is found in Christ! We don’t need to feel beautiful about ourselves to find happiness! In fact, we’re better off not even thinking about ourselves. Rather, God has offered us in Jesus Christ forgiveness, hope, freedom from sin and a joy that never ends." Granted, what the World often portrays as beauty is certainly worthless and fleeting, but what is so poisonous about this message is that it is partially true: women do desire to be beautiful; our beauty is one way in which we image God to the world. Mahaney seems to be saying (correct me if I'm wrong) that the desire to be beautiful is selfish and wrong. I disagree. At the core of our beings, we desire to be beautiful (not just outwardly; inwardly as well) because that is how we were created to be. What we offer to the world as Christian women is not just our service, but as importantly, our beauty - purely and truly. Even more than the beauty of a sunset or a tree, the beauty of a woman with Christ at her center draws us to God. Yeah, great clip!

I agree with Mahaney’s statement about how absurd it is for girls to strive after photoshopped versions of models, but I fundamentally disagree about some of the other things she says about beauty:

“What freedom and hope is found in Christ! We don’t need to feel beautiful about ourselves to find happiness! In fact, we’re better off not even thinking about ourselves. Rather, God has offered us in Jesus Christ forgiveness, hope, freedom from sin and a joy that never ends.”

Granted, what the World often portrays as beauty is certainly worthless and fleeting, but what is so poisonous about this message is that it is partially true: women do desire to be beautiful; our beauty is one way in which we image God to the world.

Mahaney seems to be saying (correct me if I’m wrong) that the desire to be beautiful is selfish and wrong. I disagree. At the core of our beings, we desire to be beautiful (not just outwardly; inwardly as well) because that is how we were created to be. What we offer to the world as Christian women is not just our service, but as importantly, our beauty - purely and truly. Even more than the beauty of a sunset or a tree, the beauty of a woman with Christ at her center draws us to God.

]]> by: ? http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-365478 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:40:52 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-365478 Oh My, why are people so hard on teens then ? Oh My, why are people so hard on teens then ?

]]> by: Joshua Koen http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-351630 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:55:06 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-351630 WOW that was really amzing. I encourage everyone, when they are shopping and see innapropriate pictures of men and women to talk to the manager of the store and mabey they'll not post the pictures up in the stores any more. I mean imagine what could happen if we all did that , there will be an amazing change. WOW that was really amzing. I encourage everyone, when they are shopping and see innapropriate pictures of men and women to talk to the manager of the store and mabey they’ll not post the pictures up in the stores any more. I mean imagine what could happen if we all did that , there will be an amazing change.

]]> by: Joshua Koen http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-351629 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:54:30 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-351629 WOW that was really amzing. I encourage everyone, when they are shopping and see innapropriate pictures of men and women to talk to the manager of the store and mabey they'll not post the pictures up in the stores any more. I mean amagine what could happen if we all did that , there will be an amazing change. WOW that was really amzing. I encourage everyone, when they are shopping and see innapropriate pictures of men and women to talk to the manager of the store and mabey they’ll not post the pictures up in the stores any more. I mean amagine what could happen if we all did that , there will be an amazing change.

]]> by: Jess Itzel http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-333358 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:48:24 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-333358 I think this is amazing! It shows that what we see as beauty, isn't even real. Really honest. I think this is amazing! It shows that what we see as beauty, isn’t even real. Really honest.

]]> by: Sarah Pena http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-320440 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:34:33 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-320440 Wow. This is amazing what they can do! I knew that they changed the pictures a little bit to make them look better, but I never thought that they did this much. I am going to show this to a friend of mine that is struggling with this issue. Again, wow. Sarah :) Wow. This is amazing what they can do! I knew that they changed the pictures a little bit to make them look better, but I never thought that they did this much. I am going to show this to a friend of mine that is struggling with this issue. Again, wow.

Sarah :)

]]> by: Sarah http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-312283 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:30:17 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-312283 It is absolutely crazy how much emphasis our culture puts on being beautiful. The only way to be in is to get all the right clothes and all the right make-up, but even then we are not truly satisfied. The world is constantly changing its standards. We get so burned out trying to keep up with the "in" crowd. Younger girls who are growing up in this culture are being called on at far to young an age to become an adult. To look beautiful and attractive. Every girl needs to know that she is beautiful no matter how she looks or what the world thinks of her. It is truly up to the younger generation to put a stop to this lie that you aren't beautiful unless you fit in. The definition of beauty is not that you look good on the outside, but that you are following Christ and striving to be like Him. That your character and attitude reflect the light that burns from within. I have watched other girls chase after beauty and in the end they are left lost and forgotten. I see a need in other girls that wear a lot of make-up and dress provocatively. They are hurting inside and so they try to make up for it and cover it on the outside. We need to reach out to the girls around us and show them how beautiful they really are. I'm so glad I'm not the only girl who feels this way. It reminds me of a quote I once heard. Beauty is vain and filled with flaws, Appearances are deceiving and ever-changing, but a heart that loves God is more beautiful and precious than gold. How true this is!!! It is absolutely crazy how much emphasis our culture puts on being beautiful. The only way to be in is to get all the right clothes and all the right make-up, but even then we are not truly satisfied. The world is constantly changing its standards. We get so burned out trying to keep up with the “in” crowd. Younger girls who are growing up in this culture are being called on at far to young an age to become an adult. To look beautiful and attractive. Every girl needs to know that she is beautiful no matter how she looks or what the world thinks of her. It is truly up to the younger generation to put a stop to this lie that you aren’t beautiful unless you fit in. The definition of beauty is not that you look good on the outside, but that you are following Christ and striving to be like Him. That your character and attitude reflect the light that burns from within. I have watched other girls chase after beauty and in the end they are left lost and forgotten. I see a need in other girls that wear a lot of make-up and dress provocatively. They are hurting inside and so they try to make up for it and cover it on the outside. We need to reach out to the girls around us and show them how beautiful they really are. I’m so glad I’m not the only girl who feels this way. It reminds me of a quote I once heard.

Beauty is vain and filled with flaws,
Appearances are deceiving and ever-changing,
but a heart that loves God is more beautiful and precious than gold.

How true this is!!!

]]> by: Jodi http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-304408 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:55:25 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-304408 This video really helped me! I have been struggling with seeing myself as a beautiful girl. The media certainly has not helped with these feelings. Big thanks to Dove for exposing the lies society throws at us. It is hard for teen girls to realize that they really are beautiful when every magazine they look at or every movie or tv show, just makes them feel like they aren't good enough. The media certainly does not make anyone feel good about themselves... until all the lies are exposed. On photoshop you can change so many things you can even make someone look like a different person. You can put on makeup, remove things like acne or you could make someone thinner or bigger, you can also change eye, skin , and hair color. You can completely change someone and make them appear flawless! Real beauty doesn't have anything to do with what you look like, it has to do with who you are as a person, your personality, your character and what makes you, you! Don't let the world fool you into thinking people are perfect, because they aren't. This video really helped me! I have been struggling with seeing myself as a beautiful girl. The media certainly has not helped with these feelings. Big thanks to Dove for exposing the lies society throws at us. It is hard for teen girls to realize that they really are beautiful when every magazine they look at or every movie or tv show, just makes them feel like they aren’t good enough. The media certainly does not make anyone feel good about themselves… until all the lies are exposed. On photoshop you can change so many things you can even make someone look like a different person. You can put on makeup, remove things like acne or you could make someone thinner or bigger, you can also change eye, skin , and hair color. You can completely change someone and make them appear flawless! Real beauty doesn’t have anything to do with what you look like, it has to do with who you are as a person, your personality, your character and what makes you, you! Don’t let the world fool you into thinking people are perfect, because they aren’t.

]]> by: Candice http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-303774 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:17:40 +0000 http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2006/10/the-distortion-of-beauty/#comment-303774 WOW! I really needed to see that. Its so easy to look at a magazine cover and say, "Oh she's so beautiful. I NEED to be like her." I think thats a big problem in our society today. Too many girls (Including myself) are worried about what they look like and what others think. And in reality, if other girls knew how beautiful they are to God, then they wouldnt care at all what others think. God made us special just the way we are. I just heard a song by Superchick that I really like its called So Beautiful. But I dont think makeup is wrong; its not wrong to try to enhance the beauty that God gave you. Its wrong to try to cover up what God gave us. Lyrics to So Beautiful by Superchick on their new CD Rock What You Got: We are a thousand voices strong We are each girl who sings this song We are a beauty that is our own And we are And we are So beautiful We are light We were born beautiful We were meant to be more then these shadows of girls They cut us down to size Afraid we'll change the world? But we'll fight for your right to be beautiful girls If every girl could see her beauty, We would be an army We are a thousand voices strong We are each girl who sings this song We are a beauty that is our own And we are And we are So beautiful We have dreams we were born to fufill We were meant to be more than just fairy tale girls We are the colors so bright Each beautiful girl We are the stars in the night And we are changing the world When every girl can see her beauty we will be an army WOW! I really needed to see that. Its so easy to look at a magazine cover and say, “Oh she’s so beautiful. I NEED to be like her.” I think thats a big problem in our society today. Too many girls (Including myself) are worried about what they look like and what others think. And in reality, if other girls knew how beautiful they are to God, then they wouldnt care at all what others think. God made us special just the way we are. I just heard a song by Superchick that I really like its called So Beautiful. But I dont think makeup is wrong; its not wrong to try to enhance the beauty that God gave you. Its wrong to try to cover up what God gave us.

Lyrics to So Beautiful by Superchick on their new CD Rock What You Got:

We are a thousand voices strong
We are each girl who sings this song
We are a beauty that is our own
And we are
And we are
So beautiful

We are light
We were born beautiful
We were meant to be more then these shadows of girls
They cut us down to size
Afraid we’ll change the world?
But we’ll fight for your right to be beautiful girls
If every girl could see her beauty,
We would be an army

We are a thousand voices strong
We are each girl who sings this song
We are a beauty that is our own
And we are
And we are
So beautiful

We have dreams we were born to fufill
We were meant to be more than just fairy tale girls
We are the colors so bright
Each beautiful girl
We are the stars in the night
And we are changing the world
When every girl can see her beauty we will be an army

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