Beauty - what is beautiful from a Christian viewpoint?
"the beauty of things is in their imperfections and differences!"

The Truth is God allows all of us to possess beauty in different ways and in this sense all men are equal! And it's a blessing that although some forms of beauty are pretty unambiguous, one persons preferences and likings will always differ from anothers.

So with God, everyone has the potential to be beautiful and loved. In the end it's up to you whether you're going to be lovable or loathsome!
(see tips on being attractive)

the purpose of beauty
Although beauty often seems to serve no purpose, as with the myriad of beautiful designs of fish, it generally points to something more important. For instance the earth is beautiful but it points to an infinitely more beautiful creator. Or a magnificent painting might point to a social statement. Beauty may literally stop us in our tracks and leave us in awe. When we come across it, we want to tell others what we've found! It invites us to appreciate and proclaim that something is good.

wrong views of beauty
Sometimes people become disheartened because they don't consider themselves beautiful. They don't see themselves in a true light. The media and its portrayal of beauty has undoubtedly played a large part in making people feel inadequate, by placing the spotlight squarely on individuals who possess certain characteristics. I can write about this because for 10 years I suffered from depression related in part to the kind of perfectionism I saw in the media. External beauty is meaningless if what it points to is ugly.

However It would be wrong to say that external beauty should be ignored as is often said. This is not Biblical. Many of Gods creations are beautiful on the outside and are noted in the Bible for it. But outer beauty in the end will fade as opposed to inner beauty that lasts forever!

examples of beauty
There is beauty in integrity
There is beauty in humility
There is beauty in intelligence
There is beauty in simplicity
There is beauty in complexity

What the bible says about beauty:

beauty comes inside a person Peter 3:3-4
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

There is beauty in modesty I Timothy 2:9-10
"I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."

Inner beauty is more important than outer, I Peter 3:4
"Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so precious to God."

Beauty
1.A delightful quality associated with harmony of form or color, excellence of craftsmanship, truthfulness, originality, or another property.
2.One that is beautiful, especially a beautiful woman.
3.A quality or feature that is most effective, gratifying, or telling: The beauty of the venture is that we stand to lose nothing.
4.An outstanding or conspicuous example: ÒHammett's gun went off. The shot was a beauty, just slightly behind the eyesÓ
Key Source: The American Heritage¨ Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1996, 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

Beauties
1. An assemblage or graces or properties pleasing to the eye, the ear, the intellect, the [ae]sthetic faculty, or the moral sense.
2. A particular grace, feature, ornament, or excellence; anything beautiful; as, the beauties of nature.
3. A beautiful person, esp. a beautiful woman. All the admired beauties of Verona. --Shak.
4. Prevailing style or taste; rage; fashion.

Christian beauty advice books & tips @ christian advice.net 2003