InTheFlame said:
Rubbish. OK, any man who isn't out to hurt his wife won't say she's not pretty where she can hear him. That's a lot different to not saying it.
Perhaps...I pity that man though.
InTheFlame said:
I didn't say men who value the exterior are terrible. I said 'superficial' which is exactly what it is... the word means 'focused on the outside'.
Ahh, yes. Not everyone who values the exterior is superficial.
InTheFlame said:
I'd much rather that than 'honey, you're pretty, but you're a stupid, mean ***** who has no control over her temper'
Right. This is were I have the problem. It is as if somene who is is pretty is automatically stupid, mean or doesn't have control over her temper. Why should being physically attractive be mutually exclusive with being a decent person?
InTheFlame said:
Some men find a woman who is loving, gentle, kind and committed to God, much more appealing than the best physical appearance. I know several. Of course, these are generally men who've tried life the other way, realised how little it helped them find a good life partner, and decided to look at people through GOD's eyes. That takes a fair amount of humility and maturity, though.
Most men find a woman who is loving, gentle, kind, committed to God and physically attractive (to them), much more appealing than somene who is loving, gentle, kind and committed to God (as the latter lady could be anyone, the former would be someone they would consider marrying). Again, the theme of having great internal qualities implying that person is not pretty (or because someone is pretty they cannot have these great internal qualities). Just because a woman is loving, gentle, kind and committed to God doesn't mean she is for me (or any other guy). Just because a woman is physically attractive doesn't mean she is for me either (or any other guy).
I'm glad for these men that you know of . . . they shouldn't have been looking for ONLY a pretty face in the first place.
InTheFlame said:
So often it's seen as some kind of charity to be seen through God's eyes. But someone who's honestly viewing people through God's eyes will see that person's faults as well, remember. Physical beauty fades... it's good memories which make a person's face seem beautiful over the years. So what if a person starts out gorgeous - they won't stay that way
Mmm hmm. Isn't that the whole point? These loving, gentle, kind and committed to God are not perfect human beings. Someone who is physical attractive is not perfect either. One usually marries someone with an acceptable balance of BOTH. With the four loves, eros is only found in marriage. There is an acceptable and good reason for that.
I'm just tried of the "looks don't matter" crusade in Christian circles. The only reason someone would take that stance is because their idea of good looks match up more with what the world tells us than they (themselves) would like to believe. That is, they actually believe that there is a standard of beauty and this standard is what the world tells us (i.e. the woman on the cover of magazines). In order to combat this, they take the stance that looks shouldn't/don't matter. But the truth is, not everone is attracted to the women in the magazines. She is not the standard of beauty. No one is; beaut is different to every person. Only after realizing this can we then have an healthy perspective on physical attraction. (i.e.) Looks has it's place in romantic relationships. While we musn't be guilty of making it more that what it is, we should also be careful not to make it less than it is.