"BEAUTY AND THE BEAST"

This title of Walt Disney’s 2017 film is a paradox – how can one dare associate beauty with a beastly appearance? My emotional taste-buds revolts at the idea. My perception of beauty is positive and that should not be polluted. But what is so beautiful about beauty?

As an emotion, beauty is often defined as a feeling or experience that arises in response to aesthetic stimuli - stimuli as art, music, literature and nature. These stimuli produce a sense of pleasure and appreciation. Such responses are referred to as beauty in the study of Aesthetics, a branch of Philosophy.

But not all expressions of art are considered to be beautiful. Works of beauty embody a sense of harmony or balance. There is proportion or symmetry. Our brains seem to be wired  to recognize and appreciate evenness and structure. When such structures are recognized, a response labelled beauty, emerges.

Beauty is also a response to excellence. As one compares artistic expressions, one is convinced that this particular expression is a cut above the rest. It is superior. It sounds better than others. The colors provide a better blend. The lighting enhances the production. It is a work of distinction. This is sheer brilliance. In essence, it is beautiful.

In response to grandeur, vastness or even vast power, we sometimes exclaim, Wow! The magnitude of the object in view is sublime. The view evokes a sense of awe, wonder and transcendence. That’s exactly how I felt when I flew into Vermont some years ago. It was Spring and it seemed as though we were about to land in a botanical garden. I was overwhelmed with the sublimity. My words were few, but powerful – awesome, impeccable and beautiful.

Agreed, others sharing my flight experience, may respond differently. Their response may be characterized by a mixture of sadness and beauty. This state of melancholy often arises from experiences of longing or nostalgia. This state of yearning or the fleeting nature of beauty may be caused by homesickness or wistful thinking.

In essence, beauty is inherently subjective. It is experienced and perceived differently by persons based on their unique perspectives and cultural backgrounds. That is understandable because beauty is a response. A response from the observer. When the artist assumes the posture of the observer, he or she can also conclude that the product he produced is an object of beauty. The product is considered to be beautiful because it evoked feelings of pleasure, delight, awe or wonder.

However, artists can design products that can evoke provocative outcomes. Some outcomes can be distressing. Some can even be seductive or possess alluring or tempting qualities. Such works of art are devoid of transcendence. They lack the capacity to evoke awe and reverence. Such works of art often evoke sensuality or sexual pleasure. Hence, artists should be held accountable for the perversion of beauty.

Unfortunately, Christians support this perversion of beauty when we wear clothing designed to provoke sensuousness, rather than elegance. Whereas sensuousness affects and relates to the physical senses, elegance pleases the mind with grace or taste. Elegance evokes aesthetic pleasure and admiration. The cultured mind receives these messages and concludes – beautiful.

The Bible contains numerous references to beauty, both in the natural world and in the context of human creativity and expression. In Psalm 19, the psalmist declares that the skies proclaim the display of God’s glory. Other passages praise the beauty of landscapes, flora, and fauna, emphasizing the harmony and order inherent in God’s creation.  

In Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”, a bright beautiful and independent young woman was taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she looks beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realizes the kind heart of the true Prince within. In truth, she saw beauty within the beast.

The Bible emphasizes the importance of inner beauty and spiritual qualities that reflect God's character. This includes virtues such as love, kindness, compassion, humility, and integrity, which are considered more enduring and valuable than outward appearance. In one of his general epistles, Peter advises, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, 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" (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Ultimately, the Bible teaches that the highest form of beauty is found in the glory of God himself. The beauty of God's holiness, majesty, and love surpasses all earthly beauty and serves as the ultimate source of inspiration and admiration for believers. The psalmist summarizes it beautifully - "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple" (Psalm 27:4).

IS ASTROLOGY CHRISTIAN?

 

In 1503, during his final voyage to the Americas, Christopher Columbus experienced a shipwreck in Jamaica. The Santa Maria de la Concepcion, ran aground on the northern coast of Jamaica on June 25, 1503. Columbus and his crew were stranded for several months while they awaited rescue.

During this time, relations with the indigenous Taíno population of Jamaica was strained as the crew relied on them for food and provisions. As the goodwill of the Taíno started to diminish due to the constant demands of the stranded crew, Columbus reportedly used his knowledge of an impending lunar eclipse to his advantage. He consulted astronomical tables and predicted a lunar eclipse that occurred on February 29, 1504.

 

Using this knowledge, Columbus warned the Taíno leaders that his Christian god was displeased with their lack of cooperation and would demonstrate his anger by making the moon disappear. When the eclipse occurred as predicted, the Taíno were reportedly astonished and fearful, leading them to agree to resume providing food and assistance to Columbus and his crew.

 

Since, and before that display of trickery by Columbus, some people have used eclipses to gain religious points. Solar eclipses have been used as messages from God or spiritual forces, inducing emotions ranging from dread to wonder. Some Christians even predicted that the recent eclipse in North America was an indication of Christ’s imminent return. But there is no logical basis for this theory.

 

Interestingly, solar eclipses are not as rare as they seem. They seem rare because they affect only the narrow strip of land that falls in the shadow of the moon. According to the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), there has been an average of 2 ½ eclipses per year over the past 1,000 years. Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and blots out all or some of the sun’s light. When Christians attempt to interpret and associate Bible prophecy with planetary systems, it is tantamount to Astrology, not the scientific discipline called Astronomy. 

 

Astrology is a form of divination – a practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events, or to discover hidden knowledge. According to Hinduism and Buddhism, Astrology offers a system of understanding karma – the force generated by a person’s actions and the effects in ethical consequences. These consequences are determined by performing calculations, based on solar events, both at the moment of birth and throughout one’s life.

 

While Astrology itself is not a religion, the practice is used by some religions. These religions incorporate Astrology into their belief structures. Some religions see Astrology as a predictive science. From this perspective, they use Astrology to interpret prophecy. For instance, Astrology is deeply ingrained in Hindu religious texts, providing guidance on opportune timings for various ceremonies and life events. In Islam, some Sufi mystics have explored the symbolic meanings of the zodiac, interpreting it as a reflection of divine attributes and cosmic harmony.

In Eastern philosophies such as Taoism and Confucianism, the cosmic order and the movement of celestial bodies are integral to their understanding of life. Chinese astrology, deeply rooted in Taoist principles, uses the zodiac to guide individuals in matters of destiny, personality traits, and relationships. Similarly, in Japanese Shintoism, the alignment of celestial bodies is seen as a reflection of the divine energy present in the natural world.

In general, Christians have rejected astrology for numerous reasons, such as: it conflicts with the biblical prohibition against divination; has no basis in empirical observation; attributes to celestial forces some actions that should be attributed to providence; and seeks to find God’s hidden will in the movement of the stars.

In his article on Astrology (Christianity.com., 2022), Greg Grandchamp contends that the fascination with astrology, the Zodiac, and horoscopes, is a direct reflection of people's desire to find the direction for their future, as they seek wisdom beyond their own. In other words, astrology is one more source of divination — no better or different than a Ouija board, tarot cards, or a fortune-teller. The Lord never intended the stars to be a source for mankind to discover his will for our lives.

 

Astrology is an attempt by humans to find God’s divine will through means other than what God has appointed and — and attempts to attribute to the stars and planets power that belongs to God alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHURCH BRINGS VALUE TO COMMUNITY

This past week I was explaining the meaning of “social capital” to some of my students. The term is used by sociologists in reference to “the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling the society to function effectively.”

Social capital refers to the resources, networks and relationships that exist within communities. Social capital contributes to trust, reciprocity, mutual support and collective action among individuals and groups within a society.

Religion, and more specifically the church, makes a significant contribution to social capital within communities. By fostering trust, reciprocity, and collective action, social capital contributes to the development of societies and enhances the overall quality of life for individuals and communities alike.

For instance, the phenomenon of education for the masses has its roots in Christianity. Christianity shattered the idea of education for the elite only. It gave rise to the concept of education for everyone. Furthermore, the idea of the university has its roots in Christianity as well. The greatest universities worldwide were started by Christians for Christian purposes.  It was because of the sweat and sacrifice of Christians that Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and other universities were created.

The idea of education for everyone grew directly out of the Christian Reformation. Agreed, there were sporadic attempts at educational reform before the sixteenth century, especially under the reign of Charlemagne. But after his death in AD 814, major attempts at education for everyone died. It wasn’t until the Bible became the focal point of Christianity again that education for the masses was reborn. The invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century was significant in this development.

The contribution of Christianity to social capital was also evident in civil liberties, medicine, the Arts, economics and sexuality. Influencing the disciplines was what Jesus had in mind when He called his followers salt and light. His followers were expected to make a difference wherever they were placed. His followers were expected to bring flavor, preservation and reduce darkness. Unfortunately, some professing Christians have contributed to decay and darkness at specific periods in history. However, those negatives represent the exception, and not the rule.

In his letter to young Timothy, Paul admonished him to pray for everyone, especially for those in national leadership. Why? “… that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior…” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). In another letter, Paul challenged the Romans to “live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:16-18).

The Bible expects Christian churches to make a difference in the communities in which they are located. In other words, what would your community miss should your church relocate? Some communities would miss the after-school programs, others the soup kitchens for the less fortunate, the creative arts classes and sports clinics.

I can only hope that your list would include activities that facilitate character change. Activities that result in spiritual conversion, emotional healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. Like Satan, our mission is not to steal, kill and destroy life, but rather to facilitate superabundant living that Jesus provides.

The Christian church is much more than real estate property in the community. It is social capital, bringing value and meaning to life. It undermines crime. It promotes the institution of marriage. It is salt, bringing flavor and avoiding corruption. It is God’s light in the kingdom of darkness. What a privilege to be a part of the institution, Jesus referred to as HIS CHURCH.