To shave or not to shave, that be the question...
By EvanHunter
@EvanHunter (4026)
United States
April 3, 2012 12:19pm CST
There are a lot of modern churches that seem to frown on having a beard. In fact I once heard of a pastors wife telling a man he should shave because it was the right thing to do. Also a pastor preaching that Jesus never had a long beard. Both of these statement contradict what is written in the bible. Obviously Jesus beard was long enough for them to pull on so it was that short. There are also a few areas that talk about not shaving the corners of your beard or marring it.
A couple of years ago I gave up on the shaving. Not only because of religious beliefs but for the simple fact that I am sick of seeing all the advertising that a man is not attractive unless his face is as smooth as a babies behind.
I think its part of our modern culture that doesn't value wisdom or age of people. People are feeling pressured to fit in with looking younger and average instead of natural and mature. As for it being more respectable, most of the biggest criminals of our modern times were clean shaven or just had mustaches. I can't think of anyone off hand who had a full beard who was.
So to all my brothers and sisters who support it: Long Live The BEARD!
1 person likes this
6 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
3 Apr 12
I have no problem with beards, but I wonder sometimes at all the different styles of facial hair that you see now. The little tuft under the lip? Hair growing just around the mouth? It looks silly and affected to me. A full beard is natural and I don't see anything wrong with natural.
Not shaving the corners of your beard (or not trimming the ends, as it's sometimes translated) comes from the Old Testament directions of the way a married man should treat his beard, I believe.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
3 Apr 12
"but I wonder sometimes at all the different styles of facial hair that you see now" - I always liked the mutton chops look of the civil war era myself...lol
I just don't get that.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
3 Apr 12
Well I'm female and not likely to grow a beard (Until after menopause that is. 
Not looking forward to that), and I don't see any religious reasons in western culture to shave. I think in Islam a full beard is encouraged, but I'm not Muslim and I haven't done much research so I don't know for sure.
But to be honest... I don't find beards that attractive. Especially big curly ones. Maybe that's culture influencing me, but I do prefer a clean-shaven man or at least a guy with neat facial hair that's short. I don't know what you're trying to say about big criminals being clean-shaven. I can't recall any bearded mans making headlines as role models within the last few years either, so I'm not sure that idea really stands up.
Not looking forward to that), and I don't see any religious reasons in western culture to shave. I think in Islam a full beard is encouraged, but I'm not Muslim and I haven't done much research so I don't know for sure.
But to be honest... I don't find beards that attractive. Especially big curly ones. Maybe that's culture influencing me, but I do prefer a clean-shaven man or at least a guy with neat facial hair that's short. I don't know what you're trying to say about big criminals being clean-shaven. I can't recall any bearded mans making headlines as role models within the last few years either, so I'm not sure that idea really stands up.@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
3 Apr 12
"I don't find beards that attractive" - you been brainwashed by marketing! just kidding
1 person likes this
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
7 Apr 12
Mine is very rough and thick as wire so I condition it often to soften it up. If you wash your beard just like your hair than I don't see how it can be considered unclean unless you just don't know how to or care to use a napkin. But than maybe it has something to do with the whole idea of "clean" shaven, as if it isn't clean unless its shaven.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
3 Apr 12
Perhaps I have. I'm not ruling it out. But still, messy big beards are a real turn-off. They just seem so... unclean. Is that brainwashing?
@redhotpogo (4398)
• United States
28 May 12
Beard or no beard it doesn't matter. If God didn't want you to have a beard, then why did he make the hair on your face grow?
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
7 Apr 12
I think your right about people being pressured to look younger. Society capitalizes on the fears of growing old and makes it seem like it is a bad thing to age. I hate that.
I also think you make a great point about the beard and Jesus argument. The truth is that to have been in that time period and having traveled in the manner he did, there would have been no way he wouldn't have had a beard. I saw a recreation of the "real Jesus" in a Hebrew/Christian tradition class I took and the point it was making was that he wouldn't have looked anything like what he is presented as looking like under that time and situation.
There is a lot of emphasis put on appearance and it makes you wonder who it was that actually got to decide what was appropriate.@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
7 Apr 12
If there was as much money to be made off of growing beards as shaving them I bet the commercials would be all about growing them instead of cutting them off.
@MissPiggy (1748)
• Indonesia
7 Apr 12
Hi, EvanHunter! I support you in this beard matter. Lol.
First, from the religion side. Do you know that in Islam men are suggested to have a beard? Because it was told that in each hair of you beard, there are seven angels hanging on there (my brother told me this one, lol). I don't know if my brother's story is true or not, but at least now you won't have to feel bad about it. Lol. But it's true, though, when I said that it's suggested.
Second, you're right again when you said that why can't a man considered to be attractive if he has a beard. Well, I think men with beard and sideburns are sexy! Lol. Actually when I was younger I used to love clean-shaved men, but as a grow older, maybe I grow wiser too. Lol. When my bf (now my ex) that time had a beard and he looked so sexy, I now really love men with beard. :))
So yes, I'd yell with you: LONG LIVE THE BEARD! Lol.
