Make-up

[Liudmilla]

Sue:
I don't believe the problem is in women wearing make-up as iit is n the PERCEIVED perception of the males viewing the woman. They seem to feel that it will cause sin in THEMSELVES. Personally I believe that the whole problem lies within our OWN minds and flaws. We allow the sin entrance into ourselves and that is what must be fought. Removing something from view does not remove the perpensity to sin, it will only find another outlet. Remove the perpensity and you remove the outlets.

I believe that it is possible to view beauty, enhanced or otherwise, with out being drawn into sin. There are those who would even suggest that beauty in nature will draw you into sin, but it is more logical to say the perpensity to sin is a flaw within ourselves and we allow the sin to blossom. I believe it is possible to admire a woman's beauty without being lustful or anything else, just as I believe that it is possible to admire a man's beauty and not be moved into sinful thoughts. Both are, after all, God's handiwork. Just as a beautiful flower or a double rainbow are his handiwork.

The sin is within ourselves and not the view.

Milla

[Aristokles]

Don't use the stuff myself

But I love my wife with or without it!

Demetri

[sue57]

Milla,
I actually totally agree with you. I have to admit, I like make-up, I like clothes, shoes, jewellery, the whole deal. But I also love architecture, flowers, lanscape, etc. I think I'm just a really visually orientated person. (Probably why I'm drawn to Orthodoxy, there is so much to look at! ) I think the problem comes in when women always ask the question "does this make me look hot?" Vanity can be a terrible thing, and an overly geat concern with appearance makes us selfish, at the least. That isn't even addressing the power that women have over men's desires. I wonder if it is possible for a man to think that a woman looks nice, without causing feelings of lust? I think it is possible, but I think there is a responsibility to be careful. I know it really freaks me out when I see thirteen year old girls wearing make-up and looking, well, slutty (sorry I should use a different word.) It's so sad, and I think it indicates that their parents are failing in their duty. I have to say though, that at the church I attend, on a Sunday, 90% of the women are wearing skirts, and have their heads covered. I supose in this day and age, that itself is a positive thing. However, if a woman comes in in pants, and has her head bare, nobody throws her out! However, that said, I go to a very Russian church, and God knows, it's a blessing that so many Russians are (re)discovering Orthodoxy, no one would want to discourage anyone from attending church.

[Tessa]

I know it really freaks me out when I see thirteen year old girls wearing make-up and looking, well, slutty (sorry I should use a different word.)

Ha! 13! I was at my cousin' house last weekend and saw a fellow 11 year old from her class with eyeliner, highlights and a hair-extension clip. Some of our (Serbian) refugee families are so anxious for their children to have "friends" that they don't care what or who they are, which everyone knows in the long run can have negative effect on the good kids, ie. peer pressure.

[_cizinec_]

My wife wears make-up for business and semi-formal/formal occasions. I hate the stuff. It looks goopy, even if it's on really lightly and it doesn't come off.

She looks fine without it, but it's her choice. She knows I don't find it particularly attractive, but she thinks it looks more formal. She usually doesn't wear very much, though, and never has. We're both hikers and outdoor kind of people and my wife would rather be caked in mud (or grease - she's a heck of a mechanic) than have the make-up on. I think she wears it occasionally to feel more feminine, which I suppose I can excuse.

My wife was helping a lady at church get through some real-estate stuff and she put on her business clothes and some make up. I met her out there and one of the other ladies from church went on and on how nice she looked with make-up and she didn't look like the same person . . .

When we got in the car to leave she looked at me with a big grin on her face. I just rolled my eyes and drove home.

[Schultz]

Good point...but what if you already have tattoos? I was a wild teen and made some mistakes and for a while considered having them removed but decided not to as pennance to myslef. Anybody else dealing with such issues?

In Christ
Tessa

My ex-girlfriend's father was in the Navy and got drunk one night and woke up with a tattoo. He immediately went to the PX, got a needle, thread, and some lemon juice, and removed it himself right then and there.

When she told me that story, I said, "Remind me never to tick your father off." I know plenty of "tough guys" but none of them would ever do something like that.

I don't know why I posted that story.

[Tessa]

He immediately went to the PX, got a needle, thread, and some lemon juice, and removed it himself right then and there.

That's awesome! I also knew a guy who removed some biker tattoos off his knuckles with a shop rag, salt and water. I'm sure he had to remove a few layers of skin too, LOL.

Well I'll be keeping mine. They're kind of nice in one respect, some people see them and automatically judge you so you end up being able to weed those people out easier. Hahaha. My husband has one on his hand he got during the war. It is an "M" for his name. When we lived in Arizona someone asked if he was in "La Emme" (The Mexican Mafia). He was completely puzzled because he has no idea about gangs or anything.

In Christ
Tessa