Universal Beauty?

In the field of Software Engineering, you often come across a discussion on "clean" or "beautiful" code in contrast with "sloppy" or "ugly" code.  Upon further examination, we find that there sometimes is a disagreement on what exactly makes code "clean" or "beautiful".   Some find code to be beautiful when it is very compact and efficient.  Others find code to be beautiful when it is very easy to read and understand. Others find code to be beautiful when using patterns in architecture and design.

When one writes or sees code that is exceptionally beautiful, there is an emotional experience where we stand in awe.  This does not necessary happen only in the reading or writing of source code.  But, it can happen when writing or reading a paper that appears exceptionally beautiful.  In the realm of papers, it could be eloquence such as one would find in the writings of Cicero.  It could be perfection of poetic form as we happen to judge perfect form to be.  It could be perfection of function as we see a persuasive paper move people persuasively.

Some people associate the word "beauty" with anything which produces this emotional reaction in us.  But, the root behind this experience often lies in our beliefs about perfection and the ideals we hold to.

For example, in some parts of the world, a woman is considered beautiful if she has a nose-ring, while others might find this unusual or non-ideal.  In some parts of the world, a woman is considered beautiful if she has a neck-ring, while others might find this unusual or non-ideal.  In America, many people might consider a woman beautiful if she is able to wear a size-zero dress, while others might find this unusual or non-ideal.

In each of these cases, there's a belief of what the theoretical ideal woman should be like.  It extends beyond the item itself (nose-ring, neck-ring, size-zero dress) and goes to symbolic characteristics such as "delicate", "petite", "slender", "soft", "curvy", etc.  Thus, except for some notable exceptions such as Amazon women and Baby Got Back, many societies throughout history have maintained many overlapping ideals for the ideal woman, though expressed and implemented differently.

Some of this points to a question of whether there is a universal beauty or ideal.  And if so, where would it come from?  Would it be merely something that societies negotiate together and agree to as a whole?  Would it be something built into all of us (such as the genetic predisposition for males to be physically stronger than females)?  Despite some perhaps due criticism of superficiality, some efforts toward a world-wide beauty contest seem to be attempting toward one or more of these directions.

Yet, as there perhaps might appear to be a universal beauty and ideal in God's general revelation of creation, there most certainly is a clear beauty ideal in God's special revelation of the Bible.

Of women, the Bible teaches that true beauty is found inside and not outside.  That one's personal charm is merely a deception and one's outward beauty will soon fade away, but the fear of the Lord is true beauty.

Yet, more importantly, the Bible teaches:

14 But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!

Romans 10:14-15 (HCSB)


For everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.