So, I enjoyed the beard so much last year, that I decided to try it again this year. Katie likes it a lot. In fact, when I suggested that I wanted to shave it off the other day, she "talked me down off the ledge", as it were.
Consequently, I've been thinking a bit about beards and their significance. I've done a little study on them in the Old Testament... a very little study mind you, but it seems to me that facial hair held some degree of religious significance that we continue to see echos of in the present day Jewish Faith.
It seems that it was a great shame for a man to be without a beard back in Old Testament times. In 2 Samuel chapter 10, we learn that, after their beards had been shaven in an attack, a group of men were sent away until their beards had regrown. In other words, it was shameful for a man to be seen in public without a beard.
In Leviticus, it talks about how the corners of the beard shouldn't be trimmed. I'm pretty sure that modern day Jews differentiate between a "normal" beard and a "religious" beard determined by whether or not the corners are trimmed... Mine is not a religious beard, but it isn't because the corners are trimmed. I'm not even sure where the corners of one's beard reside.
Anyway, having this beard basically means that I can't really do anything up on campus, which I find a little Ironic, because a few centuries ago, I wouldn't have been allowed in public without it.
I'm not trying to buck the system or anything, I just wonder what it is about facial hair that has made it such a hot topic. Look at all of the General Authorities for instance. You don't see any of them with any facial hair these days. You don't see bishops or stake presidents with facial hair either, other than maybe a mustache. I wonder why it is that facial hair is considered bad now, when before it was considered bad not to have it.
It doesn't seem that a beard was required then, but as recent as the restoration of the gospel, facial hair wasn't considered bad. Look at Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith... and probably others (Those were the only bearded prophets I could think of off the top of my head). A beard used to be a mark of manhood; it denoted wisdom. Now it seems that bearded people are either eccentric or dwell somewhere near the fringes of society. I'm not sure what caused the shift.
Musings aside, of course I'll have to shave my beard when I go back to school, but for now, it's kind of nice. It keeps my face warm when it's cold, and it acts as a sort of a bib. It catches food particles that might otherwise land on my clothes, and my wife digs the way that I look with it. I see no drawbacks to having a beard. I even got another job by walking in and talking to a guy. He only met me once, so his first impression of me was his only impression; and it seems that the beard didn't reflect negatively on me, because he called me back and hired me. I start tomorrow.
So, now that you know how I feel about beards, and a little bit of their religious history, I want to know what you think of beards. Why do you suppose it is frowned upon in the Church and in society to have them today, and why do you think it was required for men to dawn beards in the past? What makes a beard a good beard, and what makes a beard a bad beard? If you don't have a beard, what is stopping you from growing one? If you do have a beard, why have you chosen to grow it? The Strong Opinions want to know!
11 comments:
as good looking as you are with a beard - I associate beards with homeless people - I associate homeless people with erratic behavior -I associate erratic behavior with danger.... I know it's not fair - not even necessarily logical - just fits with my experience. So if I turn around and walk stiffly the other way when I see you - you'll know why - oh wait - I've seen you with a beard already and you weren't scary. Nathan on the other hand.....
Good beard-clean and well kept. Bad beard- homeless person and stalker like people.
The thing that's stopping me from growing a beard is...hmm...where to begin? The lack of testosterone. The fact that I have a career in mind other than a circus side show....yeah.
Nice beard, it gives you a certain rugged, manly look. As for me, the wife doesn't like facial hair, she doesn't even like it if I haven't shaved for a day or 2, although the kids love the "scratchies" and enjoy rubbing their hands on it. I've debated growing a beard a time or 2, but fear I'm just one of those guys that wouldn't look good with one. btw, not having attended one of "the Lord's" schools, (I rebelled and went to Arizona State) what would happen if you were to walk into class one day with facial hair? Just curious
-Dallin
I actually sport a go-tee now and again. Alisha likes it more than me and it usually lasts about two weeks before it drives me crazy with the itching and i have to shave it off. How do you get past the itching? Anyways, i did have one bishop that had a go-tee. He was the bishop of the singles ward i attended in Mesa after my mission. The great thing about him was that he had bright gray hair and the go-tee was also bright gray, so he looked just like the colonel from the KFC bucket. So, i guess what I'm getting at is that if you are the colonel, you can sport a go-tee as a bishop. Maybe that logic applies to BYU too.
-Daniel
Yea, ditto to what Sue said. The thing that I can't understand is why men want to cover their faces, especially when their faces are handsome? It just doesn't make sense to me. What are they trying to hide? I guess it's just one of those guy things that I will never grasp.
Your beard rocks!(Don't listen to Mom)I have often wondered why the church schools were so anti facial hair. When I was there I heard rumor that it was associated with hippies and rebellion, but the hippies are all senior citizens now so I don't know that the connotation is the same. I'll have to let David tell you his story about sporting facial hair at BYU...
Great questions, Mar. Below is an excerpt from the encyclopedia about the history of beards. I think this might provide a little insight into your question.
All in all, I think that it has always been important for the church to have a respectable appearance, that way our message is easier to accept. When American society decided that clean-shaven was preferred, I imagine church leaders followed suit--not to follow the trends of the world, but to make it easier for the world to have a positive image of us.
Beard - Modern attitudes in America
Up to and following the American Civil War, many famous heros and General officers had distinguished beards. Following World War I, beards fell out of vogue. There are several theories as to why the military began shaving beards.
When World War I broke out in the 1910s, the use of chemical weapons necessitated that soldiers shave their beards so that gas masks could seal over their faces.
The enlistment of military recruits for World War I in 1914 precipitated a major migration of men from rural to urban locales. This was the largest such migration that had ever occurred in the United States up to that time. The rural lives of some of these bearded men included the "Saturday Night bath" as a reality rather than as a humourism. The sudden concentration of recruits in crowded army induction centers brought with it disease, including head lice. Remedial action was taken by immediately shaving the faces and cutting the hair of all inductees upon their arrival.
When the war concluded in 1918 the "Dough Boys" returned to a hero's welcome. During this time period the Film Industry was coming into its own and "going to the movies" became an extremely popular pastime. Due to the recent Armistice many of the films had themes related to World War I. These popular films featured actors who portrayed soldiers with their clean shaven faces and "crew cuts". Concurrently, "Madison Avenue's" psychological mass marketing was becoming prevalent. The Gillette Safety Razor Company was one of these marketers' early clients. These events conspired to popularize short hair and clean shaven faces as the only acceptable style for decades to come. It has been noted that there is a close and consistent association of long standing in American film between facial hair and role -- if one lead male character has more facial hair than another, he is far more likely to be the antagonist, and the man with less (or no) facial hair the protagonist.
From the 1920s to the 1960s, beards were virtually forbidden in mainstream America. The few men who wore beards during this period were either old, Central Europeans in academia, or part of the counterculture, such as the "beatniks". Even today there is some degree of prejudice against beards and against men who wear beards, although it is much less serious than it once was; beards are normally much more accepted in the Western world than they once were.
Following the Vietnam War, beards exploded in popularity. In the 1970s, beards were worn by hippies and businessmen alike. Popular rock and folk musicians like The Beatles, and the male members of Peter, Paul, and Mary wore full beards. The trend of seemingly ubiquitous beards in American culture subsided in the mid 1980s.
Um, wow, I don't even know where to start. We don't think much about beards in our house since my husband can't seem to grow one at the ripe age of 28. But maybe it's because back in the old days they didn't have electric razors, or the Gilette Mach 3. All I know is this post made me laugh, and I know more about the history of the beard than I ever thought I would.
Kiersti (your cousin :)
Beards, wow, and all I ever wanted to know. I was also just recently pondering the beard as I went thru the Church History Museum on our trip to UT and saw how many early prophets had beards, and it now appears to be frowned upon. Hmmmm..I don't mind if Rob has a beard every now and then, but now that he is in the bishopric, I don't think that will happen anymore.....ah religion and the beard
The last bearded US President was Benjamin Harrison, who served
1889 to 1893. The last bearded President of the Church was George Albert Smith, who served 1945-51. David O. MacKay, who succeeded him, was clean-shaven. President MacKay's face was widely seen due to the rise of television and associated worldwide media.
In the late 1960s and early '70s, especially after military conscription was ended, there was a surge of missionary work, with all worthy young men of 19 expected to serve. I know personally that short hair and clean faces were expected of missionaries by the 70s, though I don't know when that became codified. The idea is not to distract from the message by your appearance. In the temple, ordinance workers have the same standards for the same reason. I think BYU's dress and grooming policy is conservative in order to be seen in a positive light by the most people, since BYU is also in the public eye. Less strong of a reason than the previous but still good. (The Everett WA paper had an article about the BYU grad who published a missionary cheesecake calendar losing his diploma.) None of these reasons imply that there is anything unrighteous or rebellious about wearing a well groomed beard, though it is easy for some to confuse institutional standards with the Lord's commandments. I know lots of guys who look very good with a beard. I know one whose wife won't kiss him if he goes 2 days without shaving. Needless to say, said guy is shaving daily. Mostly.
I like it when my husband grows a beard--actually I prefer the goatee. Not great for kissing, but very sophisticated. However, he is in the military so the opportunities he has to grow one are slim to never. Like you, he keeps it short. I think if you grow the beard longer then it develops the corners that you were referring to. That's when you have the opportunity to round it off at the end or leave the corners. I wonder why no one does the Santa Claus beard anymore. I mean, everyone loves Santa, right?
Post a Comment