Growing a beard for religious reasons - why?

[The_Fisher_King]

For those of you who grow a beard for religious reasons, why do you do it? I'm interested in answers beyond the simple 'for religious reasons' or 'because God says so' or 'because my holy book says so' type. Not looking to debate here, just curious and looking to learn from others' perspectives. Thank you.

 

[Rival]

Because beards are cool?

Probably has something to do with sex differentiation. A lot of faiths ban cross-dressing, so it could be something along these lines. As simple as men have beards because men have beards.

 

[ManSinha]

 

[Spirit of Light]

For those of you who grow a beard for religious reasons, why do you do it? I'm interested in answers beyond the simple 'for religious reasons' or 'because God says so' or 'because my holy book says so' type. Not looking to debate here, just curious and looking to learn from others' perspectives. Thank you.

My beard is not required as a Falun Gong practitioners but honestly the more involved in spiritual life i become, the longer my beard become too

 

[dybmh]

Beside the specific commandment not to shave, the idea of *growing a beard* in Judaism has several mystical dimensions. The most straight forward approach comes from Numbers 15:38. The whiskers are the fringes, and the human body is the garment for the soul. Thus growing a beard is a reminder that each person is a fusion of body and soul, matter and spirit.

 

[SalixIncendium]

For those of you who grow a beard for religious reasons, why do you do it? I'm interested in answers beyond the simple 'for religious reasons' or 'because God says so' or 'because my holy book says so' type. Not looking to debate here, just curious and looking to learn from others' perspectives. Thank you.

Beards are perceived by many as a symbol of wisdom and sage-hood.

 

[Rival]

Beards are perceived by many as a symbol of wisdom and sage-hood.

Makes me wonder how women would attain such perception.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Beards are perceived by many as a symbol of wisdom and sage-hood.

Yes, but I wonder why is that, do you think?

 

[Koldo]

Makes me wonder how women would attain such perception.

Just grow a beard. Or a mustache.

 

[ManSinha]

Yes, but I wonder why is that, do you think?

See my reply above

 

[McBell]

Beards are perceived by many as a symbol of wisdom and sage-hood.

But not by those who actually have beards.
And I mean real beards, not the "thick shadow" that a lot of people call beards.

Real beards show an abundance of patience.
The longer it is, the more patience.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

See my reply above

Could you expand a bit on that?

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Real beards show an abundance of patience.
The longer it is, the more patience.

Why patience? Patience waiting for something??

 

[ManSinha]

Could you expand a bit on that?

Oh come on - it is self explanatory - for us Sikhs - it is a reference to the RIshis of ancient India that mostly always had a beard and the addition of the weaponry by the 10th Master creating a Sant-Siphahi or Saint-Soldier. The images of all the 10 Masters are represented as having beards.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Oh come on - it is self explanatory - for us Sikhs - it is a reference to the RIshis of ancient India that mostly always had a beard and the addition of the weaponry by the 10th Master creating a Sant-Siphahi or Saint-Soldier. The images of all the 10 Masters are represented as having beards.

So one grows a beard in imitation of the Masters? Any reason why did they grow beards?

 

[SalixIncendium]

But not by those who actually have beards.
And I mean real beards, not the "thick shadow" that a lot of people call beards.

Real beards show an abundance of patience.
The longer it is, the more patience.

Patience is a virtue of a sage, so the logic still works.

I had to cut my goatee back about two inches because I got tired of the face mask riding up and the goatee looking like a rat's nest when I took it off.

 

[McBell]

Why patience? Patience waiting for something??

Because it gets tangled in everything.
Gets in your eyes when the wind blows.
get caught on everything.
and all the long hair problems when it is on you head

 

[SalixIncendium]

Yes, but I wonder why is that, do you think?

No idea. You'd have to ask someone who actually has such a perception.

 

[McBell]

Patience is a virtue of a sage, so the logic still works.

Fair enough

I had to cut my goatee back about two inches because I got tired of the face mask riding up and the goatee looking like a rat's nest when I took it off.

My wife was kind enough to make me a mask that eliminated that problem.

My current avatar is a pic of me.
Except the beard is about three inches longer since that pic was taken.

 

[SalixIncendium]

My wife was kind enough to make me a mask that eliminated that problem.

I see quite a few with beards sporting a mask that drops to the neck, sort of like a half-face balaclava.

Unfortunately, at work there is only one kind of approved face mask to be worn by team, and I make it a point to wear the same one when I'm in the stores so they know I'm right there with them. It plays havoc on facial hair.

My current avatar is a pic of me.
Except the beard is about three inches longer since that pic was taken.

Nice!

I'll have to wait for retirement to grow one that long.