Some say that beauty is evidence that God exists.
Beauty grips us all. It floods our thoughts with enchantment and fascination. It attracts us. As we contemplate it, we are drawn to the goodness it seems to represent. If we think more about it, we can discover that it contains truth, and hopefully we will allow that truth to transform us as we learn from it.
From a purely evolutionary perspective, beauty doesn’t appear to be of any utility. If evolution is all about survivability, beauty certainly does not play a critical role. Yes, perhaps some species might be drawn to a certain color, but beauty is generally not necessary for survival.
However, a theistic worldview recognizes a Creator—the ultimate Creative One. As human beings made in God’s image, we not only recognize beauty, but we also enjoy creating it.
Beauty is illuminating. Consider how love is illuminated in a beautifully organized wedding. The whole ceremony can be designed to reflect the intense love a couple has for each other. Those in attendance are invited into that moment to celebrate a transcendent kind of love that encompasses the entire scene.
Until recently, it felt like few people had the time to stop and appreciate beauty. It was like people were on a treadmill that kept speeding up with no end in sight. In that scenario, who’s going to take the time to “stop and smell the roses?”
It seems like ugliness forces us to stop.
Read the rest of the post here . (I regularly contribute articles to “Women in Apologetics,” in the ministry’s monthly newsletter.)
