Way back in 1926, the Southern Baptist Convention urged its members to "just say no" to beauty pageants.

WHEREAS, The purity and sanctity of the home depends upon a proper respect for and safeguarding of our girls; and

WHEREAS, "Beauty contests" and so-called "bathing revues" are evil and evil only, and tend to lower true and genuine respect for womanhood, emphasizing and displaying only purely physical charm above spiritual and intellectual attainments,

THEREFORE, We, the Southern Baptist Convention do deplore and condemn all such contests and revues.

It's never been revoked. Apparently it's one of those sins still on the Baptist books, along with alcohol use and homosexuality.

In May, 2006 Lakewood Baptist Church of Gainesville, Georgia, a Southern Baptist Convention member church, according to Founders.org, held a beauty pageant for women of all ages, from Ms. Infant Miss (6-12 months) to Senior Ms. (age 55 and up), called the Hall County Queens for C.A.R.E. Pageant, to benefit the Hall County (Ga.) Relay for Life.

Contestants were judged "in 4 categories, each on a scale of 1-10. 1) natural beauty, 2) presentation (grace/modeling), 3) personality (smile, eye contact, introduction), and 4) over all appearance (hairstyle, dress color, fit, length, age appropriateness)"... in other words, it "[was] evil and evil only, and tend[ed] to lower true and genuine respect for womanhood, emphasizing and displaying only purely physical charm above spiritual and intellectual attainments." Or so the Southern Baptists said....

Peering a little deeper into their website we find there's a whole franchise set up to do these pageants, called Miss Christian Atlanta. Apparently it's run by two little sisters, ages 7 and 9 (shades of Jon Benet!), who between them hold the titles of 2005 Young Jr. Miss Atlanta Christian, 2005 Little Miss Gilmer County Forestry, 2005 Junior Miss Sweetheart of Georgia, 2005 Young Miss Mountain Laurel, 2004 Miss Georgia Junior Pre Teen National American Miss, 2005 Supreme Miss Atlanta Christian, 2005 Supreme Georgia Peach Princess, 2005 Little Miss Mountain Laurel, and a National title as 2005 All American Princess for National American Miss.

How great thou art!

Image: Lakewood Baptist Church beauty pageant, May 2006

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