[jordyn]

i must say one of my favorite gifts is the ability to use a variety of cosmetics, paints, lotions and even dyes to enhance my beauty, most often i'm fine enough with a little mascara, lipgloss and a hint of rouge on the apples of my cheeks, but sometimes when going out i like things a little more heavy...usually a shiny shimmer on my eyes, bright red lipstick and stain for my cheeks. 

the unfortunate twist to this is the time and pain one can go through in using these various implements to enhance their looks, i love tweezing my eyebrows, and let's not forget the importance of a well chosen scent before rushing out the door, but with wisdom from my grandmother like "it hurts to be beautiful." reflecting on the things people have done for their beauty is pretty, interesting.  Ladies in africa use high necks with lots of rings for their status, the hindi's and their every part of the body that's looked at should be adorned and the eyes being the window to the soul leaves a lot to this art that's rather limited by western ideals of beauty against other worlds that have different standards.

if astrology can be a religion, why not the art of beauty?

 it's been around a lot longer and has significantly more followers...

[Amaya]

It can loosely be called that....yes. A person's belief system is considered to be a mix of philosophy and religion, as my new college speech text book says. If that is true, the two may sometimes be paralleled and interchangeable. There are several philosophical movements based on striving for beauty. Although many people don't see it as such, I believe it can be argued under those pretenses and statements. Then again...it does sound a little silly. I suppose I'm a little torn on the issue. It's possible and probable for some people but for others no...

Evidence supporting that claim is the beauty obsessed high schoolers I watch every day.
Evidence against is that most people are more mature than shallowly obsessing over their beauty or lack thereof (note:not directed at anyone here, promise).

[jordyn]

i suppose religion based around an enhanced feature for personal improvement is sort of silly...what then would be the requirements or definitions of a religion, cult or sect since the dictionary doesn't seem to apply to occult endeavors and belief?

[Amaya]

Well, taking these from dictionary.com....

re⋅li⋅gion
   /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-lij-uhn] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1.    a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2.    a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3.    the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4.    the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5.    the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6.    something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7.    religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8.    Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.
—Idiom
9.    get religion, Informal.
a.    to acquire a deep conviction of the validity of religious beliefs and practices.
b.    to resolve to mend one's errant ways: The company got religion and stopped making dangerous products.

If we go by the vaguer definitions such as number six here, we can loosely call what you suggested a religion. That's one down.

cult
   /kʌlt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kuhlt] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1.    a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2.    an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3.    the object of such devotion.
4.    a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5.    Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6.    a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7.    the members of such a religion or sect.
8.    any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

It fits the definition of cult with a lot less force. Combining definitions three, four, and five and it defines the silly striving for beauty at all costs. Plus, there have been wackier cults out there....

sect      (sěkt)  Pronunciation Key
n. 

   1. A group of people forming a distinct unit within a larger group by virtue of certain refinements or distinctions of belief or practice.
   2. A religious body, especially one that has separated from a larger denomination.
   3. A faction united by common interests or beliefs.

Finally, sect. It fits into this one with even more ease. The last definition seems fine to define it. The other two can be stretched. It may be a sect of a sect...There are several sects that concentrate on beauty and vanity but not overly much. We could argue that it's a branch off of that said branch...kind of like a tree branching off from the trunk with less and less of the original reaching the bottom.

So, I don't think if we agree that the desire for beauty being a religion, cult, or sect means that we have to change the definition. We just might have to work harder on interpreting what those words mean and where the true boundaries of the words lie. As my one teacher says "Meanings lie in the people, not the words."

The definition of the three words are different for every person, Jordyn. Heck, even our views of the words may differ greatly. I'm sure they probably do. That doesn't mean that either of us is more right or wrong than the other. I hope that makes sense. Tell me if it doesn't.

[jordyn]

actually you're one of the first people to make sense on this board in a long time.   

the problem with me having beauty as my religion is that it conflicts with this vanity issue i often suffer from, however it is something that's been pervasive through out my life and i'll admit gets me more than the girls that can't or won't pull it of, but i appreciate someone who is able to rational it through and love the dictionary definitions, they keep things clear.   but on a more serious reflection, what other material items could be considered gods for a religion, rock stars come to mind, but that's really to easy.

[Amaya]

Ah, this reminds me of a book I once read. The plot line was the old gods (ex. norse gods, greek gods, etc) were fighting and being killed off by the new gods because nobody believed in them anymore. The new gods were things like technology, computers, money, etc, lots of modern things. The battlefield was mainly in the diverse "cultural melting pot" (as everyone likes to call it) America. It was quite fitting. I never got to finish it sadly but as people stopped believing in the old gods, the old gods became more like mortals and the new gods became more eerily powerful. (I still remember the scene with the TV, that gave me nightmares for a week and I didn't watch anything on it without shivering). So in a sense and although the book was fiction, I agree with the book's message, anything material can become a god or goddess to people. Anything and everything can become a god to people. I've learned that from experience.

As I reflect on it all though, I look back on my research of the seven deadly sins. Whether you believe they are true or not, they do give good warnings about the seven major traits that cause a person to fail miserably if not watched carefully. (Sorry. A bit off topic but I have always been fascinated by them and your current avatar is "Sloth" by one of the popular artist on deviantart and that reminded me of it.  )

[jordyn]

neil guiman's book, american gods i think?

the sins as they  pertain to the christian religion, would be on topic, especially vanity and pride, physical beauty requires both.  what makes them interesting is that they're not even directly bible derived, but some early century pope wrote them up, shortening it down from ten, some other biblical scholar before him went through the bible and chose which  ones seemed most frowned upon or detrimental to one's relationship with the Divine...history international i believe did a wonderful series on them, and i agree that greed is the root of all evil, not money like most associate.

i love that series...but sloth's my favorite, her aloof air suits me and i'm an awful procrastinator.