Christian Dress Code?

Siuin

Is there such a thing as a 'Christian dress code'? I've noticed how, while other religions have pretty clear guidelines on how to dress (especially in relation to women), the classification of what's appropriate and what's not is pretty subjective in Christianity. There seems to be a general rule in churches that one must cover the shoulders and knees, but that said, it seems that only major Christian sites actually enforce this. However, there was a situation recently in which the security of Knock shrine publicly apologised to a 13 year old girl for informing her that she was in breach of the dress code (http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10637:knock-shrine-apologises-for-upsetting-teen-over-dress-code&catid=23:news&Itemid=46) I've seen some pretty bizarre websites (mainly from the US) of rather extreme prairie-style clothing, eg :

and also a number of people who insist that pants are not appropriate clothing for women, one case in particular which springs to mind of a woman who sued the NHS for forcing her to wear pants for her job as a midwife (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2021483/Devout-Christian-midwife-sues-hospital-making-wear-trousers-surgery-Muslims-vary-uniform-religious-reasons.html) based on Deuteronomy 22:5 [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Times New Roman][/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Times New Roman]
"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God."


What are your thoughts? (this is coming from a non-Christian btw)
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PDN

Just so long as you cover your 'bits' then anything you want to wear is fine.

Siuin

But isn't 'covering your bits' rather subjective? Unless you mean basic covering of genitalia...? :P

antiskeptic

Siuin wrote: »

What are your thoughts? (this is coming from a non-Christian btw)

The Christian is free to walk around naked if they like - there is no rule against it. What there is however is the exhortation not to cause yourself or others to stumble - so, in the area of dress, you might want to be taking steps to prevent this.

The fact religions focus more on womens dress codes stems, I think, from the fact that men are aroused more by the er.. optics of a situation than are women. An awareness of this might see a Christian woman ensuring she dresses in a way that doesn't cause undue difficulty in men (where 'undue' is for the woman herself to decide. It's a matter between her and God afterall.)

There would also be the issue of a woman stumbling with a power she knows she can exert on men through dress - so it's not just oput of love for her brothers that she takes steps - but also for protection of her own mind.

The same kinds of arguments would apply to a man - though I'd be at a loss to suppose what kind of dress a man would don to ensure the nigh-on universal response a woman's mode of dress can produce in a man. What would cause some women to swoon would have the rest fall around laughing at him.

Keaton

'A priest enters the confessional for the usual Saturday morning or afternoon confession time. During this time a young man enters the confessional. 'Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.' From the sound of the voice on the other side of the screen, the priest surmises that the person is a teenager or young adult. The confession continues: 'It was a week since my last confession. I'm guilty of many lustful thoughts, and I looked at some very immodestly dressed women more times than I should have.'

'The priest asks, 'Were these impure thoughts related to these women you looked at'?

''Yes,' replies the young man.

'The priest: 'Why did you continue to look at them? Why didn't you go someplace else, away from them?'

''I couldn't,' said the young man. 'They were in front of me and I was kind of hemmed in by the crowd.'

'The priest: 'Why were you in such a place to begin with? Do you remember that we are to avoid places that may be an occasion of sin?'

'The young man answers, "Yes, Father, I know that, but I had to be there.'

'The priest, somewhat puzzled, then asks: 'Why did you have to be there, and where were you: at the beach; at a sporting event?'

''No, Father,' said the young man, 'I was at your noon Mass last Sunday, and two scantily-dressed girls were sitting in the pew right in front of me, along with their parents. I couldn't move because my parents were on either side of me.'

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/110820

This is a very important topic. Girls and women are attending Mass, causing great offense to God and leading men and boys to fall into serious sin. It is high time our priests and bishops addressed this issue. Weddings are another major problem. From that article again:

'In regard to this particular topic, I feel I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the disgraceful display of immodesty exhibited by brides and their bridal parties at most Catholic weddings today. At a wedding we recently attended, the comment was made that the bride and bridal party looked more like the Playboy Review than an occasion of Holy Matrimony.

'Let me close with the following thought. Someone once asked the mother of St. Maria Goretti how she was able to raise such a [holy] child. She replied, 'By teaching her the virtue of modesty.' How many Maria Goretti's are parishes and Catholic schools producing today?'

Siuin

Indeed- I've heard complaints about traveller girls in particular who are going to mass wearing next to nothing On the other hand, it's laudable that they choose to go.

I found it so strange, as from a Jewish perspective, if I go to a synagogue, I must wear a top with a neckline which covers the collarbone and sleeves to the elbows and a skirt (not pants) which at least cover the knee. Married women are supposed to cover their hair, in Dublin this is usually with a hat.

It seems like the ship has kinda sailed on a 'set' standard for women in Ireland, whether it's good (allowing more flexibility, letting people make their own choices on what's appropriate) or bad (lowering standards), I'm not so sure.

Keaton

Siuin wrote: »

Indeed- I've heard complaints about traveller girls in particular who are going to mass wearing next to nothing On the other hand, it's laudable that they choose to go.

I found it so strange, as from a Jewish perspective, if I go to a synagogue, I must wear a top with a neckline which covers the collarbone and sleeves to the elbows and a skirt (not pants) which at least cover the knee. Married women are supposed to cover their hair, in Dublin this is usually with a hat.

It seems like the ship has kinda sailed on a 'set' standard for women in Ireland, whether it's good (allowing more flexibility, letting people make their own choices on what's appropriate) or bad (lowering standards), I'm not so sure.

I heard about the travellers too. Scandalous is one way to describe their dress.

I'm not sure you can judge another's interior motives as laudable. If your intention in going to Mass is to see and to be seen, then I don't think God is pleased about that. Immodest dress is all about the power of a woman to incite lust in a man. There is nothing loving about that, leading one's brothers into mortal sin.

The Church needs to clamp down on immoral dress. But I will be holding my breath for any sermons on immodest dress.

Siuin

Keaton wrote: »

I'm not sure you can judge another's interior motives as laudable. If your intention in going to Mass is to see and to be seen, then I don't think God is pleased about that. Immodest dress is all about the power of a woman to incite lust in a man. There is nothing loving about that, leading one's brothers into mortal sin.

No, what I mean is, it's probably better to be a scantily clad girl who bothers to go a mass than one who doesn't. Although I can imagine it would be a little distracting!

homer911

I wouldn't support all this as an everyday thing, but here is the dress code from Teenstreet (http://www.teenstreet.de/) run by Operation Mobilisation (of the Logos fame)

As this event is attended by people from many different backgrounds and cultures, the dress code tends to be fairly strict, but at least its not "Amish" like

The Dress Code
At TeenStreet, we need to be sensitive not to offend or hurt people by the way we dress.
I. Please cover too much rather than too little.
II. Wear modest swimwear that is not see-through and that covers the private parts of the body
well. Only wear swimwear at the swimming pool.
III. Everyone should wear tops – no see-through or very low cut tops. Guys must wear their shirts
even when playing sports. Girls should wear bras or an equivalent.
IV. Do not wear clothes or accessories bearing offensive text or graphics
V. Shorts must be at least mid thigh length. Skirts must be at least to just above the knee length.
Wearing shorter skirts you have to wear leggings underneath.

I was reading a book recently on the early Quakers in Ireland and they got themselves tied up in knots over a suitable dress code, which became ridiculous over time!

homer911

There are still come communities in Ireland (Quakers, Plymouth Brethern etc) where the women would be expected to wear hats at meetings, always to wear their hair long, always to wear long skirts etc. It can be pretty distracting when you see one of these women with VERY hairy legs poking out from under their skirt..

Siuin

homer911 wrote: »

There are still come communities in Ireland (Quakers, Plymouth Brethern etc) where the women would be expected to wear hats at meetings, always to wear their hair long, always to wear long skirts etc. It can be pretty distracting when you see one of these women with VERY hairy legs poking out from under their skirt..

o.O wow! I've never seen anyone like this around Ireland! I know in Israel there's a little problem of BO among those who adopt a very strict dress code (men and women), which is rather unpleasant on the bus, but have yet to see hairy legs!

plainone

There is indeed a dresscode:

1 Cor 11 states that women should have long hair and cover their hair when in prayer and when prophesying.

1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3-4 both say that Christians should not draw attention to themselves with fancy hairstyles, clothes, makeup & jewelry.

PDN

homer911 wrote: »

There are still come communities in Ireland (Quakers, Plymouth Brethern etc) where the women would be expected to wear hats at meetings, always to wear their hair long, always to wear long skirts etc.

Not in any Quaker meetings I've ever attended.

Monty.

Keaton wrote: »

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/110820

This is a very important topic. Girls and women are attending Mass, causing great offense to God and leading men and boys to fall into serious sin. It is high time our priests and bishops addressed this issue. Weddings are another major problem. From that article again:

In my experience, in warmer countries dress in Churches for both men and women seems to be more strictly enforced, e.g. Italy, France, Spain etc.

I was not allowed into St. Peters for wearing what were modest shorts on a scorching day in Rome, and had to go back to my hotel to get trousers ! Same when I was on holidays in Spain ! I'm not used to the heat. I didn't mind, as the rule applied to everyone regardless. A bit of modesty does us no all no harm, as long as its also done in moderation !

meryem

homer911 wrote: »

As this event is attended by people from many different backgrounds and cultures, the dress code tends to be fairly strict, but at least its not "Amish" like

The Dress Code
At TeenStreet, we need to be sensitive not to offend or hurt people by the way we dress.
I. Please cover too much rather than too little.
II. Wear modest swimwear that is not see-through and that covers the private parts of the body
well. Only wear swimwear at the swimming pool.
III. Everyone should wear tops – no see-through or very low cut tops. Guys must wear their shirts
even when playing sports. Girls should wear bras or an equivalent.
IV. Do not wear clothes or accessories bearing offensive text or graphics
V. Shorts must be at least mid thigh length. Skirts must be at least to just above the knee length.
Wearing shorter skirts you have to wear leggings underneath.

On certain occasions such kind of dress code is supposed to be there even from social concern angle.