Christian Clothing

[RestlessSoul]

 

[SigurdReginson]

Yah... There is no unified dress code for Christianity, but there are dress codes based on the denomination and rules of the local church. Some churches require that you dress in your best clothing. Some require you dress in the absolute most plainest clothing. Some even have specific religious garb.

One thing I notice that is pretty universal, though, is that wearing hats seems to be seen as a disrespectful thing. No matter what church belonging to any denomination I went into, it was always expected of me to remove my hat, and I would be asked to if I didn't. Might just be an American thing, though.

 

[Rival]

Yah... There is no unified dress code for Christianity, but there are dress codes based on the denomination and rules of the local church. Some churches require that you dress in your best clothing. Some require you dress in the absolute most plainest clothing. Some even have specific religious garb.

One thing I notice that is pretty universal, though, is that wearing hats seems to be seen as a disrespectful thing. No matter what church belonging to any denomination I went into, it was always expected of me to remove my hat, and I would be asked to if I didn't. Might just be an American thing, though.

Men wearing hats inside has often been seen as disrespectful, while the opposite is true for women. It's a thing in the UK, too.

 

[SigurdReginson]

Men wearing hats inside has often been seen as disrespectful, while the opposite is true for women. It's a thing in the UK, too.

Is this a thing that exists outside of a religious context? I've never seen it existing as a concept outside if church, at least personally.

 

[Rival]

Is this a thing that exists outside of a religious context? I've never seen it existing as a concept outside if church, at least personally.

Yes, in fact you can see it in the movie Matilda where Zinnia tells Harry not to wear his hat inside. I believe it's a Victorian thing. I'd actually not heard of it in Churches before you said it.

 

[SigurdReginson]

Yes, in fact you can see it in the movie Matilda where Zinnia tells Harry not to wear his hat inside. I believe it's a Victorian thing. I'd actually not heard of it in Churches before you said it.

Interesting... I've always just associated it as a church only thing.

Kind of makes me wonder what other traditions have endured from the old country, and how we've changed those traditions over here into our own kind of tradition.

 

[Rival]

Interesting... I've always just associated it as a church only thing.

Kind of makes me wonder what other traditions have endured from the old country, and how we've changed those traditions over here into our own kind of tradition.

I think it is still the case and was the case in British Churches at that point.

 

[Valjean]

It just occurred to me that Christians don't have any specific clothing they wear. It struck me as odd. Why is this? Most religious groups have some kind of requirement; Sikhs have turbans and even swords; Jews have kippot, shaving restrictions etc.; Muslims wear kufis, hijab, thawb, long dresses etc.; Dharmics have salwar kameez, dhoti etc.

I'm wondering why Christians have nothing like this? It seems to be a large feature in many religions.

Seems to be a feature in religions trying to assert themselves.

In the West, Christianity is the norm, conventional dress is just how westerners/Christians dress. Conventional dress in India or Arabia, likewise, was just how Indians and Arabs dressed.

If Christianity someday becomes a minority religion, maybe suits, ties and skirts will come to be considered Christian dress. Christians might even adopt suits, ties and skirts to assert their religious affiliation and differentiate themselves from whatever dress is conventional at the time/place.

 

[Psalm23]

Men wearing hats inside has often been seen as disrespectful, while the opposite is true for women. It's a thing in the UK, too.

I feel uncomfortable wearing a hat during a church service. I think in my high school, we were not supposed to wear hats.

 

[firedragon]

It just occurred to me that Christians don't have any specific clothing they wear. It struck me as odd. Why is this? Most religious groups have some kind of requirement; Sikhs have turbans and even swords; Jews have kippot, shaving restrictions etc.; Muslims wear kufis, hijab, thawb, long dresses etc.; Dharmics have salwar kameez, dhoti etc.

I'm wondering why Christians have nothing like this? It seems to be a large feature in many religions.

Because most of the theology manifested in Rome. Christianity is distant from the Aramaic speaking peasants and Jesus the Tektwn. The other theologies you took as example has inseparable links to their historical geographical origins. So called. And so far.

But, all of this wring[ling through the whole world, gathers colours from each and every bush or sand grain.

By the way, a hell of a lot of Muslims wear Shalwar Kameez. Thawb is rare. The Kufi is inherited from a Jewish tradition, most probably. Some Muslims wear the Sonco. Some wear the Sarong. Some wear the Shalwar. And most of them wear Jeans, trousers and western attire. Most of them. Also, barely a century ago, Christians were very conservative and used to wear a head scarf where ever they went. Women wearing a pant was considered like bearing their naked legs (No disrespect intended). In some areas Muslim men wear a face veil. Not the women. I mean its not considered a big deal for women, but men, it is a big deal. Then you get some areas where a Christian woman who wears a pink dress is considered a loose woman. Everyone wears black. In Fact, veiling women is a very old Christian tradition, and it was part of the creation being considered the bride of the Christ.

Things fade away.

 

[Clara Tea]

It just occurred to me that Christians don't have any specific clothing.

Jesus wore a cross, but it's bulky, especially for formal wear.

Naturist-Christians.org | Guest Gallery | Page 1

For the Garden of Eden look, the link above showcases the latest fashions (which, by coincidence, is the only fashion).

Frank Answers About Nude Art in Churches – Frank Answers

According to the link above, many Christian painters used the Eden look, and it was said that Michael Angelo was Gay. Some, in the church, were shocked. Imagine the hours that he stared at naked little boys for the sake of his church.

Copy of Raphael's Cherub, 1858 - Gustave Moreau - WikiArt.org

Berlin Painted Porcelain Plaque of Bacchic Cherubs 2379, 132 | Skinner Auctioneers

Priests often commissioned nude little boy paintings (cherubs). Though, the little boys in choirs were often de-sexed to keep their voices angelic. The fascination with nude little boys continues today (a few lawsuits about that, and the Catholic church has filed bankruptcy to keep its mammon without compensating the little boys that it has psychologically maimed).

Bird-Catching Cherubs (Summer) L'Amour Oiseleur (L’Eté) | RISD Museum

Many religious paintings show winged naked little boys flying around the heads of saints. Even bug spray didn't seem to deter them.

Puritans, Quakers, and the Amish also wore unique uniforms.

Christians sometimes wear crosses (in case Christ returns, they can remind him of the great time he had on the cross), and sometimes a fish symbol is displayed (though that seems a bit fishy).

 

[Clara Tea]

I feel uncomfortable wearing a hat during a church service. I think in my high school, we were not supposed to wear hats.

Rabbis sometimes have to sit in the back so they don't block the view. Their ears stick up, and, if they are sitting on their cottontails, they are too high to see over.

 

[pearl]

Meanwhile I'm pretty sure Paul says something about wearing headcoverings at worship.

For centuries women had to have their head covered in church, some would simply place a hanky on their head before entering.

 

[Rival]

For centuries women had to have their head covered in church, some would simply place a hanky on their head before entering.

This is true, but I'm thinking more about everyday wear.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

I think there probably is an implication in the bible to dress humbly, there are a number of verse about sackcloth and ashes as donning the prophets. Then again, there is verse somewhere that says you should be neat in appearance when you go to a religious assembly.

I think as well in the west, there was always individuality in dress, well before christianity. In the archaeology of viking age places, didn't they find many colorful fabrics? So I guess maybe the fashion sense couldn't be changed

 

[Rival]

I think there probably is an implication in the bible to dress humbly, there are a number of verse about sackcloth and ashes as donning the prophets. Then again, there is verse somewhere that says you should be neat in appearance when you go to a religious assembly.

I think as well in the west, there was always individuality in dress, well before christianity. In the archaeology of viking age places, didn't they find many colorful fabrics? So I guess maybe the fashion sense couldn't be changed

I'm not sure what the fabrics being colourful has to do with it, tho? Many African Muslim styles can be colourful, as can it in KSA and the UAE etc.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

What I'm saying is that this clothing exists at all, if they want to have some religious clothing it's there. It says 'I'm a Jew/Muslim/Dharmic' etc. If Christians wanted to do this, it doesn't exist.

There's clothing for specific denominations. For instance, it's obvious around here who's a Mennonite based on their mode of dress.

... but when it comes to more mainstream Christian denominations, it's worth remembering that our standards of dress generally reflect Christian influence. We don't have a "Christian" style of dress because Christians made sure that the "standard" style of dress in our society aligned with Christian beliefs about how someone should dress.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Men wearing hats inside has often been seen as disrespectful, while the opposite is true for women. It's a thing in the UK, too.

There was a time (before Vatican II, IIRC) where it was expected that a woman in church would have her head covered.

 

[Heyo]

Interesting... I've always just associated it as a church only thing.

Kind of makes me wonder what other traditions have endured from the old country, and how we've changed those traditions over here into our own kind of tradition.

I don't know about the US but the head covering has endured in the military in Germany, with some bizarre exceptions. The rule is head covering outside, no head covering inside. A bus is considered "outside". Nothing special for an anglophone who rides on the bus but German civilians ride in the bus.

 

[robocop (actually)]

It just occurred to me that Christians don't have any specific clothing they wear. It struck me as odd. Why is this? Most religious groups have some kind of requirement; Sikhs have turbans and even swords; Jews have kippot, shaving restrictions etc.; Muslims wear kufis, hijab, thawb, long dresses etc.; Dharmics have salwar kameez, dhoti etc.

I'm wondering why Christians have nothing like this? It seems to be a large feature in many religions.

Members of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints wear sacred/holy garments. Raelians wear medallions.