Should Christian women wear head scarves?

[1hope]

Did anyone notice, most of the members saying yes to this question were men?

 

[Butch5]

Did anyone notice, most of the members saying yes to this question were men?

Does that matter?

 

[bbbbbbb]

Does that matter?

Probably not in light of the fact that the majority of members at CF are men and the majority of members who post at CF are men. What it tells me is that men have more time to post than women.

 

[Butch5]

Probably not in light of the fact that the majority of members at CF are men and the majority of members who post at CF are men. What it tells me is that men have more time to post than women.

Probably!

 

[RDKirk]

As I read that, it refers to women engaging in congregational activity--corporate prayer or prophesy during the service. A number of fundamental congregations don't allow women to engage in those activities in the first place.

When I was a kid, women covered their heads. In fact, the ushers at the door had supplies of lace doilies they'd hand out to a woman who wasn't already wearing a hat or some other covering.

 

[bbbbbbb]

As I read that, it refers to women engaging in congregational activity--corporate prayer or prophesy during the service. A number of fundamental congregations don't allow women to engage in those activities in the first place.

When I was a kid, women covered their heads. In fact, the ushers at the door had supplies of lace doilies they'd hand out to a woman who wasn't already wearing a hat or some other covering.

I have similarly observed that many become upset with churches that do not permit women to speak at all in the service when, in fact, the church of their preference always has only one individual speaking primarily in the service, giving the sermon. I belong to a church where the ministry of the Word is shared by many men in the congregation, not one, but we are criticized because women do not teach and exercise authority over men.

 

[graciesings]

I am a teenage girl who has started wearing a head covering all the time.
The main reason is that I interpret 1 Corinthians 11 as saying that women should have their heads covered while praying. I cover as a reminder to me and to the world that I am praying all the time. I wear a knit bonnet that is very close to the style the pioneer women wear. it differentiates me from Islamic or Jewish women. (The difference between mine and the Amish bonnets is that I use multicolor yarn.)

I am very pleased with the results of this choice. It makes me stand out, but I'm 6'1 and I'm going to stand out anyway! Some teens my age are mean to me because of it, but I would rather them pick on me for a decision I made than for my weight or height. (they are just being grouchy.)

The VERY BEST part is when people see my skirt/bonnet in the grocery store, and ask me what I believe. I think the way I dress encourages people around me to think about Christ and ask questions about religion. That, to me, is worth more than anything.

 

[RDKirk]

but we are criticized because women do not teach and exercise authority over men.

Something to realize is that when Paul wrote that particular line, what he had in mind as a "teacher" was a master-disciple relationship, such as Jesus with his own disciples. The closest to that in our understanding would be a Japanese "Sensei."

"Teachers," as Paul knew them, had punitive authority over their students and created the doctrine their students followed.

Paul would not regard someone who merely stood before a class and read a prepared less, or someone who "expounded the gospel" as being a teacher.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Something to realize is that when Paul wrote that particular line, what he had in mind as a "teacher" was a master-disciple relationship, such as Jesus with his own disciples. The closest to that in our understanding would be a Japanese "Sensei."

"Teachers," as Paul knew them, had punitive authority over their students and created the doctrine their students followed.

Paul would not regard someone who merely stood before a class and read a prepared less, or someone who "expounded the gospel" as being a teacher.

You raise an interesting point. The New Testament provides two primary means of communication - preaching and teaching. In most cases, the Greek words that are translated relative to preaching concern preaching the gospel to unbelievers. When teaching is concerned it is not to unbelievers, but to believers in the church. There are a wide variety of means shown in terms of teaching. For example, as you have noted there is the discipleship relationship. However, teaching was not limited to that venue. Paul, for example, spent two years at the school of Tyrannus (a rented facility, its seems) at Ephesus where he taught on a very regular basis.

 

[DaughterofJehovah]

I have no idea, but I do feel that this was a custom that was basically part of the early church, and died out with Vatican II.

I often flirted with the idea of wearing a headcovering to Mass, but at the parish where I go, two of the priests are female, and it just seems a little bit much, lol. I grew up Catholic where the parish was quite hippy-dippy with hymns from the 70's an acoustic guitars, so Anglo-Catholicism was certainly a culture shock!

One day, I suppose. The only reason why I would ever wear a headcovering to church, is to show my absolute respect for Christ present in the Eucharist.

 

[Albion]

There was no response to this posting. Must admit I am a little disappointed.

It may owe to the fact that this is the forum for "Denomination-specific theology." People check in expecting, as I do, to find debates about issues identified with particular denominations. With this thread, that wasn't the case.

 

[Root of Jesse]

My wife does, regardless of what others do. The purpose is to not attract attention. We're in Church to worship God, not gawk at others.

 

[Orange Kitten Bob]

It strikes me as pandering to Islam, but that is just my idea.

 

[graciesings]

It strikes me as pandering to Islam, but that is just my idea.

Why is that? Would you please elaborate on this idea?

 

[RDKirk]

It strikes me as pandering to Islam, but that is just my idea.

Women kept their heads covered in church when I was a little boy in the 50s. How was that pandering to Islam?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I have no idea, but I do feel that this was a custom that was basically part of the early church, and died out with Vatican II.

Well, someone once said when Rome get's a cold, the rest of Christendom sneezes. When I was a young kid, every confirmed woman either wore a head scarf or a hat, and a lot of the younger girls did too. I think it was more the day to day style of the 1940's and 50's (most women seemed to dress the same way in the city too).

Styles were changing about the same time as Vatican II was being implemented; I can not speak for Catholicism, but for most Lutherans, it was not theological but for some, maybe, or possibly it was just cultural... We did have a number of German speaking Polish immigrants in our congregation, and those women continued to wear head scarves up until the last one died just a few years ago.

Sure, if her head's cold. Otherwise, it's an issue of pious freedom.

Necessity, style, pious freedom... Adiaphora.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

It strikes me as pandering to Islam, but that is just my idea.

Actually bob, in the 1960's we had no idea of what Islam actually was. Up until much later, the only exposure to Islam we had was in movies and cartoons; and most of them were touring around on magic carpets and had Geenies; boy, we were deceived.

 

[Spiritlight]

My understanding of this head covering recommendation by Paul is because of the city the corinthians lived in.

Corinth was a Pagan city with evil religions and a a temple with prostitutes who had shaved heads.

I Corinthians 11:1.

Maybe some of the prostitutes came to salvation and ended up in the corinthians church and Paul recommended long hair head coverings so as to differentiate the girls from the prostitutes symbolism of that time.

Do I think hat wearing or scarves is relevant or recommended today..NO! It was I think for an issue they had then that has long since passed. Pauls recommendation of long hair for girls is timeless.

thats my best understanding of it anyway. I heard a great preacher talk about that one day and always remembered it.

 

[mindlight]

It may owe to the fact that this is the forum for "Denomination-specific theology." People check in expecting, as I do, to find debates about issues identified with particular denominations. With this thread, that wasn't the case.

You are perfectly welcome to offer a denomination specific point of view. For the sake of clarity the OP was originally inspired by an encounter with a strict Brethren man from South Korea.

 

[graciesings]

My understanding of this head covering recommendation by Paul is because of the city the corinthians lived in.

Corinth was a Pagan city with evil religions and a a temple with prostitutes who had shaved heads.

I Corinthians 11:1.

Maybe some of the prostitutes came to salvation and ended up in the corinthians church and Paul recommended long hair head coverings so as to differentiate the girls from the prostitutes symbolism of that time.

Do I think hat wearing or scarves is relevant or recommended today..NO! It was I think for an issue they had then that has long since passed. Pauls recommendation of long hair for girls is timeless.

thats my best understanding of it anyway. I heard a great preacher talk about that one day and always remembered it.

Many people have explained this idea too me. The problem is, if 1 Corinthians 11 was cultural and only applied to ancient times, one can also argue that the rest of the Bible was cultural and only applied to ancient times.