Hmmm, now that I've read some more comments, I'm going to comment again. I don't wear a two piece, not because I don't want to, but because I don't feel they compliment me. On several different occassions I've attempted to go bikini shopping only to end up leaving with a one piece. I don't know. Some women probably draw attention regardless of what type of bathing suit they wear, wheras other women can wear a two piece and not draw any, I'm a woman and that is coming from me. Of course I'm not a man, so maybe men are attracted to ANYTHING showing some skin.
Now, this is a bit of a sticky subject.... I am not trying to be insensitive, but I think that men have the responsibility of personal accountability. You cannot simply make yourself stop sinning by changing the environment, sin comes from the heart. Some men lust more then others. Although my husband does tend to notice a cute women or two when we are out (even if he tries to deny it), I basically feel comfortable with him at a swimming pool loaded with women, most in bikinis, because my husband has a check on his heart. He knows it is wrong to look at another woman lustfully, and therefore that isn't even an option to him. Does that make any sense. Now, each man has to do what he needs to to keep his heart pure... and although the environment can contribute, I myself get irriated with immodestly dressed women in public... and this is why...
First, my husband concludes when he sees a woman drawing attention to herself like that that she has poor character and self esteem. I myself used to dress provatively to be attractive, then one day, after being a christian for a while, I dressed a little to attractive, and was turning all kinds of heads. But the heads I turned had a gleam of lust in their eyes, and they didn't know me from Adam. So I decided I personally would not disrespect myself that way anymore, because I did not want to attract someone by my body (hey, any female can dress provacatively, doesn't make them special if they turn a few heads when they do), but I want to be attractive through who I am. I do get irritated at both shallow men and women.
So anyways, I get angry at those women because I know from experiance that they are just trying to draw attention to themselves, it feeds their egos, and what irriates me about it the most is that they can care less if that head they turn is someone else's spouse, as long as their self esteem needs are met, they are fine.
I don't know, like I was saying earlier. Bikini's just seem to be a bathing suit. Bodys are flaunted so much anymore that it really is no surprise, and like I said before.. some people will turn heads no matter what. So it's not necessarily about the bathing suit. Well, I guess that's enough 2 cents for now.
Oh, wait, one more thing. I can't help but think that those who preach on modesty in wearing one pieces as opposed to 2 pieces might as well go all the way and not wear a bathing suit at all. As a matter of fact, don't wear short sleeve shirts or shorts either, because all those items show flesh and some figure. This is an interesting topic to me because I have some in-laws that are of the holiness pentecostal faith, and they only wear dresses. Yet the mom will make stylish skirts and shop at old navy for her tops. I can't help but think.. "you know, if your don't want to draw attention to yourself, then why not just way baggy long black or brown dresses? I mean, if your belief prevents you from wearing make up so not to make your beauty come from outward appearances, why wear pretty tops and long skirts? I personally would have a hard time drawing the line, I don't know how they do it.
HB
