Why are all bikinis often considered immodest by Christians?

[Hetta]

First off, I really hope this is the right place, but if not, please direct me to where this oughta be! And secondly, I'm sorry it's so long, I just wanted everyone to right away understand why I'm confused about this.

I’ve grown up going to a Christian camp with the rule you stomach cannot show for your swimsuit (even though it was an all girls camp… huh?), at church retreats it has always been one pieces or modest tankinis, or even going to someone’s pool for a homeschool event no showing stomachs were allowed. However, I never hear anything about the bust area. Ummm, why not? Why don’t they say, full bust coverage? I’ve seen v neck swimsuits as low as the bust itself with the breasts peeking out the sides too at my Christian camp, but nope, that wasn’t a problem. But an inch of belly showing was??? I understand wanting the bust covered. Gotcha, that’s, well, private and I don’t want everyone seeing that. Of course. And the bottoms. Ahhh, I understand the desire for even shorts cause ya don’t really want your bottom peeking out. However, I don’t see that absolutely necessary if it does have good coverage (debatable, I know).

So all that I agree with, except, well the midriff. Now I’m not saying I disagree with that rule. In fact, I don’t know *what* I think. Thus, this post. First off, I understand your bottom and breasts, those are, uhhh… special on female types. Sure. But the stomach? Everyone has one. Guys pull off their shirts at a beach retreat and who gives a second thought about that being modest? Very few. But if a girl wears a bikini top that covers the bust up perfectly, it’s “Oh my gosh, that’s immodest, put a shirt on!” But what’s so modest about guys being topless when even if a girl covered up her bust it’s considered immodest? I’ve never been able to find a swim suit that both covered up the bust AND the midriff completely but not end up looking like a grandma or a plain athletic one piece (I’m sorry, but no, just no, plus those athletic ones don’t have built in bras). So, I always have to compromise. My swimsuit shows ever so little of the bust, but it’s not completely covered. Also, I’ve heard from a Christian guy that after you are in the water, even if you’re wear a tshirt, it’s skin tight, anyway. And guys will lust no matter what you are wearing, I’d like to point that out, no one forces a guy to lust. Sure, some situations might be harder, but just cause you are wearing a once piece doesn’t make you lust proof.

Here are some examples of the bikinis I am thinking might be modest (I’m just looking at the tops in these pictures): Swimsuit 1 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 2 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 3 | Pinterest

Those are cute bikinis, but watch out - you will be showing your midriff. :O

You are right that no matter how you cover up, some guys (not all) will find a way to lust. The best thing you can do is dress to suit yourself and not deliberately to be tempting, and you will be okay.

TBH, the one with that big frill would annoy the heck out of me. I get in the water to swim and that thing flapping around would not work for me.

 

[quatona]

TBH, the one with that big frill would annoy the heck out of me. I get in the water to swim and that thing flapping around would not work for me.

Not to mention the hat which would be nothing but a nuisance when swimming.

 

[Sammy-San]

Those are cute bikinis, but watch out - you will be showing your midriff. :O

You are right that no matter how you cover up, some guys (not all) will find a way to lust. The best thing you can do is dress to suit yourself and not deliberately to be tempting, and you will be okay.

TBH, the one with that big frill would annoy the heck out of me. I get in the water to swim and that thing flapping around would not work for me.

That's a wierd gender double standard. Why is it considered modest by Christians if men's swimsuits show the midriff, but not the other way around? I personally think it's immodest and gross for either gender, but it baffles me the gender double standards some people have.

 

[Bumble Bee]

First off, I really hope this is the right place, but if not, please direct me to where this oughta be! And secondly, I'm sorry it's so long, I just wanted everyone to right away understand why I'm confused about this.

I’ve grown up going to a Christian camp with the rule you stomach cannot show for your swimsuit (even though it was an all girls camp… huh?), at church retreats it has always been one pieces or modest tankinis, or even going to someone’s pool for a homeschool event no showing stomachs were allowed. However, I never hear anything about the bust area. Ummm, why not? Why don’t they say, full bust coverage? I’ve seen v neck swimsuits as low as the bust itself with the breasts peeking out the sides too at my Christian camp, but nope, that wasn’t a problem. But an inch of belly showing was??? I understand wanting the bust covered. Gotcha, that’s, well, private and I don’t want everyone seeing that. Of course. And the bottoms. Ahhh, I understand the desire for even shorts cause ya don’t really want your bottom peeking out. However, I don’t see that absolutely necessary if it does have good coverage (debatable, I know).

So all that I agree with, except, well the midriff. Now I’m not saying I disagree with that rule. In fact, I don’t know *what* I think. Thus, this post. First off, I understand your bottom and breasts, those are, uhhh… special on female types. Sure. But the stomach? Everyone has one. Guys pull off their shirts at a beach retreat and who gives a second thought about that being modest? Very few. But if a girl wears a bikini top that covers the bust up perfectly, it’s “Oh my gosh, that’s immodest, put a shirt on!” But what’s so modest about guys being topless when even if a girl covered up her bust it’s considered immodest? I’ve never been able to find a swim suit that both covered up the bust AND the midriff completely but not end up looking like a grandma or a plain athletic one piece (I’m sorry, but no, just no, plus those athletic ones don’t have built in bras). So, I always have to compromise. My swimsuit shows ever so little of the bust, but it’s not completely covered. Also, I’ve heard from a Christian guy that after you are in the water, even if you’re wear a tshirt, it’s skin tight, anyway. And guys will lust no matter what you are wearing, I’d like to point that out, no one forces a guy to lust. Sure, some situations might be harder, but just cause you are wearing a once piece doesn’t make you lust proof.

Here are some examples of the bikinis I am thinking might be modest (I’m just looking at the tops in these pictures): Swimsuit 1 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 2 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 3 | Pinterest

The reason I don't do bikinis is that to me, it's too much like walking around in your underwear. I wear shorts with any swimsuit that has no skirt, too. I just don't like everyone seeing what I look like in my underwear.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Bikinis dont bother me at all

 

[GoldenBoy89]

You guys are right, biblical standards of modesty and dress are the best for society.

Now, what were Adam and Eve wearing before everything fell apart? Someone jog my memory, I'm not good with these stories..

 

[Inkachu]

If a person has a problem with women wearing bikinis...they don't have to wear bikinis or stare at people wearing bikinis. It is that simple.

Agree and well said.

For the most part, many seem to hung up on what other people do, when in reality, it has zero impact on them.

It's really frustrating when someone posts a topic and asks for responses, and then when someone says "I don't believe that's OK" or "I don't agree with that", all these people are so quick to jump in and say "Well, then don't do it! Don't look at it! It's SO simple!" What they're missing is that the OP asked for peoples' thoughts, views, and beliefs. Let the respondents have their say and stop feeling this need to interject your own little snide remarks just because their views are different from yours!! Geez freakin' louise.

I can say "I don't think it's OK to wear a bikini" without being someone who patrols beaches with a Bible, whacking girls in bikinis on the head with it while bellowing "repent, harlot!!" I'm stating my personal view, I'm not stating that I have some right to impose my view on everyone else. There's a difference. Learn it.

 

[Cute Tink]

someone who patrols beaches with a Bible, whacking girls in bikinis on the head with it while bellowing "repent, harlot!!"

Honestly I want to see this happen (and yes I would get hit with the Bible). I would collapse from laughter.

 

[Archivist]

Nothing wrong with women wearing bikinis at a beach or pool. For that matter, I see nothing wrong with women going topless. If men go topless women should be able to do the same.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

First off, I really hope this is the right place, but if not, please direct me to where this oughta be! And secondly, I'm sorry it's so long, I just wanted everyone to right away understand why I'm confused about this.

I’ve grown up going to a Christian camp with the rule you stomach cannot show for your swimsuit (even though it was an all girls camp… huh?), at church retreats it has always been one pieces or modest tankinis, or even going to someone’s pool for a homeschool event no showing stomachs were allowed. However, I never hear anything about the bust area. Ummm, why not? Why don’t they say, full bust coverage? I’ve seen v neck swimsuits as low as the bust itself with the breasts peeking out the sides too at my Christian camp, but nope, that wasn’t a problem. But an inch of belly showing was??? I understand wanting the bust covered. Gotcha, that’s, well, private and I don’t want everyone seeing that. Of course. And the bottoms. Ahhh, I understand the desire for even shorts cause ya don’t really want your bottom peeking out. However, I don’t see that absolutely necessary if it does have good coverage (debatable, I know).

So all that I agree with, except, well the midriff. Now I’m not saying I disagree with that rule. In fact, I don’t know *what* I think. Thus, this post. First off, I understand your bottom and breasts, those are, uhhh… special on female types. Sure. But the stomach? Everyone has one. Guys pull off their shirts at a beach retreat and who gives a second thought about that being modest? Very few. But if a girl wears a bikini top that covers the bust up perfectly, it’s “Oh my gosh, that’s immodest, put a shirt on!” But what’s so modest about guys being topless when even if a girl covered up her bust it’s considered immodest? I’ve never been able to find a swim suit that both covered up the bust AND the midriff completely but not end up looking like a grandma or a plain athletic one piece (I’m sorry, but no, just no, plus those athletic ones don’t have built in bras). So, I always have to compromise. My swimsuit shows ever so little of the bust, but it’s not completely covered. Also, I’ve heard from a Christian guy that after you are in the water, even if you’re wear a tshirt, it’s skin tight, anyway. And guys will lust no matter what you are wearing, I’d like to point that out, no one forces a guy to lust. Sure, some situations might be harder, but just cause you are wearing a once piece doesn’t make you lust proof.

Here are some examples of the bikinis I am thinking might be modest (I’m just looking at the tops in these pictures): Swimsuit 1 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 2 | Pinterest
Swimsuit 3 | Pinterest

Reproduction is one of the strongest urges.

If you can control someone's sex drive, you assume a lot of control over the person themselves.

So, it's just a method religions have discovered for controlling their flocks.