Quite frankly I am sick of seeing the “look how crazy the Muslims are” news story because they seek to not have their women dress like whores everywhere they go. I know I know. Woman are not treated well in Muslim countries. The Burka is overkill. Atrocities happen. That we should focus on. But when Muslims say that we ought not to have scantily clad life size women on every storefront window, I think it time for self-reflection. Is our culture where women show up to church in mini-skirts and blouses with plunging necklines really that laudable either? On this, the Muslims have it right. Now how do we get them Jesus so they are right not by accident but by identity?
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Hamas targets women’s underwear in modesty drive
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| GAZA (Reuters) – The Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip have ordered lingerie shops to display more modesty. |
| “These measures have stemmed from complaints and pressure by ordinary people. They have to do with upholding our traditions,” police spokesman Ayman Al-Batniji said on Wednesday. |
| A week after banning women from smoking water pipes in public places, the Hamas-run police force has told stores selling women’s underwear to remove scantily-clad mannequins and any posters of racy undergarments. |
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I agree with you on the sensationalism from the news lately. It could be it has always been sensationalist and I have only started caring, I’m not sure.
However, I hate to take the feminist track with you, but “dressing like whores” is really a cultural issue, not so much a religious one. What qualifies as “whore-ish” in the Midwest would get you stoned to death in certain extremist Middle Eastern areas, but could get you looked upon as a prude in some European areas, L.A., and a handful of other places. And there are not a small number of Christians in the Middle East, as well as L.A., and Europe. Even time can be a factor as showing some ankle up until the late 1800’s was a social faux pas. I think every time we, as a culture, get desensitized to any amount of clothing, it lessens. Eventually in a hundred years people may not wear anything (except for some UV protection) and I think that’s ok. Then we’ll get desensitized to that and fashion will go somewhere else.
And of course, to put the feminist icing on the cake – the problem is not with the woman wearing a lack of clothes, it’s with the people who can’t stop staring and labeling her a whore for the sexualization and objectification they are doing to her.
The idea that one’s body is a gift to be shared with one’s spouse and not everyone is a biblical idea. I agree that what is provocative is somewhat relative to cultural norms. But I can guarantee that a girl in scant lingerie has been and always will be alluring to men, regardless of culture.
As for your icing, it is the problem of both. Both the one who entices and the one who is enticed are equally in the wrong.
Overall, Wes you have to tell me your views on scripture, so I know how to converse with you in a relevant and persuasive way. I admittedly seek to norm my life around scripture, but if you do not, I will not seek to convince you that way. That is why I hesitate to further make the case that modesty in dress is grounded in scripture.
I come from a much more sociological view than a religious one, so my bias is definitely going to lean towards culture, social mores, and history of the area. Having said that, I think the effect of religion, even dogmatic philosophies and ideologies, on a society is fascinating. There is no doubt the two are deeply entwined.
Also, I do tend to automatically think of any scripture (Christian or otherwise) in a “written for the time” context (in reference to your ‘Chiseling an Idol with a Hermeneutic’ post), so that may help to eliminate any confusion in future discussions 🙂