Quick Links for Today:
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"Oddly enough,…it seems to me that in less affluent cultures, people are usually more inclined to see the church service as an occasion to wear one's best clothing."
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"If only United Nations peacekeepers, aid workers, and teachers could marry, they wouldn’t sexually abuse African children as young as 8. Because, you know, celibacy is a cause of sexual abuse. At least that’s what the experts say." - Dom Bettinelli
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How comforting…
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I'm glad the girl didn't choose to abort her baby, and I'm also pleased that her mother didn't pressure her to. However, I don't think she or her mother are really fit to raise the baby.
Funky Dung
Comments 9
About dressing for church. I agree with the statement you quote. When I visited the forests of the Sudan, the people came to church dressed better than many here.
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Posted 13 May 2006 at 2:25 pm ¶Shouldn't be so concerned with how others dress, worry about own self
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Posted 16 May 2006 at 12:06 am ¶I agree that we shouldn't be overly concerned about others' appearance, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth talking about. We are supposed to show reverence for the Lord in even the littlest things.
I used to be a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy, even at Mass. But I realized that, even though God probably wouldn't be angry if I wore street clothes to church, He'd probably appreciate it if I made an effort to show respect for Him through everything I do during worship, including my mode of dress. After all, we're called to show deference and respect for God in all things, not just some things. And it's not as though putting on nice clothes is difficult; I just learned to quit bitching and dress up for God.
I think of it this way: it isn't appropriate to dress casually at a job interview or while having dinner with formal company; why would it be appropriate when you're going to meet *God*? And God in the flesh, no less.
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Posted 16 May 2006 at 9:11 am ¶I was kinda trying to be a rabble-rouser and stir up debate. . . anybody have anything else to add?
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Posted 17 May 2006 at 12:44 pm ¶Hmmm…well, I pretty much agree with everything you said. If I were to offer a devil's advocate argument, I'd point out that God, as our eternal Father, is family, and we don't dress up for family normally.
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Posted 17 May 2006 at 1:01 pm ¶tom
you essentially articulated my position. i didn't have anything relevant to add. irrelevant on the other hand…
pima
"and we don’t dress up for family normally."
in today's society, that is the case. however, i don't think that has always been the case. for example, i met this awesome woman in st. louis who would wear clothes appropriate to cooking and cleaning the house when her husband was at work but before he got home she got all dressed up and made herself look good so she would be at her best when he arrived. it's something i would want to do. as alice von hildebrand said something like (i'm paraphrasing) "wouldn't you want to give your best self to [your spouse] who has given himself completely to you in love?" why do we bum it in front of those who are closest to us?
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Posted 17 May 2006 at 1:40 pm ¶“wouldn’t you want to give your best self to [your spouse] who has given himself completely to you in love?”
Sure, but I'd prefer a happy, peaceful household rather than a clothing choice. If that's how you express your love, great, and if it helps you express the deeper aspects of the gift of help, knock yerself out.
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Posted 19 May 2006 at 7:58 pm ¶i think you miss the point. the point is to give your best self in every respect–emotionally, spiritually, and physically. it's not about a clothing choice, that's just the symptom-one of many. it's about putting on your best self in every respect, which would include physical but is FAR from limited to it.
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Posted 20 May 2006 at 10:30 am ¶I think you misunderstood me!
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Posted 20 May 2006 at 8:18 pm ¶Post a Comment