Christian women are required to cover our heads!!

**ragdollcat1982** · 05-23-2009

I have been asked by both family, friends and strangers as to why I have taken up the hijab a few months ago. I often cite 1. Corinthians 11:4-7 to justify from a biblical prespective my reason for doing so, because God commands it. Often I have been told that a latter verse in the same chapter says that a womans hair has been given to her for a covering and that a cloth covering or hat is not nessecary. Sadly this verse has been misinterperted. I found an interesting artilce from a Christian prespective that examines this issue. So I do not think that a Chrisitan woman voluntarily wearing the hijab is not incompatiable with Christian teaching, if anything it is very compatiable.

http://www.biblicalresearchreports.c...ring-today.php

**Zafran** · 05-31-2009

Paul is not writing so much about hair or veils, but spiritual authority and rebellion of the heart. Jesus was all about what was in your heart and not outward appearances.

what about being clean? or having clothes on at all? those are outward appearances - to say Jesus pbuh was only about the internal is saying Jesus pbuh was no more then an ascetic - Lets not forget about circumsicion.

**Grace Seeker** · 05-31-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

How is Paul writting for his time and today?

Today it is not a disgrace for a woman today to cut her hair to any length and so do not need to veil. Back in Paul's time it was a disgrace for women to cut their hair and they had long hair so they needed to cover it.

1 Corinthians 11
6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

Even today some women have never cut their hair, or if once cut as a child allow it to grow without cutting as adults. They don't realize that once cut hair is always then considered cut.

1 Corinthians 11
13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

I listed the definitons of shorn, but guess you didn't see it:
shorn /ʃɔrn, ʃoʊrn/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [shawrn, shohrn] Show IPA
–verb a pp. of shear.

shear /ʃɪər/ verb, sheared, sheared or shorn, shear⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to cut (something).
2. to remove by or as if by cutting or clipping with a sharp instrument: to shear wool from sheep.
3. to cut or clip the hair, fleece, wool, etc., from: to shear sheep.
4. to strip or deprive (usually fol. by of): to shear someone of power.
5. Chiefly Scot. to reap with a sickle.
6. to travel through by or as if by cutting: Chimney swifts sheared the air.

Paul is not writing so much about hair or veils, but spiritual authority and rebellion of the heart. Jesus was all about what was in your heart and not outward appearances.

Follower, you're not listening. If, as you say, Paul's words still apply today. Then women are not being given permission to cut their hair, but a command to keep it covered.
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Let me revise that. To say you are not listening is too harsh. So, let me amend that to say: Follower, I don't see how saying that Paul gave women permission to cut their hair follows from the verse quoted. It appears to me to be more a case of Paul citing reasons as to why women should not cut their hair, namely that it is a disgrace for a woman to have it cut or shaved off. Therefore, they should keep their hair covered. The text doesn't say so, but those appear to be the only too options: covered or shaved. Apparently, at least in 1st century Corinth, it wasn't appropriate for women to go around with their hair flowing but uncovered. I believe this was something that was only done by prostitutes. And because of that habit, prostitutes who ran afoul of the law would often have their hair shaved off as a punishment. This is the reason that having one's hair cut was a sign of disgrace for women. So, to keep from being labelled as something that they weren't Christian women, at least in first century Corinth (and probably other places) were advised to keep their hair covered.

I, personally, don't believe that it was meant as a universal application for the reason behind it is no longer true. Thus I don't believe there is any shame to a woman having her head uncovered or her hair cut today. But for those who hold that this passage has a universal application, I don't see how it can be read to give permission to those things that Paul specifically says were a disgrace; surely it must be understood as a command for Christian women to continue to cover there heads, at least when in public.

**Follower** · 06-03-2009

I was listening, just not agreeing.

LOL! - the words - if it is a disgrace speak differently to me.

The beauty of Christianity - individuality, diversity, different expressions of our one faith.

**Zafran** · 06-03-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

I was listening, just not agreeing.

LOL! - the words - if it is a disgrace speak differently to me.

The beauty of Christianity - individuality, diversity, different expressions of our one faith.

Yep the holy ghost seriously works in mysterious ways - now your hearing things from a forum

Maybe its those "LOL!!" its getting to you.

**Follower** · 06-03-2009

Actually I have heard the Holy Spirit speak to me- a very cool experience.

**Zafran** · 06-03-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

Actually I have heard the Holy Spirit speak to me- a very cool experience.

what about a forum?

**Follower** · 06-03-2009

Lol!!

**GreyKode** · 06-03-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

Actually I have heard the Holy Spirit speak to me- a very cool experience.

**Zafran** · 06-03-2009

Originally Posted by GreyKode

dont worry it explains the "LOLs"

**Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн** · 06-03-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

Actually I have heard the Holy Spirit speak to me- a very cool experience.

Are u sure it wasnt a jinn?

**Follower** · 06-04-2009

If you mean demons, yes I know it was not from them.

It had to do with some of my Catholic friends and the sitings of Mary at Medjugorje. They desparately wanted me to believe. I fretted over it and when I was not thinking on anything a clear voice said - 'it is not of your concern'.

With the understanding, do not be a stumbling block:

1 Corinthians 8
9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

In other words I was not to try and destroy the beliefs of my friends, fellow Christians who celebrate their faith in Jesus a bit differently then me- if they need the sitings of Mary to strengthen their faith- so be it.

I have had other instances- but more personnal that I won't go into.

And so getting back on topic - I believe as I said earlier if ragdollcat wants to cover her head for prayers ok, but a woman should not be forced to do so.

**malayloveislam** · 06-04-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

Actually I have heard the Holy Spirit speak to me- a very cool experience.

:><::X

**ragdollcat1982** · 06-04-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

And so getting back on topic - I believe as I said earlier if ragdollcat wants to cover her head for prayers ok, but a woman should not be forced to do so.

I cover my hair most of the time when I leave the house. Lately I have slacked off due to the hot hot whether we are experincing.I never said a woman should be forced to cover even Muslim women, but if a Muslim woman truly follows her faith she will not be see covering as being forced upon her.

**Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн** · 06-05-2009

^^ditto

**malayloveislam** · 06-05-2009

Originally Posted by ragdollcat1982

I cover my hair most of the time when I leave the house. Lately I have slacked off due to the hot hot whether we are experincing.I never said a woman should be forced to cover even Muslim women, but if a Muslim woman truly follows her faith she will not be see covering as being forced upon her.

**Follower** · 06-05-2009

A white cotton cloth would reflect the sun rays and protect you from burning and if a scarf is wrapped loosely would allow air to flow through it. You could wear your scarf like a skull cap or dew rag.

Do you attend an air conditioned church? You could always put it on before you enter.

**ragdollcat1982** · 06-05-2009

Originally Posted by Follower

Do you attend an air conditioned church? You could always put it on before you enter.

Yes my church is air conditioned and I am still covering for services.

**glo** · 06-05-2009

Originally Posted by ragdollcat1982

Yes my church is air conditioned and I am still covering for services.

Air conditioned churches?
Our church is so old with thick brick walls, it never seems to get warm inside ... even in the middle of summer!

**Jon Paul** · 07-16-2009

Hello, everyone!

Here is an interesting six-part article on Catholic women and head-coverings.

Introduction

The veil has been a topic of increasing interest in the last few years, largely because of the recent fascination with Islam. Particularly regarding the recent law in France forbidding the display of any religious symbol in public schools, many have asked what the religious significance of the veil is. Is it simply a social custom, or is it actually required by the Islamic religion? Is a simple covering on the head sufficient, or does the law require the full-headed burkhas of Afghanistan? These questions have been of some mild interest of late, and always in reference to Islam.

But is there a Catholic tradition of veils, and if so, what does it entail? Clearly it has been out of practice for a long time, if it ever did exist. What is the tradition? What does it require? Does it bind under any penalty? These questions and many others are what this essay intends to answer. For it is clear that there is a Catholic tradition of the veil; it persisted even until the 1960s, in the form of the custom of women wearing head coverings in churches, and even exists to this day in many Eastern-rite Catholic communities.

http://www.traditioninaction.org/rel..._1_Goodman.htm