Proper church (temple, mosque) attire

[Green Gaia]

What do you wear to worship at church, temple or the mosque? What is and is not acceptable to wear? Is there a difference in clothing between generations or is everyone generally wearing about the same? Are there strict rules about what is to be worn?

 

[Circle_One]

Hmmm...I'm thinking this doesn't really apply to me as I worship alone, in the comfort of my own home at my altar, and usually do so skyclad

 

[Jaymes]

Whatever's comfortable. I don't think anyone would want to be worshipped by uncomfortable followers.

 

[No*s]

My best button-up shirt and jeans. I tend to shy away from a suit. I've never liked those things, and I've outgrown my only suits, so they are no longer my best . I did use them up until that point (of course, I often worked in the church as well lol).

 

[jewscout]

Pair of black dress pants, button up shirt and tie, and, of course, a yarmulke!

 

[painted wolf]

When I go to private ritual I wear a skirt and a T-shirt, I prefer bare feet and I have a blanket I use as a shawl.

If I wanted to dress traditionally (like for a pow-wow) I would be in a ribbon dress (or deerskin dress), leggings, shawl, moccocins, I would have my rattle, fan and bag, tobacco pouch and other sacreds.

wa:do

 

[Scuba Pete]

I wear what I wear most everyday... a shirt, pants and my dockers (sans socks).

 

[robtex]

It is interesting Maize about religious/spritual services and appropiate attire. So much is put into the esthetics of going to services that sometimes the content is glazed over in the process. People here in Texas talk about the time about going to (Christian) church and they talk about dressing up and what not and I asked what was talked about at the religious session and so many say things like "I can't remeber" , "just stuff", "I don't know" ect ect.

I went to college and got a b.a. in mgt. College and church have so much polarity in their presentation. I use to dress like an absolute slob and sit in a big room with a bunch of other equally slobby dressers and use to pour over information presented in the classroom. The context of the discussions were the most important thing as opposed to the esthetics of the presentation. I could dress anyway I wanted but I had to retain the info presented to stay in school and be able to critically dispher what was being said.

Sometimes many religious organizations are quite the opposite with very little information shared but lots put on the attire and ceremony during the religious sermon.

Though to be fair much of religious ceremoneies are much more emotional in their existance with singing and crying and waving and such. But still I think about how opposite it was from my college days.

I went to some pagan ceremonies in the early 90' s and found it interesting that they really didn't dress up and that their "church" was nature itself. They just dressed causally, comfortably and tried to be at home with nature. Was not a lot of info changing hands either but was interesting how their attitude was so different than most religions.

 

[Master Vigil]

When I used to go to church (not on my own will) I would wear what I wear everyday. Jeans, t-shirt, and a hoodie if it was cold. I'd bring my sketchbook (I drew in church), and my tao te ching. I always had the impression that if god wanted me to be happy, he wouldn't make me uncomfortable. And I also have a wierd phobia of buttons so there is no way I'd dress up for church. Now, the woods are my church, and I wear my usual. Sometimes I wear my robe, with my staff, but not all the time. It depends on the mood I'm in. When I teach, I wear my usual day dress. I guess for me, hoodies are sacred. I love hoodies. And also I love to be barefoot. I hate shoes, especially in the woods, I love to feel the earth between my toes. It is very humbling.

 

[Scott1]

For Catholics:

To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

 

[Doc]

I am not much of a formal person myself. I have the attitude that what is the point to wearing stylish clothing just to impress people I rarely see. At church, I wear the simplest clothes I can. I mean Jesus walked around in simple robes and Francis walked in brown rags. Kind of silly to dress real nice only to be told in Church to give away our unnecessary things to the poor.

 

[Isis-Astoroth]

I worship at home. If I do a big prepared ritual then i'll dress in clean black clothes (black being my favourite colour) as a respect thing, but if its just spontaneous i'll wear whatever. I guess that my gods can see through posh clothing, after all, religion isn't about what you're wearing.

 

[Unedited]

I usually go out everyday for a few minutes and wear whatever I'm wearing that day. If it's something more important though...it's skyclad in the summer and a simple green robe when it's too cold. It helps me feel more connected and to be more aware of myself to wear (or not wear) something special.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I like the concept of "skyclad"... way too cool of a term!!!

 

[Performance Park]

I just dress decently. I don't own expensive clothes or anything, but I do try to look respectable. A suit is something I wear every now and then, but I get my suites for $99 at a local suit factory outlet.

 

[michel]

For Catholics:

To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

I am not a Catholic, but I follow Scott's 'rule of thumb'; somehow the idea of going into a church without clothing that represents respect and solemnity would seem unthicable to me.

 

[Doc]

For nice occasions, I will wear what looks like nice suit and clothes but I go to this St. Vincent DePaul store and get nice looking cheep clothes. I have a hot green sports jacket for only $1.50. I will often wear my GOt Jesus? shirt and jeans.

 

[Melody]

I've seen everything from the informal jeans and tennies to the formal suits and ties at our church. I wear pants or dress depending on my mood, but whichever, it's always respectful attire. That pretty much sums up the other attendees as well.