[Faith-talk] hair, modesty and Christian living

[Rex Leslie Howard, Jr.]

In Jewish culture, short hair on a woman was a mark of adultery (Numbers
5:11-31)
In Greek culture, those women who wore short hair were confessing themselves
to be prostitutes or lesbians. Therefore, if a woman cut her hair she became
identified with those groups of people. Hence, the admonishment that women
weren't supposed to cut their hair.

I don't think there is anything worse, in this world, than a legalistic
spirit. Legalism comes about when we get caught up in traditions without
understanding the reason for the tradition.

It matters very little now that women wear pants or cut their hair or wear
makeup. They are generally not making a statement endorsing habitual sin
when they wear pants, cut their hair or wear makeup.

It is not true that women did not cut their hair until the 20's. it is true,
however, that the majority of women did not cut their hair before the turn
of the 20th century. However, some professional women (and I'm not talking
about prostitutes) cut their hair because it interfered with their work or
the hair was hard to maintain and keep clean. Consider some nurses that
worked in the civil war time. Some of them cut their hair. They weren't
thought to be harlots or adulterers. They used common sense.



-----Original Message-----
From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2011 9:30 AM
To: for the discussion of faith and religion Faith-talk
Subject: [Faith-talk] hair, modesty and Christian living

Hi all,
Interesting  what Joshua said in two threads. I'm combining them as I think
hair/modesty is a separate thread from the mennonites or Wesley thread.
I know the Bible teaches modesty but that can mean different things to
different people. Also, most women follow cultural norms so we can live in a
secular society and make a living. So even if women didn't wear pants, they
do in the 21th century because its business casual, more comfortable than
skirts or dresses, and of course much easier to put on and wash. 

I can understand the makeup and not wearing pantss, but not cutting hair is
impractical.


Anyone else found the hair reference and know any women who don't cut hair?
Joshua said,
"Women didn't ever cut their hair, until the 1920's.
This was when "Bobbed Hair," became popular."

and then said




"The Church of England, was Calvinist, (reformed.) The Wesleys taught
holiness.
Women didn't cut their hair, wear makeup, or pants.
They still don't."

I don't know anyone following Wesley who doesn't cut hair. Yes I agree Wesly
preached holiness and modesty. But not sure on the hair specifically.


To me modesty means things like not showing too much, not wearing tank tops,
having nice manners, and being generous. I do wear some jewelry, but I don't
get too fancy; I don't think I overdue it. just a solid colored bracelet or
earrings.

Ashley
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