The Secret of Modesty

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 04-27-16 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Tax-chick]

It’s still all about getting men to look at you and want sex with you, according to Msgr. Pope. He just proposes a different (and more moral) technique.

What about a woman’s being a person, rather than simply a potential object of sexual use?

[Bigg Red]

I think that you are missing the point of the virtue of modesty. The koranimals force their women to cover, but in a civilized society with Judeo-Christian values, women choose to treat their bodies with respect by covering them properly in public.

[papertyger]

What about a woman’s being a person, rather than simply a potential object of sexual use?

"Simply?"

Are you kidding?

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I'm not a fan of situational ethics in general, but this is a case where the method should be applied. The Catholic Church has never issued guidelines (individual bishops have made statements often on, but that doesn't carry a whole lot of weight, generally speaking) on what constitutes modesty. I used to read a traditional Catholic newspaper (can't remember which one), and they ran an article outlining "proper" attire for women, which consisted of, among other things, no sleeves shorter than a few inches above the elbow, no neckline lower than the pit of the throat, no pants at all and no skirts shorter than knee-length, no tan fabric no lace no...You get the idea. The next issue, there were more than a couple letters to the editor decrying the paper for suggesting women appear in such scandalously minimal attire. Meanwhile in tribal Africa, women go bare-breasted because boobs aren't viewed sexually in that culture.

I think the point of modesty is to avoiding cranking the engines of the opposite sex. Today, a girl in shorts that aren't *too* short and tight isn't going to turn on any guy but the most ardent sex-machine (who should probably sort out his own issues instead of expecting every woman around him to live in floor-length skirts).

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

And I'm not suggesting that modesty is entirely relative, or that cultural norms totally dictate what constitutes modest dress -- there is a strict minimum above total nudity that must be held to. But societal norms do play a role and how the sexes view each other. Ankle just isn't titillating.

One more thing...Modesty is almost always discussed in terms of how women should dress, but I know for a fact that if I appeared shirtless in public, no woman would be able to resist having inappropriate thoughts about the twisted-steel-and-sex-appeal on display.

[AZLiberty]

There’s a difference between choosing modesty and being forced to wear a burkha.

[dsc]

“I’m suggesting islam”

You are saying that modesty abused is proof that modesty lived reasonably is a bad thing.

There is nothing on Earth that Satan cannot bend to his own purposes. That does not mean that the things he twists are evil in and of themselves.

[EDINVA]

Did you bother to read the article?

“... modesty is a kind of middle ground that does not seek to burden women with excessive coverings but that also considers the needs of others, so as not to inflame passions and lust.”

[SIRTRIS]

>>>The koranimals force their women to cover

Respectfully, and why do they? Are they not following the “Islam is life” per the koranic teachings meaning men are superior, then why the restrictions on females only? Even in the ME islam with their modesty has not reduced groping, rapes, wife beating etc. In fact we are seeing a telling experiment of islam with muslims entering Europe causing rapes! Muslim males because of female attire can’t control themselves, seriously!?!? The solution is appeasement and all will be well? Let’s have a look at females per a sahih hadieth 1) deficient in intelligence & 2) deficient in religion. In the Koran, “females can not devise a plan...” ignorance but holy per their islam! Islam the so called PATH has already defined what is modesty. Watch how they will use our lack of modesty (ie religious freedom) to their standards against us!

[Beautiful_Gracious_Skies]

Never reveal or attract attention to more than one asset at the same time.

[bboop]

You don’t know? Are you married? Ask your spouse. Ask your mom. Ask your dad. And seek wisdom.

[Tax-chick]

You’re right. For “simply” in the foregoing post, substitute “with many complications.”

[John O]

Modesty is not relative, but it is very situational.

A bikini in church is very immodest. A regular biking on a beach full of women in string bikinis could be quite modest.

(I have a similar problem to you as to going shirtless. I try to never go shirtless on the beach as people keep trying to roll me back into the ocean!)

[dsc]

“I try to never go shirtless on the beach as people keep trying to roll me back into the ocean”

Luxury. In my day, they used to harpoon us—if we were lucky.

[Bigg Red]

I am not interested in “appeasing” the koranimals; I was merely trying to explain a virtue to you. There is nothing you have said that contradicts the explanation that I gave.