Is it a sin for women to wear bikinis?

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In general no.

It becomes a sin when a women where’s clothes- or lack there of- in order to make her body out as an object. Thus her intention for a wearing a bikini is important.
 
What kind of bikini, and where, and amongst whom?

These are my personal opinions:

If a bikini is being worn to attract attention to one’s body, or deliberately to excite lust, then I’d say it’s a sin.

If it’s being worn among a group of swimmers, most of whom are wearing bikinis, then it seems to be more of a uniform, and is probably not sinful. I’m talking about swimmers, not beachgoers or partiers who might also swim.

If it’s being worn by a pole dancer, then she is sinning, and the men who are watching sin even more.

Hope this helps,

Ruthie the modest
 
St. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said that women (and men!) should dress modestly. Ummm… I don’t think you could get much more immodest than a bikini! 😛 Seriously, could you possibly take away any more of the woman’s clothing? She’d be naked!

Look at how Mary dressed… I’m not saying women should go to that extreme anymore, but there’s a lesson to be learned from how Our Lady presents herself.
 
Well, it all depends upon where they are at the time. There is a time and place for everything.

In Church? Nope. You’re outta here on your ear!

On the beach? It’s probably perfectly okay, as long as it’s a real swim suit. A “bikini” that a woman cannot actually swim in for fear of “fallout,” :rolleyes: is undoubtedly way too risque to wear at all, unless she’s on her own fenced-in private deck, where she really wouldn’t need to wear anything at all, if she was looking to avoid suntan lines.

As long as the garment adequately covers the necessary parts a woman’s body (front and back), and doesn’t emphasize male ogling, I’d judge it to be morally acceptable. A bikini is actually sometimes more acceptable than some of the wilder “one-piece” suits.
 
Well, it all depends upon where they are at the time. There is a time and place for everything.

In Church? Nope. You’re outta here on your ear!

On the beach? It’s probably perfectly okay, as long as it’s a real swim suit. A “bikini” that a woman cannot actually swim in for fear of “fallout,” :rolleyes: is undoubtedly way too risque to wear at all, unless she’s on her own fenced-in private deck, where she really wouldn’t need to wear anything at all, if she was looking to avoid suntan lines.

As long as the garment adequately covers the necessary parts a woman’s body (front and back), and doesn’t emphasize male ogling, I’d judge it to be morally acceptable. A bikini is actually sometimes more acceptable than some of the wilder “one-piece” suits.
I agree with the last statement. I have seen some two piece suits that are more modest than other one-piece suits. I further agree that it depends on the situation; ultimately, the goal should be to NOT bring attention to ones self.
 
I think it is. There is really no reason to wear one–you can wear a one piece instead. There isn’t anything you can do in a one piece that you can’t do in a bikini.

I just don’t know what people’s standards are for modesty anymore…but the only thing I can think of is that only 100% nudity is completely immodest.
 
It’s not a sin, but it can be an occasion of sin, both for the woman wearing it (if she’s doing it to deliberately flaunt herself and incite lustful ogling) and for those who look upon her and lust after her.

Some great answers have already been provided; there are a number of different situations in which wearing a bikini can be without sin and totally sinful. Intention is a huge part of it.
 
It is certainly an occasion for sin. That is why I am never going to a beach again. I don’t want to see a bunch of young women running around in their underwear or in those stupid thong things.

God bless,
Ed
 
It is certainly an occasion for sin. That is why I am never going to a beach again. I don’t want to see a bunch of young women running around in their underwear or in those stupid thong things.

God bless,
Ed
I’m not so prudish that I don’t enjoy the sight of beautiful women at the beach; but if I want a class in anatomy, I’ll enroll at college. The sin lies in the viewer’s heart; if the viewer of a beautiful woman (or a super-studly guy) lets nasty thoughts accompany the sight, he needs to plunge and flush his mind in confession. But I see nothing wrong in appreciating the inherent beauty of a woman, any more than there is anything wrong with appreciating the beauty of a perfect rose-bud as it blooms into mature glory.

Many beaches at lakes around here near Chicago (Chain-O-Lakes area) won’t allow “cheeky” swim suits: the women’s butt-cheeks gotta be covered up. One mayor was getting queried about “how much needs to be covered” and he said “The law is word-specific. If you can’t understand it, our public library has dictionaries.” 😃

Now, in Chicago at Lake Michigan’s beaches, I have no clue. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/ponyguy/Shrug.gif

I can’t imagine that those thong bottoms could possibly be comfortable, with that string stuck between the wearer’s back cheeks… seems to me like it’d be having a constant atomic wedgie. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/ponyguy/yuk.gif
 
I’m not so prudish that I don’t enjoy the sight of beautiful women at the beach; but if I want a class in anatomy, I’ll enroll at college. The sin lies in the viewer’s heart; if the viewer of a beautiful woman (or a super-studly guy) lets nasty thoughts accompany the sight, he needs to plunge and flush his mind in confession. But I see nothing wrong in appreciating the inherent beauty of a woman, any more than there is anything wrong with appreciating the beauty of a perfect rose-bud as it blooms into mature glory.

Many beaches at lakes around here near Chicago (Chain-O-Lakes area) won’t allow “cheeky” swim suits: the women’s butt-cheeks gotta be covered up. One mayor was getting queried about “how much needs to be covered” and he said “The law is word-specific. If you can’t understand it, our public library has dictionaries.” 😃

Now, in Chicago at Lake Michigan’s beaches, I have no clue. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/ponyguy/Shrug.gif

I can’t imagine that those thong bottoms could possibly be comfortable, with that string stuck between the wearer’s back cheeks… seems to me like it’d be having a constant atomic wedgie. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/ponyguy/yuk.gif
I enjoy being a prude. I find it to be an agreeable alternative lifestyle. If a woman is beautiful, there is no need for her to run around in her underwear.

God bless,
Ed
 
I enjoy being a prude. I find it to be an agreeable alternative lifestyle. If a woman is beautiful, there is no need for her to run around in her underwear.
God bless,
Ed
A swim suit is not underwear. Some bikinis are definitely NOT swim suits. THAT’s where I draw the line. If I saw a woman walking on a beach to swim in an ankle-length dress, I’d judge her to be out of place… or out of her mind. A dress like that could drag her to the bottom of a lake and drown her. A properly proportioned two-piece swim suit offers the wearer a lot more flexibility to swim with less fatigue and physical stress.

Read my post #5 above where I clearly stated my viewpoint.
 
You haven’t looked at any recent covers of the Sports Illustrated “swimsuit” issue, have you?

God bless,
Ed
 
I’m not so prudish that I don’t enjoy the sight of beautiful women at the beach; but if I want a class in anatomy, I’ll enroll at college. The sin lies in the viewer’s heart; if the viewer of a beautiful woman (or a super-studly guy) lets nasty thoughts accompany the sight, he needs to plunge and flush his mind in confession. But I see nothing wrong in appreciating the inherent beauty of a woman, any more than there is anything wrong with appreciating the beauty of a perfect rose-bud as it blooms into mature glory.
In all due respect, I disagree with you. I am a woman and I am telling you most women wear bikinis out of pride and vanity, both of which are sins. It is uncharitable to wear bikinis around men. Modesty is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Bikinis are not modest, not now, not ever. Do you honestly think the Holy Spirit wants you to go around wearing clothing that highlights your breast and butt and leaves you 90% naked?

You can swim in a one piece just fine.
 
Question: Do you believe that most of the women on beaches wearing bikinis are sinning?
 
also that women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel

Paul 1 Letter to Timothy (RSV)
 
Catechism:

2521 Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their solidarity.

2522 Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. It encourages patience and moderation in loving relationships; it requires that the conditions for the definitive giving and commitment of man and woman to one another be fulfilled. Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet.

2523 There is a modesty of the feelings as well as of the body. It protests, for example, against the voyeuristic explorations of the human body in certain advertisements, or against the solicitations of certain media that go too far in the exhibition of intimate things. Modesty inspires a way of life which makes it possible to resist the allurements of fashion and the pressures of prevailing ideologies.

2524 The forms taken by modesty vary from one culture to another. Everywhere, however, modesty exists as an intuition of the spiritual dignity proper to man. It is born with the awakening consciousness of being a subject. Teaching modesty to children and adolescents means awakening in them respect for the human person.

2525 Christian purity requires a purification of the social climate. It requires of the communications media that their presentations show concern for respect and restraint. Purity of heart brings freedom from widespread eroticism and avoids entertainment inclined to voyeurism and illusion.
 
Catechism:

2521 Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their solidarity.

2522 Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. It encourages patience and moderation in loving relationships; it requires that the conditions for the definitive giving and commitment of man and woman to one another be fulfilled. Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet.

2523 There is a modesty of the feelings as well as of the body. It protests, for example, against the voyeuristic explorations of the human body in certain advertisements, or against the solicitations of certain media that go too far in the exhibition of intimate things. Modesty inspires a way of life which makes it possible to resist the allurements of fashion and the pressures of prevailing ideologies.

2524 The forms taken by modesty vary from one culture to another. Everywhere, however, modesty exists as an intuition of the spiritual dignity proper to man. It is born with the awakening consciousness of being a subject. Teaching modesty to children and adolescents means awakening in them respect for the human person.

2525 Christian purity requires a purification of the social climate. It requires of the communications media that their presentations show concern for respect and restraint. Purity of heart brings freedom from widespread eroticism and avoids entertainment inclined to voyeurism and illusion.
Hence came the Burqua. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/ponyguy/Shrug.gif
 
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