public beaches and pools.

[LightBound]

Old thread. Enough in the archives on this heated and personal opinion topic.

 

[Monica4316]

Agree with this. I find one piece suits, or more modest two-piece suits, much more “suitable”

Agreed. But modesty in men and in women are manifested in different ways.

Agreed. Though I suppose its better that these people are in church than not in church, even if they are ignorant of their immodesty

Were Adam and Eve immodest? Did they deny their humanity? Public nudity has its place and is not inherently sinful. It becomes sinful only when it becomes lustful and sexual.

The whole body is an “area of erotic activity”. The ankles were considered highly sexual and immodest before. I’m not saying there are no boundaries. I am saying that that is kind of arbitrary. It’s not about a part of the body, it’s about the reactions and temptations they would cause in our given society. I find nothing overtly-sexual about a woman in regular-sized shorts.

Agreed.

Agreed.

If you find shorts modest have you wondered if its just because we as a society have become desensitised to immodesty? A Pope last century said modesty must be evaluated based on a virtuous society.

I once came across a quote in a moral theology book that discussed modesty and what is immodest, because of how that would affect concupiscence. Showing upper legs was listed as a grave offense against modesty - not venial. Consider how modesty should be evaluated based on the most virtuous society. I’m sure any Saint would be horrified seeing the fashions today.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

The problem is that the definition of modesty varies so much between cultures and eras. It’s hard to have a universal definition of it.

 

[Memaw]

Maybe I misinterpretted, but you seemed to agree with the poster whose neighbor makes everyone wear shorts and tee-shirts in the pool…

I think you got my posts confused. I do think in ones own home pool, they can set the guidelines. I did so with my sons friends and the kinds of shirts they wore when they came to our house as I had younger kids to think of and some of those shirts were horrible. They either turned their shirts wrong side out or went home. Most agreed to not wear them when they came over. My other comment was on the Adam and Eve remark, Thanks God Bless, Memaw

 

[Lea101]

If you find shorts modest have you wondered if its just because we as a society have become desensitised to immodesty? A Pope last century said modesty must be evaluated based on a virtuous society.

I once came across a quote in a moral theology book that discussed modesty and what is immodest, because of how that would affect concupiscence. Showing upper legs was listed as a grave offense against modesty - not venial. Consider how modesty should be evaluated based on the most virtuous society. I’m sure any Saint would be horrified seeing the fashions today.

Modesty honestly varies a lot in different societies. It cannot be simply explained. I’m of Indian ethnicity, and our saris usually show our midriff. It’s not considered immodest, but if I were to wear short shorts, my Indian relatives would start foaming at the mouths! Doesn’t make much sense, does it? Especially since the midriff and upper thighs are both considered immodest for a lot of people in the west

People in cultures where women don’t reveal anything are more sensitized to a body part. There are men who impose the burqa or the niqab because apparently revealing the face was too much for them.

That is not to say that showing the face is wrong. Modern fashion obviously was the result of desensitization (think women who found the bikinis scandalous but now it’s normal), but I don’t think it is to say that showing a certain region is inherently wrong.

 

[Memaw]

Modesty honestly varies a lot in different societies. It cannot be simply explained. I’m of Indian ethnicity, and our saris usually show our midriff. It’s not considered immodest, but if I were to wear short shorts, my Indian relatives would start foaming at the mouths! Doesn’t make much sense, does it? Especially since the midriff and upper thighs are both considered immodest for a lot of people in the west

People in cultures where women don’t reveal anything are more sensitized to a body part. There are men who impose the burqa or the niqab because apparently revealing the face was too much for them.

That is not to say that showing the face is wrong. Modern fashion obviously was the result of desensitization (think women who found the bikinis scandalous but now it’s normal), but I don’t think it is to say that showing a certain region is inherently wrong.

Lets don’t forget the Blessed Mother said at Fatima in 1917, that Fashions will be introduced that will OFFEND My SON greatly!!! And here we are!!!
God Bless, Memaw

 

[patricius79]

As a recent convert to the Roman Catholic Church I have learned a lot about the " THE NEAR OCCASION OF SIN " and it occurs to me that a man of normal drives and appetites should avoid all contact with areas of public bathing. Beaches and pools.

Am I correct?

I would think it depends on the situation (for example, is there a reason one needs to be there?), intentions, and the psychological and spiritual maturity of the person.

But whenever one is tempted with lust, one can repeatedly call out to Mary. Her name is the symbol of chastity, and has great power to preserve us from sins of lust and to make us grow in holiness. I love her name very much. It is the the purity of the soul. Her name is the breath of my life and soul.