anything, those who are in the business of selling unnecessary things search the world to find the most vulnerable and underpaid workers to make their wares, so they can keep more of the profits for themselves
I agree with this and that is why the focus needs to be on ensuring that workers are not exploited,rather than people being modest and not buying luxury/expensive stuff.
Ironically,it is the money from spending that will often achieve this.
I understand many businesses are greedy as mentioned,but look at this different example.
Just say you have a Jeweller who is just starting their business and has very little capital.
They pay someone in India or China to cut their gemstones as it’s the only option they can afford.As the Jeweller sets and then sells their luxury designs it helps both them and their Indian employee to grow financially.
If they are moral,then they will increase their employees wages as they both help each other.
If people were modest and didn’t buy this “luxury want and not need” neither of them would be helped.
Even with Christians,the Catholic religion does not say don’t be rich or spend.It says to those who much is given much is expected (towards the poor).
Referring to modesty in the way of dress not referring to skin-if it was immodest to wear silk clothing (expensive fabric) or expensive jewellery then wouldn’t the Pope and priests have said this?
I thought Lazarus and the rich man-The rich mans “crime” was not that he was dressed immodestly in luxury etc (linen was flashy back in the day) but rather that he didn’t help his poor brother?
Isn’t it only immodest if a person is wearing it with a flashy mindset?
Also,isn’t it somewhat subjective?You mentioned modesty in dress that not causes envy but who decides what “level” that is?
Ie:a Catholic from a poorer area Church if they went to a Catholic church in a richer area they might still feel envy because while the parishioners there may not be in Designer,they are still overall in more expensive looking clothes then that poor person can afford.
PetraG said:
It is to say that eliciting envy from others or seeking to put oneself above others is not one of them
Doesn’t this come down to intent and character though?Ie:there could be two people in the same “luxury” outfit and one has this character and one doesn’t.
Is the one that doesn’t still immodest?