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Pariah_Pirana
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Catholics and Protestants dressed alike until at least the middle 1960’s.
Why do Protestants dress better (or more formal) on average than Catholics?
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Pariah_Pirana
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I sorta doubt it, given that both Catholics and Protestants dressed about the same until the 1960’s.
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chicago
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When I speak about times past, I don’t mean 1920, I mean 1720. Or 1520. Or 1020. Pre-Victorian and Pre-Calvin days.
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Jo_s_Dad
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I was raised protestant and am just now beginning studying the Cathachism to join the Catholic church, but 2 of my closest friends (indeed brothers) are Catholic as is my Aunt and her family, so I’ve been to a few parishes as well.
Generally, in the Protestant churches, it is considered disrespectful to attend Church in anything less than the best you own. That’s not to say you should wear a prom dress or Tux, but dignified. This also leads to a problem of taking things too far though, We’ve left a couple of Baptist churches because some of the women turned Sunday into little more than a fashion show. (but the men don’t usually seem to do this for some reason).
Now here in the South, and from the few parishes I’ve attended Mass at, I’ve never really seen a difference in dress between Protestants and Catholics.
This seems to be changing among the younger crowd though. On the website of one of our parishes downtown under “Church Etiquette” the pastor writes:
Remember the time when people put on their “Sunday best” to go to church? In fact, dress clothes were often referred to as Sunday clothes in some parts of the country. Too often, dress in church has become very casual. In all areas of our lives, we should offer Christ our best, and the same is true of our dress. We should dress modestly, not in a flashy way that would bring attention to ourselves. Our dress should always be becoming of a Christian - especially at church. - Rev. Msgr David LeSieur
Another thing though, in a Protestant Church, if you show up in blue jeans and sneakers, someone WILL pull you aside and asky you why your dressed this way.
The Catholic parishes seem to just be happy you came
Generally, in the Protestant churches, it is considered disrespectful to attend Church in anything less than the best you own. That’s not to say you should wear a prom dress or Tux, but dignified. This also leads to a problem of taking things too far though, We’ve left a couple of Baptist churches because some of the women turned Sunday into little more than a fashion show. (but the men don’t usually seem to do this for some reason).
Now here in the South, and from the few parishes I’ve attended Mass at, I’ve never really seen a difference in dress between Protestants and Catholics.
This seems to be changing among the younger crowd though. On the website of one of our parishes downtown under “Church Etiquette” the pastor writes:
Remember the time when people put on their “Sunday best” to go to church? In fact, dress clothes were often referred to as Sunday clothes in some parts of the country. Too often, dress in church has become very casual. In all areas of our lives, we should offer Christ our best, and the same is true of our dress. We should dress modestly, not in a flashy way that would bring attention to ourselves. Our dress should always be becoming of a Christian - especially at church. - Rev. Msgr David LeSieur
Another thing though, in a Protestant Church, if you show up in blue jeans and sneakers, someone WILL pull you aside and asky you why your dressed this way.
The Catholic parishes seem to just be happy you came
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Blanka
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I think you hit the nail on the head with the above statement. But there also seems to be an element of the church being a social environment so Protestants dress to “fit the occasion” just like one wouldn’t attend a dinner party in jeans. I was raised Protestant and I can clearly remember wearing my Sunday dress, hat and gloves as a child in the 60’s. My father always wore a suit and my mother wore a nice dress and gloves. As a child, it gave me a sense that church was a special place. However, as a teenager I came to realize that the Protestant church was more social and I didn’t really feel a connection to God there. My first venture into a Catholic church in the 70’s was to see people kneeling in prayer before mass and though the people were dressed more appropriately than they are today, I still noticed a man in a work uniform (as though he was coming or going to work) and this left quite an impression on me. I realized that the Catholic Church welcomed the man whether he was dressed in his “Sunday best” or not.
Today there seems to be a lack of concern for the dignity of the Church and the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Our priest has tried to suggest that people need to dress more modestly. But it goes over their heads…girls still come to mass with midriffs showing, short skirts, and tight fitting clothing. Boys wear tee shirts with wild sayings on them.
To answer the original question, Protestants do seem to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy even if it is due more for reasons of social decorum than for having the Eucharist as we do. Just imagine if Protestants believed in the real presence! They might attend church in formal attire!!
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Exodus15
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I attended a Mormon meeting and noticed most all the boys and men dressed in white shirts and slacks. My Mormon friend who invited me says it’s the residual efect of thier missionary work… I was dressed in “business casual” attire and I knew I stood out.
My parish is located in a beach community and the dress reflects the lifestyle… Depending on the Mass (we have four) you’ll bound to see a wide range. I attend the Lifeteen Mass Sunday at 5pm. You’ll see people who are in their casual wear and sometimes look like they’ve just walked from the beach. What’s important is they come to church with faith, participate in communal prayer and share in the Eucharist.
Much Blessings
I was dressed in “business casual” attire and I knew I stood out.My parish is located in a beach community and the dress reflects the lifestyle… Depending on the Mass (we have four) you’ll bound to see a wide range. I attend the Lifeteen Mass Sunday at 5pm. You’ll see people who are in their casual wear and sometimes look like they’ve just walked from the beach. What’s important is they come to church with faith, participate in communal prayer and share in the Eucharist.
Much Blessings
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Pariah_Pirana
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You’ve sent-up another straw-man argument. Dressing well for the Mass and actually attending Mass are obviously not mutually exclusive. Your straw-man suggests that they are and that is most pernicious.
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Exodus15
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Pariah Pirana, pernicious ? Pretty Harsh!!! The premise of your thread is a fashion statement relating to different faiths… What’s next, Fashion Police as Greeters? NOT!! That would be pernicious.
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dlloyd
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I can’t find anything in the bible or the catechism (mind you, I’ve not finished that yet) indicating a dress code.
There’s stuff about dressing modestly and stuff about not judging people based on the clothing they wear to church, even if it’s shabby.
I suspect that if anyone were to get upset about others wearing jeans and a t-shirt to church, the problem lies with the person who is scandalised rather than with the person who is wearing jeans.
There’s stuff about dressing modestly and stuff about not judging people based on the clothing they wear to church, even if it’s shabby.
I suspect that if anyone were to get upset about others wearing jeans and a t-shirt to church, the problem lies with the person who is scandalised rather than with the person who is wearing jeans.
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STIOFAN
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dsproule
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What’s funny is that we actually have Christ in our church. In the Body and Blood. We pull Him out of the Tabernacle. Protestants don’t. However, I agree about them being more formal. When dressing my child for church, I simply put on what is clean and neat, maybe jeans and a tee-shirt. He still looks very handsome, but my sister-in-law, a Protestant, sends her children (my brother has to take them to Catholic mass without her) like they are going for school pictures. Dress shirts, kahki’s, brown leather shoes. All the children look equally wonderful, but hers do look different. However, my husband would never dream of wearing jeans to church.
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Pariah_Pirana
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Your comments are quite telling.
Rather than take a stab at answering my question - “Why do Protestants dress better (or more formal) on average than Catholics?” you asked inane questions about biblical dress codes and the wearing of jeans/t-shirts.
Quite telling indeed…
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Pariah_Pirana
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Interesting how some parents would dress their kids better for picture day, than coming in direct contact with Jesus Christ at the Mass.
I’m still curious. I wonder why your sister-in-law dresses her kids up to a higher level than the rest of the parents? That’s very interesting…
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Pariah_Pirana
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You are wrong.
I asked “Why do Protestants dress better (or more formal) on average than Catholics?” This has nothing to do with “fashion.”
It also has nothing to do with “Fashion Police as Greeters” – that was your own odd addition.
Straw-dog arguments are always misleading and often pernicious.
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dlloyd
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Pariah Pirana:
My post was not intended as a direct reply to your original question, more as a general comment on some of the replies in the thread.
Perhaps some background might be helpful. I’m a lapsed christian (Anglican) and after a pretty amazing personal revelation, I’ve decided to return. I’m not sure where I’m returning to… but after a lot of thought and reading, I suspect it’s the Catholic Church. Many years away from christianity, I’m a bit out of touch. I’ve never even been in a Catholic church. But it sounds like I wouldn’t be accepted were I to pluck up the courage to go along anyway.
You misunderstand me.
My post was not intended as a direct reply to your original question, more as a general comment on some of the replies in the thread.
Perhaps some background might be helpful. I’m a lapsed christian (Anglican) and after a pretty amazing personal revelation, I’ve decided to return. I’m not sure where I’m returning to… but after a lot of thought and reading, I suspect it’s the Catholic Church. Many years away from christianity, I’m a bit out of touch. I’ve never even been in a Catholic church. But it sounds like I wouldn’t be accepted were I to pluck up the courage to go along anyway.
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Lisa_N
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Just my two cents worth as a recent convert who has been involved with several ecumenical organizations and attended a number of Protestant churches. Overall I would say that Protestants seemed less likely to show up in jeans, shorts, flip flops, or tee shirts with wierd slogans than the kind of attire I’ve seen attending mass.
It’s not so much a fashion show as wearing ‘churchy clothes.’ Lots of men in suits, women in dresses or skirts. I really didn’t see women trying to outdo each other. The dress seemed pretty conservative. If anyone was in jeans it was a kid or a teen. At mass we have ushers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers who are in shorts or jeans and tee shirts which sorta surprises me. Even if you don’t dress up for mass, it would seem if you were part of the services, you’d take the time to put on slacks and a shirt or sweater.
Someone mentioned African Americans dressing up and that was also my experience. My former UMC had several large extended families (parents, grandparents, kids, aunts, uncles) and they arrived for church every Sunday looking like a million bucks. The girls all had ribbons in their hair and the boys were in slacks and white shirts. The women always had on a nice hat and never wore slacks, much less jeans.
I suspect it’s sort of ‘monkey see monkey do.’ If you attend a parish where the dress is very casual, then I suspect people will observe this dress code and follow along. If you are in a downtown cathedral, maybe the dress is a bit more formal.
Obviously generalizations limited to my experience but I’d definitely say the Catholics tend not to dress up for mass but I don’t know why other than people have just become more casual everywhere (we see jeans at the symphony or ballet as well)
Lisa N
It’s not so much a fashion show as wearing ‘churchy clothes.’ Lots of men in suits, women in dresses or skirts. I really didn’t see women trying to outdo each other. The dress seemed pretty conservative. If anyone was in jeans it was a kid or a teen. At mass we have ushers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers who are in shorts or jeans and tee shirts which sorta surprises me. Even if you don’t dress up for mass, it would seem if you were part of the services, you’d take the time to put on slacks and a shirt or sweater.
Someone mentioned African Americans dressing up and that was also my experience. My former UMC had several large extended families (parents, grandparents, kids, aunts, uncles) and they arrived for church every Sunday looking like a million bucks. The girls all had ribbons in their hair and the boys were in slacks and white shirts. The women always had on a nice hat and never wore slacks, much less jeans.
I suspect it’s sort of ‘monkey see monkey do.’ If you attend a parish where the dress is very casual, then I suspect people will observe this dress code and follow along. If you are in a downtown cathedral, maybe the dress is a bit more formal.
Obviously generalizations limited to my experience but I’d definitely say the Catholics tend not to dress up for mass but I don’t know why other than people have just become more casual everywhere (we see jeans at the symphony or ballet as well)
Lisa N
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dsproule
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Pariah Pirana:
It is very interesting. All for show…All for show. Some parents are like that I guess. It would be nice though if she would come with my brother and his family, rather than (as she puts it) “having a nice hour and a half to herself”.
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Exodus15
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Dloyd- Don’t let the opinion of one person sway you from investigating our Church. You’ll be suprised by the friendliness of the parishoners and the openess and inclusiveness of our Church. There are a few people who espouse their own agenda as doctrine or gospel and are especially misguided regarding the teachings of the Church, especially the sweeping interpretations of Vaticvan II. Much blessings on your journey. May the Holy Spirit be with you and your family.
BTW in Hawaii everyone dresses, well, Hawaiian
BTW in Hawaii everyone dresses, well, Hawaiian
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Robert_in_SD
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I have two thoughts on the matter:
(1) I don’t want to get too dressed up because I don’t want to appear to be "putting on airs’ when I go to mass. I think Catholics in general want to avoid looking “too dressed up” whereas traditional mainline Protestants don’t seem to have that problem. Of course, some of the newer “nondenom” churches are very casual.
(2) Location definitely affects the dress. I live in a beach town and our parish is flooded with vacationers during the Summer months. You definitely see people wearing shorts or "resort wear: more than you would in a non-vacation area. Protestants don’t experience this phenomonon because church - being “optional” does not result in the same influx of vacationing visitors.
Just my two cents. :twocents:
(1) I don’t want to get too dressed up because I don’t want to appear to be "putting on airs’ when I go to mass. I think Catholics in general want to avoid looking “too dressed up” whereas traditional mainline Protestants don’t seem to have that problem. Of course, some of the newer “nondenom” churches are very casual.
(2) Location definitely affects the dress. I live in a beach town and our parish is flooded with vacationers during the Summer months. You definitely see people wearing shorts or "resort wear: more than you would in a non-vacation area. Protestants don’t experience this phenomonon because church - being “optional” does not result in the same influx of vacationing visitors.
Just my two cents. :twocents:
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chicago
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In contemporary times, one has to wonder if there isn’t something of a familiarity breeding contempt scenario. To a Protestant, Sunday is “THE” big and special day. A Catholic might be thinking, "Well, yeah, I’m obliged to go to Mass on Sunday, but I can just be with God anytime, and there is even Mass available daily.
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