religion, environment, and clothes

[Bob S.]

I am not sure how to look this up on the internet, so I am wondering if anyone here has any comments regarding this topic.

I was wondering if there was any connection to how clothing is seen religiously and the climate of the area that it was built up. Take Islam for instance, I can see the need for head coverings for shade in the desert heat. Burkhas and veils could be useful during sandstorms. Even the beards and mustaches would be helpful to keep sand out of the mouth.

In the Amazon, it is hot and rainy, so clothes would have been seen as negative.

Anyone know anything about this topic?

Bob S.

[jon71]

I don't about putting religion in the mix but environment certainly impacts things. Before Europeans and their N. American descendants started running around trying to "clothe the heathens" it was a simple matter of temperature. The closer to the equator you got the less clothes people wore, in some cases very close to nothing at all, and the closer to the poles you got the more clothes you wore. That's just common sense. Being "fully dressed" in the topics is just as ridiculous and going naked in the arctic circle. Of course there were those without common sense and sadly they had to "share" that with all the poor people who ran around half naked.

[nimrod]

This is something I have pondered also. I do not know the answer, but it seems to make sence that there is some sort of connection to environment and the clothes worn to protect yourself finding itself into religion. The hows and whys as to it happening is what eludes me.

[Bob S.]

jon: "I don't about putting religion in the mix but environment certainly impacts things."

Because in the ancient days, religions leaders were usually the society leaders as well so you couldn't separate the two laws.

This also ties in with what is considered Kosher. There was probably a health reason for some of the Kosher laws, but they became religious laws. Same with laws deeming people unclean after handling the dead.

Bob S.

[ThalUtat]

Originally Posted by Bob S.

I was wondering if there was any connection to how clothing is seen religiously and the climate of the area that it was built up.

I am frequently amazed how often we assume that religion is something that imposes itself upon human societies instead of making the intuitive observation that human societies develop religious structures in response to human need.

Scholors working on how and why societies develop religions in the way that they do include Mary Midgely and Mircea Eliade and I recommend their wrintings. Midgely's Evolution as a Religion: Strange Hopes and Stranger Fears and Eliade's The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion are particularly edifying.

Typing this I'm reminded that so many things we take for granted as religious custom are more often social conventions which are designated as "religious." Two instances I think of immediately are the Christmas Tree and, distressingly, clitoridectomy. The New Testiment does not reference an evergreen as being emblematic of Jesus' birth, yet most of put them up in our home, some even sacraficing a living tree for the sake of Christmas, even those who profess not to believe! The Qur'an does not demand girls have their clitorises removed, yet many Muslims, mostly in Africa, inflict this mutilation on their daughters as if Islam demanded it. These are both practices developed in Pre-Christian and Pre-Islamic (respectively) shamanistic or tribal traditions, yet have been absorbed by the more modern traditions.

Were I to come to a conclusion based on my own rantings, which I'm not inclined to do, I might explore how more modern religious traditions examine themselves regarding how practice is in concert with theology, but just thinking about how that would get measured accross traditions gives me a headache

Bill
Long Island

[David77]

Originally Posted by ThalUtat

I am frequently amazed how often we assume that religion is something that imposes itself upon human societies instead of making the intuitive observation that human societies develop religious structures in response to human need.

Human society creats god or gods and saints through a need for an all-powerful father figure as well as other influential heavenly personages so that humans can be granted what they ask for, and to protect them.

This is another example of "human societies develop religious structures in response to human need".

[inudist]

I took anthropology 101 in college a while ago and I do believe that early uses of clothing, skins, etc was discussed and studied. I think studying this subject would reveal much on the origins of clothing.

[bernardc]

In Papa nie Guinie there is a tribe called the Samba.They do wear clothes,but an integral part of their culture is when boys come off age(8-19) the are required to spend to spend time with elder boys age 16 and up in various ceremonies of felatio.They areto exerscise felatio on the older boys as to develope their own maturity and to rid themselves of their mothers milk,so nudity is acceptable.
In the Amazone,most tribes of the upper Xingo,eg yonomami,waura etc take pride in their nudity.Earlier years ago they were fully naked.They took pride in their nudity,and for all practical purposes it was better to be naked for comoflauge etc and ceremonies.
In central africa,some asssociated pimi tribes practice nidity,and others wear penis sheaths to give the impression of an enlarged penis,and their scrotums are exposed.
Traditional bushmen(San)strip naked when hunting.Other eastern tribes exchange male clothes for female clothes as tradition.
The kenyan tribes are semi clad,however kids are naked.Clothing depends on the culture and practicality.In the western world,clothes are a status symbol,which sucks any way.Originally,we were meant to be naked any way.Clothing is not because of religion,but because of body shame.Predisposed ideas are made by churches to outlaw freedom.Nudity is an honour,not a shame.But Porn has made it cheap!

[railman]

I am a practicing Catholic and participate in church activities and services but I see no problem in enjoying some time in the outdoors in a social nude environment. The sun, breeze and water on the nude body at the beach is very enjoyable.

[Bob S.]

Thal: "I am frequently amazed how often we assume that religion is something that imposes itself upon human societies instead of making the intuitive observation that human societies develop religious structures in response to human need."

Who would think that religion is something that imposes itself on society? How can it? People have to believe in a religion before they can agree with its laws. As I said previously, usually the religion acts as the glue that keeps the laws intact. They have to have a reason and that reason usually came out as religion.

Bob S.