In a Western movie ( for example) the bad guy wears a black hat and the good guy's hat is white, ditto the the colors of their horses. This is leading me to other questions about religious garb, but I'll save those for later.
2007-12-03 06:03:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is a well respected book "The Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop. It will back up the following with much more detail.
The priesthood of Rome is modeled on the priesthood of Baal. When Babylon fell, the headquarters, or 'seat of Satan', was moved to Pergymos. After its demise, the Seat of Satan was moved to Rome. The priesthood fighting with Eliyah in the Scripture is described as wearing black to symbolize the death cult it was proclaiming. They wore the attire of women as Jezabel had commanded.
The following is taken from E-SWORD:
2Ki 23:5 - And he put down the idolatrous priests,.... The Cemarim, so called, because they wore black clothes, as Kimchi and others, whereas the priests of the Lord were clothed in white linen; see Gill on Zep_1:4.
and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; that is, the priests of Baal, with the priests of the tribe of Levi, who sometimes tampered and officiated with them in idolatrous service; for the word "Chemarim" is translated "idolatrous priests", 2Ki_23:5 said to be put down by Josiah, in whose days Zephaniah prophesied; and must be the same with these, and it is used for such in Hos_10:5 so called, either from the black garments they wore, as some think; or from the colour of their faces, smutted with the smoke of the incense they frequently offered; or of the fires in which they sacrificed, or made the children to pass through to Molech. Hillerus (k) thinks they are the same with those heathen priests called "Phallophori"; deriving the word from one in the Arabic language, which has the signification of the "Phalli"; which were obscene images, carried about in an impudent manner by the priests of Bacchus, in the performance of his sacred rites: the carrying of them was first instituted by Isis, as Plutarch (l) says; and if this was the case here, it is no wonder they should be so severely threatened. Some take them to be a sort of servants or ministers to the priests of Baal, who waited on them at the time of service; and so are distinguished from them in this clause, taking the word "priests" in it to design the priests of Baal; and the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "the name of sextons with the priests". The word is used now by the Jews for Popish monks that live in cloisters; and Elias Levita (m) thinks these here are so called from their living in such like recluse places. The Targum is,
"and the name of their worshippers with their priests;''
one and the other; priests of Baal, and apostate priests of the Lord; the worshippers of Baal, and those that attend upon his priests, shall all feel the weight of Jehovah's hand, and the lighting down of his arm with indignation.
The Chemarims - The black-robed priests of different idols. See the note on 2Ki_23:6. These were put down by Josiah.
2007-12-07 02:36:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Black has traditionally symbolized penitance and death to the world. The benedictine order also wears black and it is sometimes seen in the mass. Other religious garb also has symbolic meaning. A preist is to be totally commited to Christ and the Church.
2007-12-03 06:10:39 · answer #2 · answered by Ed H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What "cloth"? My brother and brother-in-law are both ministers and neither feel the need to dress up in a costume to prove it. If their actions as humans do not show them for who they are then what good are they to hide behind a "cloth". In the Old Testament the priests were given specifications for clothing to be worn during worship. That was the Old Law. Where in the New Law is there any mention at all of priestly garb? I think that they wear it just to show off.
2016-05-28 00:22:39 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Underneath the black is the pure white undergarment.
The white undergarment represents the eternal luminosity
and omnipresent light of God.
The black cassock represents 'dark matter' from which
this visible universe is fashioned.
Those who penned the scriptures also created certain
'rituals' that act as 'letters' to US, so that when we
understand them, we may receive their message and act
accordingly.
This process is one of the most powerful aspects of the
Christian Mysteries - whereby Divine Secrets are played
in front of people every day, but their selfishness makes
them deaf and blind to understanding them, that God may
reveal his glory.
Mk 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye
not? and do ye not remember?
Mt 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and
[their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they
have closed; lest at any time they should see with
[their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should
understand with [their] heart, and should be converted,
and I should heal them.
You can read more about Dark Matter by following the source list:
2007-12-03 08:31:11 · answer #4 · answered by the_metaphysician2001 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Different orders wear different colors for different reasons. Black is most common for priests for several reasons. 1) is is somber and humble, as opposed to flashy. 2) Many humble priests only own a couple of changes of clothes (particularly the Benedictines and Franciscans). Black does not show dirt, and is easily repaired and patched.
2007-12-03 06:19:47 · answer #5 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A priest told me that they wear black to symbolize that they have died to this life and live for Christ.
2007-12-04 04:41:40 · answer #6 · answered by sparki777 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It suits my hair, oh, and I'm really the bad guy
2007-12-03 08:21:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
why was John Paul II buried in his Santa suit?
http://www.janpawelii2.republika.pl/biografia/300px-John_Paul_II_funeral.jpg
2007-12-03 06:11:08 · answer #8 · answered by questionlady 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋