head covering?

Question

Why do the Mennenites (and Amish) wear a head covering? I heard it is to show respect and submision to their husbands and to cover up their crown of glory (their hair).

Can anyone wear one?

If possible, pease include Scripture references.

Answer 1

You have to understand when this was written. Sometimes the things we read are meant for the ones that were being taught at that time and is not bound on everyone. In this case, the women at that time were considered property in certain countries, yea even today such is the case. The women of that day did wear veils to show that they were taken, and were in subjection to their husbands. The women wear the veils all the time. This however, is not the case today. Paul explains that while these things were done by women then, that this is not binding and that the church has no such custom today.

1co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God

It is up to you as to whether you wish to wear a covering or not. It is a matter of opinion.

Answer 2

Amish Head Coverings

Answer 3

Others here have cited 1 Corinthians 11, which is the basis for many women's covering. 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 says "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for all that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered." There is a bit more in that chapter which you might be interested in reading for yourself (verses 3-16): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2011;&version=9; (You can switch to modern English versions of the Bible on that site if you find the King James tough going.)

http://www.anabaptists.org/bh/t19.html gives a good, short, readable explanation of the symbolism of covering to many men and women:
"1. The woman's acceptance of man's leadership.
2. The purity that characterizes Christian living
3. The prayer-life of one who is serving Christ. "

For myself, I belong to a religion that accepts leadership in ministry from both men and women equally (I am a Friend -- a Quaker), and I do not accept #1 above. However, I do cover my head because of #2 and #3.

Covering simply helps me to live according to my beliefs rather than how people around me live and act. I am more mindful of what I say and do all day every day, I am more prayerful throughout the day, and I also feel more a sense of accountability to others for my actions because I am visually set apart as a religious person. (I was more likely to be sarcastic or judgmental, etc. before I started covering; now that I'm wearing my religion openly, it helps me "walk the walk", so to speak.) I know other women who cover because they were led to do so by God. I have not felt this leading personally; I simply find that it helps me do the other things that I _am_ led to do.

So if you feel led to cover, by all means, cover. If it helps you in your spiritual walk and that is your priority, then that's that. But if you don't know, my advice would be to go straight to the source: pray about it sincerely and openly, and you will be answered. That answer will beat Yahoo Answers any day. ;-)

Answer 4

I like women in jeans. It creates them look more home town like and it generally does not appear to be they are trying too much but if you're looking to get this guys attention, this may not be what you would like

Answer 5

I really do enjoy wearing long skirts once in a while. These are actually more comfortable than Skinny jeans and also not as hot to wear.

Answer 6

Covering of head is being practiced in every part of the world from ancient times. Now things are different. Women are ready to expose whichever they have.

Answer 7

LOL "Alex" beat me to it. There are many of us who do wear a headcovering who are not Mennonite or Amish. Myself included.

Answer 8

Head covering is a fairly common religious practice among the so-called “religions of the Book”: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. While the Amish/Mennonite communities have a particularly unique and identifiable head covering, head covering is practiced by other Christian groups, as well as by Jewish (mostly Orthodox) and Muslim believers.

Most Christians who practice head covering cite the authority of 1 Corinthians 11:3-16:

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

In some churches, Christian women cover their hair only during religious services. In other instances, women wear a covering at all times, since they are to be covered while praying, and the Bible enjoins believers to “pray without ceasing.” The wearing of a head covering can also be seen as an outward and visible sign of a woman’s obedience to and submission to the headship of her husband, as well as to the authority of god and the church.

In modern American practice, Christian women who wear head covering on a daily basis tend to be, but are not always, associated with a church that also encourages either "modest dress" (traditionally feminine dress, usually skirts and dresses, as opposed to pants) for women, or encourages actual plain dress similar to that worn by the Amish and Mennonite communities.

Styles of head coverings:

Among plain Christians, usually a white or black fabric cap. In obedience to the dictate of plainness, the cap is usually a solid color and bears no applied decoration, but the pleating and stitching can be very elaborate, as in the Swartzentruber Amish “smoked” prayer cap. Cap style and details may indicate whether the wearer is baptized or unbaptized, or whether she is married.

Other popular head coverings include caps, hats with all levels of decoration, scarves or mantillas, lace doilies pinned to the hair, bun covers or snoods, “bush” or “charity” style veils, shawls or turbans or a simple triangle scarf. The most popular colors for fabric coverings are black and white, but especially among younger women or those who are new to head covering, brightly colored fabrics and bandanas are often used. Orthodox Jewish women sometimes wear wigs to cover their real hair, and Muslim women may wear a fuller shawl or scarf which can also cover part, or all, of the face. Depending on the age of the wearer, the country where the wearer resides, and the degree of “plainness” expected in the wearer’s religious group, the head covering may be absolutely plain or may be brightly colored, heavily embroidered or bejeweled, or may be used to display jewelry, coins and other tokens of wealth or social class.

Until the 20th century, most women in America wore some sort of head covering, at least when outside the home. Although not necessarily religious in nature, caps and coverings were usually associated with female modesty and decorum. Caps and hats were often quite elaborately trimmed and were a fairly inexpensive way for a lady on a budget to show that her style was “up to the minute”. As hats became less fashionable, beginning in the 1960’s, head coverings became associated strictly with religious, rather than fashionable, sensibility. These days, the resurgence of interest in hats, headbands, and scarves makes some styles of covering less noticeable, but wearing a traditional prayer covering is still a very strong indication that the wearer is very religious and very observant. Even if you cover or dress in a traditionally "plain" or "modest" fashion for reasons other than religious belief (voluntary simplicity, desire for modesty, concerns about social justice, etc.), you can confidently expect total strangers to come up to you and enquire what religious group you belong to.

For pictures/patterns/ordering your own head covering, I'm including some links in the "sources" section.

Answer 9

1 Corinthians 11. Hair covering is something all Christian women are supposed to do. You can email me if you want.