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An Honest And Civil Discussion On The Modesty & Bikinis


Cherie

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OnlySunshine

I am in complete agreement that bikinis are not modest. I cannot and will not fathom ever buying one and wearing one. I hate going to the beach or a water park and seeing young girls walking around in them. I always wear a swimdress that covers up my torso and does not show much cleavage at all. I have always been a prude and even my mom gets after me about it sometimes, but my views will not change. I think it is unnecessary for young girls and women to walk around showing so much skin. I look at it as walking around in your underwear and would you do that in public like you would a bikini? I imagine not.

My young adult group often has beach and swimming events in the summer and they always send a notice that "bikinis are forbidden" and only one-piece suits and tasteful two piece like tankinis with shorts are allowed. I'm glad they are worried about modesty. :)

This is the new swimsuit I bought right before we went to the water park in May:

[img]http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8313/44787117.jpg[/img]

I have a shorter torso, so it doesn't go down quite as much in the front. It sits right at the top of the sternum.

Edited by MaterMisericordiae
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[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1310239833' post='2265026']
[img]http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/8313/44787117.jpg[/img]

I have a shorter torso, so it doesn't go down quite as much in the front. It sits right at the top of the sternum.
[/quote]


In my opinion, in the bedroom with my imaginable husband, yes. But in public? Ouch.

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LuxChristi

[size="3"][font="Times New Roman"]This is my first post! [/font]J[font="Times New Roman"] I agree – the question of the appropriateness of bikinis must include a look into the moral law. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it speaks of modesty, which is under the Section titled “Battle for Purity” (2520-2527), and that modesty is essential to purity, covering what “should remain hidden” and being reserved "where there is a risk of unhealthfy curiosity". It also speaks of modesty as being "discreet" and is the inspiration to "one's choice of clothing". Most would agree, I think, that bikinis, by the scant covering provided, generally provoke an unhealthy curiosity. The CCC also speaks of “moral permissiveness”, which is the mistaken approach to our freedom within the moral law. Morality is not dictated by the textile industry or by fashion trends. Therefore, it is difficult to argue that bikinis (underwear with spandex added) fall into the category of modest clothing which shows restraint and discretion, providing a sufficient covering to what should remain hidden. [/font][/size]




[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1310215701' post='2264928']
I don't believe it is modest for Catholic or any Christian woman to wear a bikini. Via a Facebook friend, I found this video of Jason Evert addressing that very issue and I thought it was great, so I posted this video on my own page:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtzIcz7MOkc[/media]

You'd be amazed the flurry of comments from good Catholic people I know, both public and private, saying that they wear one or disagree with me--but they never really say why. I am always shocked to see good Catholic women I know who post pictures and lo and behold, they're wearing a bikini. It's disedifying at best, really.

I truly don't understand how a Catholic woman can defend wearing one. Seriously - I wanted to "push the issue" and ask those defending it, "WHY do you believe it's ok to wear one? Do you think it's modest? Or do you just not care about modesty?" but I didn't think that was a good thing to do. So my husband and I had a conversation about it, and he tried to play devil's advocate, saying things like modesty is subjective, and that for some tribes in Africa or wherever, women don't even wear shirts and it's not a "sexual" thing, either, it's just the culture ... that it's so commonplace that it's not as sexualized anymore and standards of modesty change over the years, so it's not a problem nowadays where it would have been a problem when it was first introduced ... that hardly any Catholic follows the Vatican guidelines for modesty given a number of years ago (in the early 60s? 50s? Don't remember when it came out but it's true that even "modest" people don't follow those guidelines anymore, like "no shirts lower than two finger widths below the collarbone" and that shirt sleeves should reach the elbow) which means the standards must have changed even according to the Vatican... and that just as kneeling is more reverent for Western Catholics and standing is more reverent for Eastern Catholics, there are some outfits that are modest for some cultures that aren't modest for others (remember he doesn't really believe these things he was just trying to use arguments that others might use). I said things like yes, what I wear today isn't considered "modest" in Saudi Arabia, but in Saudi Arabia they go to the [i]other[/i] extreme -- we're supposed to go down the "via media" ... meaning not too far to the left and not too far to the right: extremes either way are bad. But that there ARE objective standards for modesty - and that basically wearing underwear in public (which is a bikini) can never be considered a modest option, and therefore is not an acceptable option for a Catholic woman.

I would love to engage in civil discussion about this, because I truly don't know how a Catholic woman can defend the practice of wearing a bikini and I really would like to be enlightened about that. If you have any opinions or know why people defend it or even want to defend it yourself, please let me know. I really appreciate it, y'all! :like:
[/quote]

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Do guys have to be modest too? I often hear guys retort with a joke like "lol there's nothin' sexy about my beer gut hanging out over my swim shorts so I doubt I'm tempting anyone lol" but I guess some women could use the same argument (myself included :sad2:). But is it ok for men to walk around half-naked but not ok for women? And why?

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Brother Adam

[quote name='Ice_nine' timestamp='1310242320' post='2265036']
Do guys have to be modest too? I often hear guys retort with a joke like "lol there's nothin' sexy about my beer gut hanging out over my swim shorts so I doubt I'm tempting anyone lol" but I guess some women could use the same argument (myself included :sad2:). But is it ok for men to walk around half-naked but not ok for women? And why?
[/quote]

I don't think women want to see a gut hanging out over shorts anyway (or other men). :) Men can be immodest in their swimwear, however there is a biological difference between men and women.

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I think if Adam and eve can get by with fig leafs, I'll be fine with swimshorts and bikinis.

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Basilisa Marie

[quote name='Ice_nine' timestamp='1310242320' post='2265036']
Do guys have to be modest too? I often hear guys retort with a joke like "lol there's nothin' sexy about my beer gut hanging out over my swim shorts so I doubt I'm tempting anyone lol" but I guess some women could use the same argument (myself included :sad2:). But is it ok for men to walk around half-naked but not ok for women? And why?
[/quote]

It depends. I would argue that it's not okay for guys to run around in swim trunks and no shirt in order to attract the ladies, just like women who sunbathe in skimpy clothes to get stares from guys. But I don't see the harm in a guy going shirtless in the water and then covering up once he gets out. Guys get left out of most modesty talks because women aren't as visually motivated, but it's important to note that just because we aren't AS visually motivated, doesn't mean we AREN'T. It's harder for men to have clean thoughts about a woman in a bikini than a woman to have clean thoughts about a man in board shorts. But those "eye candy" sections of "girly magazines" with shirtless, muscular men sell for a reason. So yeah, I'd argue that men should throw a shirt on most of the time, but if they're coming out of the water or something similar, it's not a big deal.

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[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1310243894' post='2265047']
Adam and Eve were married.
[/quote]

so only married people get to wear bikinis... loud and clear!


or can they also wear fig leafs to the beach? not practical, but oh so fashionable :P

Edited by Jesus_lol
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Basilisa Marie

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1310243894' post='2265047']
Adam and Eve were married.
[/quote]

AND there wasn't anyone else around to gawk at them. :)

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MissScripture

[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1310244511' post='2265049']
It depends. I would argue that it's not okay for guys to run around in swim trunks and no shirt in order to attract the ladies, just like women who sunbathe in skimpy clothes to get stares from guys. But I don't see the harm in a guy going shirtless in the water and then covering up once he gets out. Guys get left out of most modesty talks because women aren't as visually motivated, but it's important to note that just because we aren't AS visually motivated, doesn't mean we AREN'T. It's harder for men to have clean thoughts about a woman in a bikini than a woman to have clean thoughts about a man in board shorts. But those "eye candy" sections of "girly magazines" with shirtless, muscular men sell for a reason. So yeah, I'd argue that men should throw a shirt on most of the time, but if they're coming out of the water or something similar, it's not a big deal.
[/quote]
And guys should NEVER EVER WEAR SPEEDOS! EVER. AT ALL. *shudders*

[quote name='Jesus_lol' timestamp='1310244563' post='2265050']
so only married people get to wear bikinis... loud and clear!


or can they also wear fig leafs to the beach? not practical, but oh so fashionable :P
[/quote]
:rolleyes:

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[quote name='Ice_nine' timestamp='1310242320' post='2265036']
Do guys have to be modest too? I often hear guys retort with a joke like "lol there's nothin' sexy about my beer gut hanging out over my swim shorts so I doubt I'm tempting anyone lol" but I guess some women could use the same argument (myself included :sad2:). But is it ok for men to walk around half-naked but not ok for women? And why?
[/quote]
both my son (2 years old) and my daughter (4 years old) wear swim shorts and a swim shirt. i also got a hand-me-down one piece for daughter that fits nicely.

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Lilllabettt

I use splashgear, its great.

If you are uncomfortable going so over-the top with coverage, I recommend [url="http://modestsea.com/yasmin"]Modest Sea[/url] ... it is modest swimwear but it is actually DESIGNED to be eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing.

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[quote name='Lilllabettt' timestamp='1310245304' post='2265059']
I use splashgear, its great.

If you are uncomfortable going so over-the top with coverage, I recommend [url="http://modestsea.com/yasmin"]Modest Sea[/url] ... it is modest swimwear but it is actually DESIGNED to be eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing.
[/quote]
:blink:

they're proud of their stuff, huh?

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