When my 8th grade class took a field trip to St. Augustine (the oldest city in Florida), our school bus stopped at a historical graveyard that also featured a Catholic chapel with free rosaries. Being bumbling little 13-year-olds, we all excitedly threw the rosaries--pastel ones in yellow and baby pink--around our necks and scampered along with our
gratis jewelry. Until one Catholic classmate looked at us in horror.
"Take those off!" she yelled, "That's disrespectful! Those are for prayer, not for accessorizing!"
Ashamed, we took them off, not realizing we had committed such an offense. But it seems all too common today that
religious items are being appropriated for the style gods and worn by many in search of chicness, not ultimate truth.
It sometimes seem like people are confusing the chapel with their closets.
Celebrities are often photographed wearing cross necklaces and rosaries. Has a beaded cross become more of a trendy novelty than a deeply significant symbol?
Lord have mercy, it's David Beckham. :)
Rachel Ray was first attacked by the media when she wore a keffiyeh scarf (used to symbolize pro-Palestinian views) in a commercial for Dunkin Donuts. But since then, the keffiyeh--not necessarily a religious symbol, but has strong ties to the Arab community--has become the hottest hipster accessory, manufactured by huge chain stores and street vendors in NYC.
that's a loaded message, Urban!
90's flashback: remember when all the stars were sporting red Kabbalah bracelets? Madonna, Britney and Paris were fiercely devoted to their red strings, which purportedly showed their adherence to the mystical Jewish faith. But now that Kabbalah has become passe (at least for the celeb circuit), it's clear that the red bracelets were simply hot fashion accessories.
Perhaps the most recent spiritual style item is the Evil Eye, an Eastern symbol thought to ward off evil and sacred to many in Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. This motif has popped up on scarves and jewelry in Hollywood.
Rachel Ray, again with the controversial scarf! Maybe you should check out some simple Burberry plaid :)
Do you think it's offensive to wear religious items as accessories? Have you ever worn any of these items?
90's flashback: remember when all the stars were sporting red Kabbalah bracelets? Madonna, Britney and Paris were fiercely devoted to their red strings, which purportedly showed their adherence to the mystical Jewish faith. But now that Kabbalah has become passe (at least for the celeb circuit), it's clear that the red bracelets were simply hot fashion accessories.
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Comments (98)
people need to chill out.
some people are offended way too easily.
it's fine as long as you know what they mean (and don't mind propagating their message). but i wouldn't - because i don't believe any of those messages.
I love the idea of religion being fashion. You know, at least they're announcing their faith. ;D
Fashion doesn't care about what offends people.
As a Catholic, it does bother me when rosaries are worn simply as accessories. But then, I don't really know the people I see, so maybe they just like to keep them close, in case they feel the need for an impromptu Hail Mary.
well... it is abit offends some ppl... especially ppl who hav religious belief...
fashion... its okay but just dun wear it n say u dun belive its religious...
people should chill the fuck out.
it's not like they're purposely disrespecting people's faith or religion.
harmless fashion, in my honest opinion.
Regardless of whether or not you believe in the message behind the symbol that you're wearing, I can't help but think that HUGE crosses/stars/whatever with excessive amounts of jewels and sparkles and whatnot just looks tacky.
i wore the scarf (the one like urban outfitters) but had no idea it was regarding as religious items O_o
we just thought it looked good for those breakdancers that wrote it :X
I think it's fine.
Not all of them are wearing that stuff as "accessories."
Madonna is still way into Kabbalah, supposedly. (Based on her restrictions with her ex over what the kids can and can't have when they visit him.)
Jessica Simpson for ages sang in churches and did recordings for them growing up. Her "good girl" image associated with her religious background, it was speculated, was a big factor in her not gaining as much fame as Christina and Britney, since they came out around the same time.
Without knowing their (actual, personal) beliefs, I don't think it's really our place to pass judgment on them wearing things with religious connotations. Assuming they're not being totally disrespectful about it.
Not all of those people are wearing them as accessories. They really do symbolize their faith.
I can get why it upsets individuals but people need to take it easier. Really, moccasins are trendy now and I'm Native American. I'm sure I could skew that in my favor and make a huge deal out of that too. Anyone can with anything. Religion is not the only piece of an certain culture that has become "fashionable."
Another thing to note, a lot of things like gauges in ears and even tattoos have had extreme importance to certain cultures and they are nothing but fashion statements.
I don't think it's outright disrespectful unless you see...I don't know...a Hooters waitress wearing a cross or a playboy bunny, baring cleavage and all, sporting a rosary standing next to Hugh.
Sidenote: That didn't happen in the 90's. It was the earlier part of this decade.
nah, i don't like it.
i personally wear a chamsa everyday, which is the upside-down hand that symbolizes protection from the evil eye in both judaism and islam. while yes, it is a necklace, i wear it to show my strong belief if jewish values as well as for superstitious purposes. so no, it doesn't USUALLY bother me, however...
the fact that britney spears is wearing a jewish star in the picture of her REALLY irks me. she isn't even jewish!!!!
People have been wearing cross jewelry for quite awhile, and they aren't necessarily Christian.
Hahahahaa I bet Britney Spears doesn't even know that it's a jewish star. Stupid girl.
wouldnt that depends on how frequency they wear it? if you wear a cross every day or 3 times a week, you cant blame ppl that assume you as christian, though it doesnt mean much realli ~
if you know what it means, i dont see anything wrong with it.
I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic school as a child, though I do not consider myself part of any religion anymore. Though religious symbols may not be important to me anymore, I do understand that intense personal relationship with one's religion. And even now, I do get a bit offended when people wear rosaries as accessories. We were taught that the rosary was never to be worn, except by members of the clergy due to their close relationship with God. If it fell to the floor, we were told that we were supposed to kiss it. It is incredibly sacred in Catholicism. That said, from what I can tell (the resolution isn't great), Taylor Momsen and David Beckham are wearing rosaries, but Jessica Simpson is not. Her necklace is similar to a rosary, with the beads and everything, but there is supposed to be a separate string of five beads between the main string and the cross, which there doesn't appear to be. It's ironic, actually, because of the three, she's the only one who is known to be religious. Then again, she is probably familiar with the rule about not wearing the rosary. By the way, you're allowed to wear other necklaces with crosses on them (it's encouraged), just not the rosary.
Now, I am not very familiar with the other religions, but from what I understand, people who follow the Kabbalah faith are encouraged to wear the red string, and are not specifically told not to, as with the rosary and Catholics. (Side note: my research indicates that the red string is supposed to be warn on the left hand, so Paris Hilton is wearing it wrong.) Madonna is a practicing member of the Kabbalah faith, and when Britney Spears wore the string (which she wore on her left hand, like she's supposed to; see the "Everytime" video for proof), she was also a practicing member. And Kabbalah is also a type of Judaism, so it makes sense that Britney was wearing the Star of David, like many Christians wear cross necklaces.
I won't even bother commenting on the scarves, since this is the first time I knew that they were religious symbols. But I strongly believe that unless you're in costume for some reason (as an actor, for example), you should not wear anything with a strong religious connotation if you are not a believer of that faith. That is why I have not worn a cross necklace in years.
I think it's fine to wear the accessory if you're of the faith but it's weird if you're like "I'm a hardcore atheist" and then wear a cross or something. :l
I've heard it before, sadly.
I don't think it's disrespectful or something like that.
Well, I'm gothic, and many of my friend are wearing crosses, pentagramms and so on. In fact, even if they are not jewish,catholic or even satanist (I know no gothic that is satanist in fact), it's part of a culture more than a religion. Here in europe, catholic items are almost everywhere, and it's normal, since catholocism is here since more than 1700 years...
Many people wear a Fatma hand (a muslim symbol) because it is pretty, or gave a good "karma" if I dare say.
Without a religious background, many people takes those symbols because they are symbols of protection or things like that. It's a bit funny when considering the religion from they take it, but why not ? They don't burnt churches, they don't make bad things, just take a symbol out of a religion for personal reasons (being pretty or feeling cool is not a really fantatic one but it's one).
I also wear a cross (from Ireland) without being a catholic (I'm pagan but I have a catholic background because of my family). But I love this jewel. Because it is Irish, because there is an history behind it.I also have a cross made of gold with a pearl that I received during my "communion". I never wear it. It's a wonderfull jewel. But I can't wear it.
In fact, remember that the first symbol of catholicism was the Fish. and someone who wear a fish as jewelry (a fish made off silver of gold for example) won't be annoyed for that. I think that if the fish will have become the mere symbole of catholicism, I would wear one ! (now I could, it's impossible to find a jewel like that ^^)
And in fact, Triskle and other bretonish jewelry are so common, as well as tribal for tatoo and it's religious too. But who cares of those religions and beliefs? It's not as whidespread as "BIG" religions that are covering the entire world, so people have no problem to take their symbols.
Piercing are religious at the beginning (tongue for pre-american populations, nose for hindou...).
I personnaly don't care about who wear that or those symbols. Our lives are made of symbols.
I normally just give them a little history lesson on what they're wearing :). If anything, I'd rather people to know what they're wearing is a symbol for another culture that's important. They may think twice about what they string around their neck after that.
it can be. but in a right manner.
I think this topic should be reposted on Revelife for a better discussion.