Role Of Dress In The Religious Organization

Religious ideologies regarding dress are based on religious organizations individual dogmas, who believe that your outwardly appearance should reflect your inner beliefs. Similarly, adhering to a strict code of dress, that symbolizes its group’s traditions and customs, also helps in controlling the body’s sexuality. Hunt-Hurst and Miller-Spillman (2012) stated that being “well-dressed (modestly) is a religious duty and not a personal preference” (p. 266). Dress in a matter of speaking is an outwardly symbol of religious identification and showing ones connectedness to their religious organization. Arthur (n.d.) believes “a group identity is projected through dress because people use self-presentation and self-promotion to visually present identity that is congruent with their belief systems” (Religion and Dress, para. 1). Since each religious organization perceives the role of dress, as it pertains to the expression of identity, differently one must also understand the basis of said religious organizations beliefs in order to comprehend how their beliefs mirror the role of dress. Islam is a monotheistic faith, one that believes in a single God, emphasizes submission to God or Allah, as well as the group over the individual. The Qur’an, the literal word of God, lays out the role of dress and its meaning for both men and women (Hunt-Hurst