My original point was that it is a means to control women and nothing more. If it were truly intended to keep thoughts pure, then both men and women would have the same requirements (yes, men have a dress code, but it is nowhere near as concealing as women's).
What if men and women's "weaknesses" or needs are not the same? Maybe what works well for one may not work well for the other?
But I certainly understand where you're coming from. If there were no subjugation involved and it were only about keeping thoughts pure, why shouldn't things be equal? Right?
What if men's and women's natures are a bit different?
You got me there, kind of. Pride is the worst of the seven deadly sins, but only when it is excessive and interferes with your thoughts and actions. My point was that having the qualities that define a 'Christian lifestyle' is something to be proud of, independent of religious code. It doesn't matter if the actions arise because of God's instructions, because mommy told you, or just because it seemed like a good idea at the time.
I'm a Muslim and not ashamed of it.
Keranu, I found something in the New Testament about it, the head covering for women to be specific.
1 Corinthians Chapter 2
The Bible here presents it as a symbol of authority of men over women, which Necromancer spoke out against earlier.
verse 10 : For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
verse 3: But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
This goes back to what I said earlier about Elijah Muhammad teaching us that women are supposed to be subordinate to men, and men are supposed to be subordinate to God. Here the Bible inserts Christ as an intermediary between man and God, which we accept, since Christ represents a perfect example for us on how to submit to the Will of Allah.
Interesting example of how to interpret something to hear just what you want to hear. Perhaps you should read a few more verses:
11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.
12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
I interpret the earlier verses to allude to the creation of man in God's image and the creation of woman from man's rib. In light of verses 11 and 12, how does it all imply that women are subordinate to man?[/QUOTE]
The head is the house of the mind, which controls the body, in God's ideal order of things.
When people submit to their lower desires, as with excessive sexual desire, God's order may be upset. God wants us, I believe, to condition ourselves so that our mind is dominant over our lower desires.
Verse 3, I believe, gives us God's order. Jesus, as I said above, represents to us a perfect example of oneness with God. For the rest of us, who aren't at Jesus' level, Jesus is "the way" for us to attain that Godly Mind.
Philippians 2:5The woman, in turn, gets the Godly mind through her man, who is following in the footsteps of Christ.
The chapter that you are quoting,
I Corinthians 11 is very explicit about women being subordinate to men in God's order.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man.
9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
I don't see it being implied that women are to be subordinate to men in God's order. It seems very clear.
You quoted verses 11 and 12:
11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.
12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
I interpret these verses, in part, as an explaination of God's order as it relates to men and women, and also a limitation and instruction on how to maintain God's order.
To give a concise (as I can) explanation: Christ cannot attain the mind of God without a woman, nor can man attain the mind of Christ without a woman. Woman cannot attain the mind of Christ without a man.
Men and women are not complete by themselves, we are taught. Rather, men and women are two different representations of the same original Essense, which is God. Islam, as taught by Elijah Muhammad, does not condone celibacy.
The Qur'An gives us some instruction on the relationship between men and women as well.
Qur'An 7:189 (Maulana Muhammad Ali translation): He it is Who created you from a single soul, and of the same did He make his mate, that he might find comfort in her...
Qur'An 4:34 (Maulana Muhammad Ali translation): Men are the maintainers of women...
I cite these to show the meaning of the Bible's statement that men and women are not independent of one another, in the Lord. Men and women have spiritual responsibilites to one another, we believe, and the fulfilling of these responsibilities is a key to unlocking the Godly mind within each and every one of us.
I want to say to everyone that none of my posts are intended to put anyone else down. Necromancer has asked me a question or questions and I'm doing my best to answer as best I can.