To think that very christian people often look different?

[notconvincedaboutthis]

I don't mean this in an unpleasant way. I just find that sometimes when I meet people I think "you look like you are a deeply religious christian" and generally I am right, they do turn out to be. I don't think it works on less committed christians. Is this like having gaydar? Does anyone else have this experience? What is it I see in their appearance that makes me think this? Am I just kidding myself about this in some way?

I wear mascara. I also dress like a slaaaaaag, though

Yes, I think there is a look, several perhaps.

The young Christians always look freshly made, pristine whites and discrete tats. Dolphin jewellery may feature.

Middle aged ones have a hippy, 1970's physics teacher air and smile at something on the distant horizon. Longish, undyed hair. Sandals and ankle socks on feet or 'fun' wellies on rainy days.

Then there are the ones that go to the church, nay, Kirk, here. They wear tweed, robust shoes and hats on a Sunday and cat's bum mouths on the other days of the week.

Finally, the super holy ones like my aunt, whom even God feels is A Bit Much. Aunt exudes such a purified air that I feel like the devil incarnate for uttering 'bloody' in her presence.
She wears K Skips on her bunion-free feet and glides.

LOL at even god feels she's a bit much.

My sil wears those K old lady sandal things. It's a disgrace - she's only 40-odd. And her glasses and hairstyle haven't changed since 1992. And she's a Christian.

I have always found the opposite, I am constantly surprised that you can't tell anything from looks.

Jesus sandals!

LOL Swans

I certainly wouldn't think that this is true in my experience but a RL situation the other day left me .
We are currently living in Cambodia.
A woman approached my family in a restaurant as we were finishing our breakfast and asked if we were Canadian (which we are). She explained that she wondered what we might be doing overseas since it is plainly obvious that we are not a missionary family because we don't look the part. She went on to say that we don't even look Christian.

I didn't summon the courage to ask her what she meant but she did offer me her phone number so I could always ring her and ask.

Still not sure if I should be offended or not

Going off this thread, I would say "Not" .

You probably walk past many Christians every day and have no idea they are

My Mum reckons she can tell if person is a lapsed Catholic at 20 paces. All those years of church going has given her a kind of second sight.

At a Baptist barn dance we were invited to everyone looked as if they had dressed from oxfam and had hair in need of a cut.

Presumably material things were of little consequence to them (though I felt they laboured that point a bit).

Ooh YANBU..

Very christian and deeply religious people do have a look...especially ones who vehemently believe in Creationism.

As pointed out by the late great Bill Hicks :

?You ever noticed how people who believe in Creationism look really unevolved? You ever noticed that? Eyes real close together, eyebrow ridges, big furry hands and feet. "I believe God created me in one day" Yeah, looks like He rushed it.?

Love the Bill Hicks quote!

Not read entire thread but OP, you do have a point. Evangelical Christians do have a 'quality'. I know quite a few as my partner is from a Christian family and some of his relatives and people he knew from BM (Before Me) just have this 'quality'.

I really can't put my finger on what it is either. Sometimes it's a quite innocent, simpering kind of serene, 'I know something you don't know' kind of expression. They're usually really overtly friendly, in a kind of Andrex puppy kind of way too. Boundless enthusiasm.

Anyway, I guess they're not doing any harm. At least they're not out there stabbing people! Each to their own...

I know you only intended this as a lighthearted thread, but I do wonder why Christians are considered fair game in this way, whereas I doubt anyone would start a similar thread about other religions.

Also what is "very Christian"? Surely you're either a Christian or you're not?

I'm a Christian and don't think I dress any different from any other hassled working Mum. But there is a certain look for the people who work at the Cathedral bookshop.

So maybe you are just over looking all those Christians who dress normally, just like you may only notice Muslims in head scarves or more. Hindus with Turbans? etc.

diplodoris- I don't think anyone is being mean to Christian people or slating their Faith but in some areas there is a certain style.

I am from the Highlands and certain churches or groups dressed in a particular way eg Wee Free very soberly and hats had to be worn, the Closed Bretheren did not wear makeup, the men in their finest suits etc. There was a strong 'Cleanliness is next to Godliness' accent and mum used to tell us that 'God wanted to know if your socks were clean'...

I think the 'very Christian' people are the ones who attend church several times a week and who include God in every aspect of their lives to the nth degree- my aunt for example. She asks Jesus whether she ought to have tea or coffee....

We cannot over generalise on all Christians but I do find that level of devotion quite scary.

I am intrigued : which hot beverage does Jesus recommend?

Yes, I was intrigued as well but volunteered that Jesus may be concerned with other things like earthquakes and the suchlike over Scottish Blend v Mellow Birds.
The result was that I was 'Going to go to Hell' for choosing water and waiting for it to turn into wine. Jesus and mad Aunty opted for tea. Apparently.

I feel the same about pedophiles.... always have thick glasses, pink skin and funny jaws.

My husband wets himself everytime I say this....

My sister is a vicar and regularly wears Jimmy Choos with her cassock

Mrs I would like to point out that she is in no way comparing Christians to pedophiles, but reiterating the point that you can sometimes tell someone from the way they look aspect of the conversation.

It definitely isn't all Christians. Like the University CU example that we've discussed - not all Christians on campus are active members, just a certain sort of Christian.

I would imagine it's the same with Islam or any other religion - the ones who just observe Ramadan when they're at their mum's and don't eat pork pass you by, but you notice the very devout ones with the beards and skullcaps/full veils.

diplodoris
I don't think that this thread treats christians as "fair game".

I am quite surprised by the number of comments about clothing - both from the "I'm a christian and I don't dress differently" and the "look at them in their funny clothes" sides. I don't think it has anything to do with clothes and seems to have drawn stereotypes and defensiveness from posters. Unless it is very extreme, how people dress doesn't make much impact on me.

The posts that seem to have hit the mark as far as my original sensation of being able to spot very christian people talk of "serenity" and "an inner peace". These are probably not traits that the people in question would mind being described as having.

As for whether you can be "very christian" - some people draw on their faith in every aspect of their life, where as others might also identify as christian but with less impact on their life. I am not sure what alternative phrasing would have been suitable - perhaps "deeply committed".

As for addressing other faiths - the same look of "serenity" might be visible in more religious people of other faiths - someone mentioned Buddhists. But other religions often have clothing which identifies them such that this observation would be pointless for them. It is the very fact that christianity doesn't have a "dress code" that makes this an interesting question.

Oh 'thisismyclone' that was good!