Christian veiling

[BoomBamSparkle]

I couldn't find a Christianity topic, so I'm posting here. Mods, feel free to move it if there's a better place! I grew up agnostic but culturally Christian. My daughter and I have been exploring Christianity together—reading the Bible, Glen Scrivener course, and going to church. Now she's asked if she can wear a veil (not a hijab, its called a lace mantilla) for praying said yes why not then she has asked what about at school. I think school might not allow it. Does anyone know about veiling in the Bible? Thanks!

There is absolutely nothing in the bible for a woman yo wear a veil isnt this something catholics have asked for bit again not in the bible at all

I am not a Christian but I grew up reading it as a kid a lot because of my mum

Why does she want to wear a veil?

Isn't there a bit in corinthians about prayer veils?

Yeah it's interesting. I wasn't sure. We are reading the king James just because I had no clue where to start and there was a beautiful old one so we got that. Some parts are a bit puzzling so we check online for explanations. We talk about other religions and she already knows Muslims wear hijab because there are hijabis at school, some Jewish women wear a sheitel. still very early days so everything is new.

I think tiktok has influenced her curiosity re mantilla. I'm a hypocrite because I just said elsewhere kids spend too much time online 🙃

The only thing I do remember is Paul talking about head covering not veils but I might be wrong that's why little old ladies used to have their hair covered in Catholic churches.

There's a Christianity topic here:
Christian Mumsnetters

Veiling is not a part of mainstream Christianity at all. Some of the ultra-strict nonconformist chapels have all female members having long hair with a headscarf like in the picture. However, it's so rare that I would be very cautious of a teen expressing an interest in it because it's entirely possible that she may have become entangled with a cult. Check carefully - it's possible that it's harmless but it can be very difficult to extract a teen from the influence of a cult

Does she know that many Muslims don't wear a hijab and many Jewish don't wear wigs only orthodox do

NRSV translation is much easier to access than KJV and is the more academic.

School would have to view in the same terms as a hijab, both are used as a form of modest covering. They can require the covering to be in school colours or may have a hijab as part of the uniform you daughter may feel comfortable to wear.

I'm an RE HofD in a secondary so have read up quite a lot on school policies like this!

1 Corinthians 11: 5-6

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

It's why Mennonite women (not girls) cover their crown, amongst others, and that some Christian women will wear hats to Church.

Thank you everyone. Ithink because she's seen Christians covering up and talking about modesty on tiktok, but I do wonder if because there are hijabi girls at school this has made an impression. I guess girls can get competitive when it comes to being "good", even unconsciously... so I don't know. I will keep an eye on it. I think I'll say yes mantilla at home, church if she wants.

Lace mantillas are a Catholic thing. See https://www.gotquestions.org/head-coverings.html for more information about women and head covering when in church or praying - it is not a requirement

Some versions of Christians will wear head coverings to church. Not necessarily a veil, could just be a hat of some sort. This would be a marking of ultra Conservative Christianity which would probably be a bit of a red flag for me in truth. Maybe try visiting lots of different churches and help her find where she fits that way and the importance of being critical in your Christianity. For example it's important not to just take religious leaders at their word, it's important to look into the structure of the leadership of the church and where tithes go etc and how to avoid spiritual abuse and manipulation.

I'm no expert but I believe in the Brethren tradition the women wear head scarves or head coverings.

When I was young it was standard for women to wear a hat when entering a church, and for men to take theirs off.

That's precisely why I live in dewsbury there is a lot of community pressure over these girls aka Muslim which js why I don't believe there is a true choice at all . Stop allowing her to watch what sounds very conservative Christian messages to

Mantillas are a very Mediterranean Catholic practice - Princess Di wore one when she met Pope JP II. I believe they are having a bit of a resurgence with young Catholic women on social media.

I feel a bit stupid because I'm not yet even calling myself Christian. we pray together at bedtime, I never thought I would do anything like this like actually get the bible but we enjoy it. We love our walks to church and we don't have a denomination or anything. I don't know if it's because I'm dyslexic but there are so many denominations and translations so we're gently walking into it.

I will get the NRSV translation. Thanks, so many different translations 🤯

This would be a huge red flag for me. Social Media is not the place that anyone should be looking for the Gospel message of Christ Jesus - too many false preachers and teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing. The desire to want to wear a Catholic lace mantilla should not come as some sort of ‘competition’ of suspect ‘holiness’ or ‘goodness’. It is merely a bit of lace and is not any indicator of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

This is great, thanks! I was curious to really trying to find something like this.

Good point! Yes I agree with that. This is why it helps to ask because there are things I haven't considered

Veils were worn to denote power and status when Paul was writing. It meant men wouldn’t harass them because they were higher status. Women were actually banned from wearing veils unless they were high status. So the early church adopted them to show that all women were of equal status and men could not harass them with impunity. It was a revolutionary act.

I’d allow it if she wanted to but I’d also be watching the SM she watches with her to help her unpick misogyny from the beauty of scripture.

If you're struggling with Bible versions and dyslexia, you can get a Bible app which has many different versions with audio options as well.
My go to is NIVUK read by David Suchet.

The King James is hard enough without dyslexia so it's brilliant that you and your daughter get so much from it.

And echoing others, I'd keep a bit of an eye on the content you daughter is getting on TikTok as it might be of the US ultra conservative, anti-feminist version of Christianity, which is more to do with culture than the Bible.

I know a few people who wear mantillas. They are usually a bit of a 'look at me' I'm so devout statement. (The people I know who wear them anyway!) The others are usually part of the Latin mass crowd.

It used to be a Catholic rule that women should cover their head, and they would wear a triangle of lace called a mantilla. See image.

It went out with the Tridentine Mass in latin post Vatican 11 in the 1960s.

So your daughter would be returning to a more formal Catholicism associate with a return to the Tridentine mass not usually practiced now. Indeed it has been seen as being ideological and strongly discouraged by the Vatican.

A mantilla does look romantic and attractive though. I can see why your daughter is interested by the idea of wearing one.