- The Record Archives
- Volume CXVIII, No. XXI - November 17, 2005 - opinion
Go to church to worship, not to find a date
Editorial staff
There's an exciting event on campus that you should really check out for some scandalous fashion trends.
You'll see women in belly-bearing shirts and barely there skirts, and men in the latest name-brand fashions.
People parade down the aisle and show their stuff. Best of all, it happens twice a week. Curious where to check this out?
Head over Sunday evening to Sacred Heart Chapel or St. John's Abbey, because it takes place at the student Masses.
This is not a new phenomenon.
Thinking back three years ago to my first student Mass at SJU, I thought it was strange that some women seemed to apply more makeup before going to church than before going out on the weekends.
This "tradition" continues to some extent today.
Some Bennies wear more revealing clothes to church, with low necklines and tight hip-hugging jeans, than they do to class or around campus.
Many single people have used Mass as an opportunity to scope out potential boyfriends or girlfriends.
I'll admit, during my first year I definitely noticed who was at church.
My friends and I often said, "Wow, he is at Mass every Sunday," or "he even genuflects, he must be religious."
Of course, I was going to Mass whether there were males there or not, but it was an added bonus to simultaneously hear God's word and be able to look at attractive, seemingly pious Johnnies.
This may explain the heavy majority of women at the St. John's Mass.
With consistent observations during the past four years, I have come to this conclusion: Not all, but many Bennies flock to the SJU student Mass to see and be seen, and even to find the next potential boyfriend, or dare I say, potential husband.
This may be jumping to conclusions, but look at the facts: Many Bennies dress up in scandalous clothing, take an extra hour to go to the Abbey, and their heads whip around faster than a tornado as they search for that cute guy from their symposium or theology class.
Some may say that as long as people are attending Mass, their motives for going are irrelevant.
I beg to differ.
Church is not supposed to be a place to find a date or stare at attractive people.
Besides, in the context of building a community, in church or otherwise, appearance should be irrelevant.
Mass is a time to pray, to worship God and to celebrate community through Communion.
Church, like family reunions, is not a time when we should look for a significant other.
I'm not saying students should start going to church in the scrubbiest clothes they own, or even that people should stop dressing up.
God accepts people for exactly who they are, and God does not care if your shirt is from Abercrombie and Fitch or Savers.
My point is this: Dress up for yourself if it will help you get more out of Mass or feel more comfortable in church.
Do not dress up for your potential significant other.
And please, dress as though you are going to a place of worship, not to the bar.
This is the opinion of Erika Nelson, a senior art history and communication double major at CSB. Contact her at emnelson@csbsju.edu.