The Encyclopedia of World Religions

96 S clothing, religious

worn by MONKS AND NUNS is seen in some branches of C HRISTIANITY , especially Roman Catholic, East ern Orthodox, and Anglican, and among Hindus, Buddhists, and Taoists. The color of the monas tic “habit” or robe is often indicative of affiliation: in the West, Franciscans wear brown ( see F RAN CIS OF A SSISI AND F RANCISCANS ), B ENEDICTINES black, and T RAPPISTS and D OMINICANS white. Theravada Buddhist monks wear saffron (a yellow-orange), Mahayana Buddhist monks gray. Hindu monks or sadhus vary considerably (some have gone com pletely naked), but some modern orders use a red dish-orange gown. Priests and other religious leaders frequently have special dress too. In the Catholic-type tradi tions of Christianity, they often are attired in black or dark-colored suit or cassock (a long black gown) and round white collar. It is while conducting ser vices, though, that the full richness of religious garb may become apparent, though it ranges from the simple sacred cord of BRAHMIN priests and the black pulpit gown of some Protestants, to the rich and colorful vestments of some Buddhists, or of Catholic priests celebrating mass in colors appro priate to the season of the church year, or bish ops in cope and mitre (a high pointed hat), or the temple priests of biblical Israel. In all cases, the dress is part of the religious symbolism; it properly does not glorify an individual but the office and the role in WORSHIP , and is a way by which that person identifies with it. clowns, religious Persons who dress and act humorously in religious activities. In some Native American cultures a solemn RITUAL by the priests will be followed by a burlesque (or comic) repeti tion of the same by ritual clowns making fun of it. Their performance may be related to the folk lore role of the TRICKSTER , such as Coyote, who is clever enough to break rules and fool the gods in all sorts of ways. In medieval Europe some festi vals, especially those of C ARNIVAL or the season just before the fast of L ENT , would install a “boy bishop” selected from among the choirboys who would ridicule the functions of a church leader in

In J UDAISM a special religious functionary called a mohel performs the circumcision. Circumcision is also an occasion for a party. Circumcision is not mentioned in the Q UR ’ AN . It was, however, an Arabic practice before the rise of I SLAM , and the prophet M UHAMMAD was himself circumcised. Circumcision is thus considered man datory. In some Islamic traditions, circumcision is required for males and recommended for females. Other traditions say it is required for both. The age at which Muslims circumcise varies. Some Mus lims circumcise on the seventh day after birth (the eighth day counting birth). Others circumcise later. As in Judaism, circumcision is often a time for a party. In the Mediterranean region and the Islamic world, the circumcision of girls has been seen as a way of keeping their later sexual desires in check. The amount of tissue removed, pain involved, and physiological change varies widely. In some but not all cases female circumcision results in signifi cant disfiguration. At the end of the 20th century and today, feminists have severely criticized these practices. clothing, religious The symbolism and sig nificance of clothing worn for religious purposes. Clothes have always served not only the practical function of keeping people warm, and the universal function of making people attractive according to the canons of their society while preserving some degree of modesty, but have also shown through well-known indicators such things as comparative wealth, ethnic background, and social status. They have also had very widespread religious meaning, though the way they have done this has varied greatly. The conservative wings of most religions insist on modesty in dress, especially for women. In some cases all adherents of a religion, or all of one gender (most often women), have followed rules in dress, such as the A MISH use of “plain” clothes without buttons, or the Muslim prescrip tion that women should be covered completely. In other cases, special clothes are worn only by religious specialists and leaders. The somber garb