I also know a woman who chose to go decades without wearing a hijab, she's a very modern woman, but then chose on her own to become more religious and chose to start wearing the hijab.
The hijab in itself isn't wrong. Being forced to wear a hijab is wrong. Any absolutist position that says "the hijab is good" or "the hijab is bad" is wrong, because it all depends on choice.
Totally agree. May I also add, the choice to wear one is CULTURAL. I do not doubt those who choose to wear one call it a RELIGIOUS choice, but I would argue its cultural because no where in the Koran does it say wear one.
I argue the same thing about Christianity and Judaism or any other religion when people of such religions interpret them in certain ways to believe it tells them to be a good person they must adapt certain attire
I do not believe maintaining a beard or dressing in black, or wearing a Russian bear hat will make me a good Jew as some do. The religion does not say that. It does say like other religions if I carry out positive actions, i.e., deeds helping others that would make me a god Jew and for that matter Christian or Muslim, etc..
I also openly challenge any belief that teaches the human body is dirty or provocative and needs to be discouraged or covered up as being absurd. I think repressing sexuality doesn't do anything but create stronger urges to express it. I give a classic example. If you look at a naked person, or a person wearing clothing that is suggestive, the latter is far more sexually enticing. Suggestion as to what is underneath encourages imagination which is far more provocative than the naked truth.
In fact the original purpose of coverings had 3 purposes; one being to protect against sunstroke and sunburn, the other to protect against sandstorms, and the third to hide the gender of women when men from invading armies looked for people to
****. It had nothing to do with religion although indirectly if you prayed outside you'd need to cover your head from the sun.
Think about it. Walking on a nudist beach, seeing men dangle at gay parades, or woman flapping
**** in the wind, might not be as provocative as some would think it is in Saudi Arabia. I find nothing provocative about dead lampreys, wet hair, puckered orifices. I mean Gold bless doctors for dealing with them but thanks I prefer air brushed, plucked false images without the skin rashes, cysts, pimples. sores, lesions, scars, etc.
The human body with due respect, can be quite stomach turning. This is why I believe naked truth is sometimes needed not to mention surgical gloves.