Barefoot in Church - y/n?

[bud08]

* Posted this in the bare it forum and got positive feedback - just wondering what type of feedback I would get in this forum.

I love going barefoot and every new place that I go barefoot is a minor victory for me. I fear people’s reactions, more than how my feet would react to different surfaces. Which often prevents me from going barefoot into public places more often.

As with most places the dress code seems more relaxed, I’ve noticed people wearing shorts and often a t-shirt to church. I love being comfortable as much as the next person does but I still believe in wearing docker style pants and a collar shirt to church. When it comes to footwear I tend to be more casual, when weather permits I wear flip-flops to church. Well thinking as other barefoot enthusiast do ~ wearing flip-flops is not much different than going barefoot, your foot is already exposed just walking on your own soles. So I recently attended church without shoes, but at first I had mixed emotions – I’m I doing something disrespectful and this feels good (helped that the church is carpeted)



I don’t think I would have tried going barefoot to church if it wasn’t for the fact that I didn’t know anyone there. This goes back to the fact that I fear others reaction to me being barefoot, places people aren’t use to seeing other without shoes.



Has anyone else ever gone barefoot to Church?

Is going barefoot to Church acceptable?

Does anyone have any similar experiences in public establishments/church?
Bud08

[Fizzyliftingdrink]

When I was younger I went to church barefoot, and my cousin does now. She's a cool girl, she goes barefoot everywhere. Anyways, no one had a problem, but it's a pretty easy going church.

One thing that I get creeped out about going barefoot is being barefoot in public washrooms. Sometimes I see pubes on the floor. I don't want those stuck to my feet!

[bud08]

I'm in my thirties so being barefoot in church maybe viewed differently. I have been to mass at least 3 occasions without shoes, which I haven’t noticed any weird reactions or heard any comments.



Bud



btw - I agree with you on the public restrooms, that's the only place I have a problem going barefoot.

[mynameiskc]

well, it's not going to be like god is going to be pissed off because you went barefoot to church. he didn't create us with shoes on our feet.

[BlackBillBlake]

It should be quite ok - in the old testament Moses was told to remove his shoes because he was treading on holy ground - so why should christians object?

[paix]

God doesn't care what you wear, and besides, when you were born you were naked and barefoot. The only reason I can think of to dress up or wear shoes to church is the fear of being judged by others, because all God cares about is your soul. Respect for God is not shown through clothing, it's shown through how you live your life and treat others.

[freesue]

Barefoot....why not? I'm a barefooted person myself. I'm actually quite uncomfortable in shoes.

It is common practice, in quite a few faiths, for one to remove their shoes before entering their holy places. Has been for ions. So, remove 'em I say.

Sue

[rain_in_summer]

I agree.
I've often been barefoot to church, no problem with that. Only thing I didn't like...when someone asked me why I was barefoot and stuff and after all the reasons I gave still wasn'T convinced it's not a bad thing to be barefoot in church I used the argument I actually don't like: "Jesus didn'T wear trainers either, did he?" I don't like to say that because I'm not a believing Christian anymore and after that sentence the person looked at me as if I was a fundamentalist... *sigh*
I think really what makes people not like to go barefoot to church is not that God might not like it, but simply the others' opinions and stares.

[Woog]

Every animal except us goes butt neked everywhere. We are the only
ones with morals and modesty both of which are destructive concepts.
You don't need morals or modesty to discern right and wrong. And you
don't need shoes or clothes to contemplate the infinite. If you go someplace that has a problem with that, you are in the wrong place, spiritually and otherwise. OK, so who wants to go chant to the infinite butt naked in the woods? I'm not so big on buildings either.

[Professor Jumbo]

Go to a Unitarian church, you can be barefoot there.

[veinglory]

It depends on the church. I think it would be frowned up on some where women still wear hats and gloves to services...

[queenannie]

I, myself don't go to church, in the traditional sense of the word. But if I did, I would definitely be going barefoot this Sunday. I think it is fine to go to church with bare feet, symbol of naked soul and truth.

I go many places wearing mocassin boots, I have 2 pair. People look at me quite odd, and I smile so sweetly at them, then hold the door open or whatever act of kindness is called for. They look at me even odder.

What kind of reaction did you get at church?

What kind of church is it?

Did your feet get dirty?

[SageDreamer]

If the other people in that church don't like it, you can either go to a different church or put shoes on. The posting about a Unitarian church seems like a good one; Unitarians tend to be pretty free about just about everything.

[themnax]

i should think it rather obvious this would depend entirely upon the individual and their church or 'church' as the case may be

bear footed or bear whatever else'ed

=^^=
.../\...

[cerridwen]

I like being barefoot... when I was in highschool and going to church I'd go barefoot... People looked at me weirdly but I didn't care...

[Meagain]

You are entering someone else's holy place, you should respect their customs and rules. You have invited yourself into their presence, you must respect them and their religious views whether you agree or not. (They may not be as enlightened as you).

If they are not offended then go ahead, but I would ask the pastor, rabbi or priest first.

You have no right to make others uncomforable in their own place of whorship.

[menlo1]

The parish I used to go to was particular about what people wore. The nuns would complain if young people didn't show up in dress clothes. I'm sure they wouldn't have been too crazy about bare feet. The parish eventually went out of business. They should have been happy that people were even coming to the church. They pretty much bitched themselves out of existence.

[the barefoot chef]

I went to Church barefoot twice in the last year, both times to funerals. No-one said anything to me & then I decided that it was time to set up my own religion, where no-one could comment;

the Church of the barefoot Way (http://www.nottherealphilshaw.co.uk)

[roly]

Im pretty sure barefoot is ok. Anyways...going to church isnt about what u wear or image at all, tis about you and the Lord. Go for it. I myself have and do go to church barefoot, as and when i feel like it,with positive results!!
Roly.xxx

[Hikaru Zero]

Last I checked, I did not see a sign on the front of my church that said, "No shirt, no shoes, no service."

I guess that means: no problem. =)

Edit: Nice avatar, roly.

[roly]

Last I checked, I did not see a sign on the front of my church that said, "No shirt, no shoes, no service."

I guess that means: no problem. =)

Edit: Nice avatar, roly.

haha thank you!!!!

[Hikaru Zero]

I'm sorry, did I say MY church?

I meant, my parents' church, the one which won't take me off their members list and keeps sending me those envelopes every year ... =P

[Shakezulla]

I guess it all depends how you look at it. Hehe, it reminds me of a joke I heard a while back: Two guys ask their priest about smoking and praying at the same time. The first guy asks "Can I smoke while I'm praying?" to which the priest, offended, replies "Of course not! Smoking is a sin!" The second guy asks "Can I pray while I'm smoking?" to which the priest, happy, replies "Of course! You can pray any time you want!" :)

Completely off-topic, I know, but I thought it was funny. :)

I think God's happy that you're learning about Him at all, barefoot or not.

[Disarm]

I go barefoot everywhere except to job interviews and work (if I can't get away with it).

I don't see anything wrong with going barefoot to church, except the priest/reverend/minister/whatever-sect-you're-from-person could be offended.. No matter how nice you dress, no shoes means you're dressing casual, and if the standard of dress is higher than that (more likely that a few people think it's super extra formal regardless of where you are) people get iffy..

[mynameiskc]

as to teh statement that you're making someone else uncomfortable in their place of worship, well, hell, it's YOUR place of worship, too. maybe their shoe-wearing tendencies make you uncomfortable.

[bud08]

I know this is an older thread but a quick update - been going barefoot (when weather permits) to church the last summer and this one and havn't had any objections. {hope I didn't just jinx myself}
thanks for the positive feedback
has anyone else gone to church barefoot?

["†"»AMBER«]

i wear flipflops to church and usaully take them off and walk around and what not. being barefoot is neat...

[Bhaskar]

I would never wear footwear in any religious building, be it church, temple or mosque. To me it is a sign of disrespect to wear shoes in holy places. I guess thats a cultural thing, in India people are nto allowed to wear shoes in temples and often inside people's homes also.

This is because we wear shpewhile walking around outside, so the shoes are covered with dust, mud, poo, whetever you stepped in. So we take them off before going in to the temple, to keep it clean and maintain its sanctity.

[SvgGrdnBeauty]

I wish that were the case here...I think you would be looked down upon if you didn't wear shoes in a church around here...but I agree with you...I think it is a sign of respect and also it is for cleanliness reasons...

...but in my house we are not allowed to wear shoes...that one my family abides by. :)

[gdkumar]

Hare Krishna!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wish that were the case here...I think you would be looked down upon if you didn't wear shoes in a church around here...but I agree with you...I think it is a sign of respect and also it is for cleanliness reasons...

...but in my house we are not allowed to wear shoes...that one my family abides by. :)
............From SGB
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We go to the places of worship for the Lord.

The Lord himself does not wear any shoes, wonder if anybody looks down upon Him!

He is there bare-footed, let us follow suit the way SGB does in her house following her parents.

With love,

Kumar.

[SvgGrdnBeauty]

Hare Krishna!



We go to the places of worship for the Lord.

The Lord himself does not wear any shoes, wonder if anybody looks down upon Him!

He is there bare-footed, let us follow suit the way SGB does in her house following her parents.

With love,

Kumar.


Hehe...Ironically...they let me do it in the house (and I don't think you really find me with shoes unless its absolutely freezing...) but if I even entertained the thought of not wearing them to church.....they would tease me and never let me forget it....some cultural differences will never change ;)

[SvgGrdnBeauty]

Sure...now my post shows up! lol....silly message board

[gdkumar]

Hare Krishna!

Dear Nicole,

Thank you for the post.


Love,

Kumar.

[BlackBillBlake]

Common sense is needed here. In theory, and in warm countries the idea of removing shoes before entering a church or temple is vey good. But I don't think it would really be very practical in the British winter, for example. One would experience such extreme coldness in the feet, as to make any concentration on God quite difficult, if not impossible, and doing it for long periods could lead to rheumatism or worse. The last time I was in my local parish church (christmas) it was absolutely freezing, and everyone was wrapped up in their coats. The idea of going barefoot under these conditions is unthinkable. Unless, that is, one is extremely hardy!

[Kharakov]

Or a wolf.

[StonerBill]

i count thongs as footware. the barefoot issue is about stepping ont eh ground wiht your soles, not exposing your feet

[BlackBillBlake]

Or a wolf.
Ha Ha! A wolf wouldn't be welcomed - unless of course it was wearing sheep's clothing, in which case it would fit in rather well with a lot of churchy types.