Religion

Head-covering Christians

An article in The Roanoke (Virginia) Times about a local woman who turns 111 years old today (she stays in shape by lifting cans of beans) reminded me that Muslim and Jewish women aren’t the only ones who wear head coverings for religious reasons (one of the topics discussed– or beaten to a pulp– in this thread).

Rosa Beckner is a member of the Old German Baptist Brethren, which is among the Christian groups that take literally the admonition of 1 Corinthians 11:6.

Some Mennonite women also follow the practice, and in western Maryland (where I once lived) and parts of central Pennsylvania, head coverings are a fairly common and uncontroversial sight on women of all ages.

I for one would not want to deny Ms. Beckner and other Christian women the right to cover their hair (or not to cover it) any more than I would want to deny it for Muslim or Jewish women.