There is a book titled Holy Women of the Syrian Orient. In it is the story of Sts. Pelagia (who had been a prostitute) and Nonnos (who inspired her conversion). Here\'s an excerpt: \"When the holy bishops saw her, they averted their eyes from her as though she was some sinful object. The holy bishop Nonnos, however, observed her carefully in his mind filled with wonder. Once she had passed in front of them, he turned away his face, placed his head between his knees, and wept with great feeling, so much so that his lap was filled with tears.\"
The story continues, I won\'t transcribe it all here, but after weeping for the woman (and i call her \"woman\" rather than \"prostitute\" deliberately) the bishop tells his brothers that they should be ashamed that they do not prepare themselves for God as well as the woman had prepared herself for her public appearance.
I think his attitude then can tell us quite a bit today. First of all, any woman, no matter how she is dressed, is to be seen as a member of humanity, God\'s creation and a personal being. The bishops turned away from St. Pelagia as if she were an object, not God\'s beloved child. Bishop Nonnos, however, wept for her. As a woman, I pray that an effort to see all women as sisters in Christ will help you look beyond the fashions of the day.
Secondly, bishop Nonnos did not reprove the woman as much as he reproved himself. He did not pick out the speck in her eye, but in his own and used her sin as an opportunity to correct himself.
We have to remember that we are personal beings, sin is not abstract, it inflicts harm on others. If causing a temptation to lust is a particular woman\'s sin against you, you sin against her in turn if you succumb and objectify her.
Finally, my personal opinion is that we can get obsessed with these issues very easily, to the point of distraction from deeper issues. What about the temptation men put on each other to be macho and arrogant, to be disrespectful of women, to abuse drugs etcetera. Women dress a certain way because they think men will find it appealing. One of the most important things you can do is to encourage other men not to applaud those types of actions. That way the problem will be addressed from its root. Looking at the whole picture can help to put things in perspective.
I hope this made sense, and I hope it helps. Sorry about the length.
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