Didn't know they did. Back in the early '60's & before a lot of them wore hats or veil thingies to church if Catholic.

In the New Testament 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 there is a section on covering the head in worship. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2011:2-16;&version=31; Basically it says that Christ is supreme over man and a man is supreme over his wife. A man reflects the image and glory of God, but a woman reflects the glory of man. (because she was created from Adam's rib) Therefore a man who prays with his head covered disgraces Christ and a woman who prays with her head uncovered disgraces her husband. Her headcovering shows his authority over her. In some Christian sects ,such as the exclusive Brethren, women wear small headscarves all the time and keep their hair long as this passage also states that it is shameful for women to cut their hair.

They only need to wear head coverings when they are in the teaching role or offering prayer in the presence of another qualified male, as a sign of respect, not to the male, but before God for his arrangement. This is often abused my many religious cultures and they presume to think that it's out of respect for the man, and they make their women keep a head covering all the time.

I as an Anabaptist wear a head covering full time, for prayer and headship, because the scriptures say the woman is to wear the head covering when praying or prophesing, 1 Corinthians Chapter 11, also if she teaches a class, (only with children or women though), the scriptures say a woman can not teach a man or have authority over man, and a woman is not to speak in church, but to remain silent,1 Corithians 14:34-35 so the scriptures mean to wear the covering when the woman prays silently, or out loud at home and in public, but not outloud in church, unless there are no men present. We are also suppose to pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Love in Christ HeadCoveringWife

PeterPam, Here is a study on Head Coverings, your question above is answered below also. Headcoverings 1 Cor 11:1-16 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered [akatakaluptos] dishonors her head-- it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover [katakalupto] her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover [katakalupto] her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered [akatakaluptos]? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering [peribolaion]. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice-- nor do the churches of God. "Is long hair the headcovering?" Paul was using an example from nature to support his teaching on headcoverings. His example shouldn't be taken as the headcovering itself. In the Greek, the word he used for the long hair covering [peribolaion] isn't the word he used for the headcovering [katakalupto]. Also you can't shave your head if your already saved, and if the hair is the only covering, that would mean the man would have to shave his head all the time, and if it is a shame to have your head shaven, then that wouldn't be the answer. :) Love In Christ Deanna

Explained here very well... http://www.imrah.org/2008/06/heads-or-tails/

Like this? If so they are moaning widows for life related to Beata Umiliana de Cerchi on the second pic http://www.illinoismedieval.org/EMS/VOL14/schuchmn.html

Headcovering, that's taken all out of context. (1) Paul isn't talking about physical head coverings here. He's talking about authority or headship. verse 3 is the key to the entire passage. Paul is using an analogy to explain 1 Cor 11:3 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. The head of man? Christ. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. The head of every woman? The man. Paul is using the analogy of long hair as a covering [peribolian] to explain the teaching of covering [katakalupto] by ones "head". Read the article in that link, and you'll understand it better. Sidharth

Here's the link.....http://www.imrah.org/2008/06/heads-or-tails/ it is so clear and simple what Paul was trying to put forth. Please read it with an open heart and open mind to Scripture It's very sad to see people go into a law-lifestyle. This isn't what Abba intended. Sidharth

Paul's first letter to the church of Corinth in chapter 11 states: But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. This section of Paul's letter is devoted to regulation of conduct at the liturgy and, in particular, with the dress of women in the church assembly. Women have been participating in worship at Corinth without the head-covering normal for honorable women in Greek society of the period. Paul's stated goal is to bring them back into conformity with contemporary practice and propriety. This does not mean that women have to wear head coverings today but that they should conform with contemporary practice and propriety of honorable women of their culture. http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians11.htm With love in Christ.

I think if you allow the Spirit to mold you and speak to you then as long as it lines up with scripture then why does is matter. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. The bible also tells women they should be in the heart of their home but you don't see many women staying home and taking care of their kids and schooling them, do you? Nope. We see women being like the world and sending their kids to school and allowing the "world" to mold their children. If we truly seek God's will for our life then He will not tell us wrong. For more info on women and their high calling as wives and mothers go to www.aboverubies.org. Roxanne

Because some varieties of Christianity require it. My daughter was required to cover her shoulders while visiting the Vatican, even though she's Baptist. I have no idea why as the Catholic church here doesn't require it, but her guide said it was required so she did.

In that case it's just a respect thing. There is nothing wrong with covering shoulders. Be all things to all people. I'm okay with situations like that. It's when a church requires someone to do something that isn't required, just to be a part of them. Or to be christian you have to do this and that. Now there are definately things you should do in obedience to the Lord. But some things are just tradition. That's where tradition and traditionalism come into play. Sometimes we should just ask God what He thinks. So many rules. So many people not seeking the Lord on what's right, just listening to church regulations. Of course, if you ask me, who the heck wants to go see the vatican? hehe