One thing I do have to admit - I do feel far more
comfotable talking to a priest wearing his collar
than to one without the collar - wearing casual clothes.

But that's just me.

I forgot to add that in Australia the Constitution protects
the freedom to practice any religion, including the right
to wear religious clothing or sumbols. This right is
also covered by international humanitarian treaties.

There are some limitations - due to health and safety issues
but religion is a freedom that is protected in this country.

No religion preaches segregation and alienation. Constitutions are not gospel truths. As we evolve We must make changes in the constitution too.

Let us follow the religious preachings honestly and we find that the physical culture associated with the religions comes in handy to conceal one's shortcomings. This is dangerous to a peaceful society.

The dress codes we are discussing here are for the common citizens and not for clergies,mullahs or priests. Religious dress codes should not show the seeds of hatred among the general population.

Ezhil,

I think that the problem is not religious dress - but
you.

Why do you associate religious dress with hatred?

I don't.

perhaps you should look within yourself first before
making judgements about others.

Which religious dress do you have in mind that you associate
with hatred.

Remember it's not the dress or religions that cause problems
but usually the people and their interpretations of their
religions. And fundamentalists exist in all religions. They
are a small minority. Most people are not "card carrying"
fundamentalists or extremists.

Don't you love it when multi-faiths come together for
certain occassions in all their splendour. It's quite
wonderful. And makes one realize that we're all humans and
that we don't have to kill each other in the name of the
one god.

Dear Ezhil,

«Religious dress codes are followed as a mark of identity.»

Those who do it for that reason are foolish, but most do not.
For most who do, it is a religious injunction, something to do between themselves and God, not themselves and others.

Jewish men for example are supposed to wear Tzitzit, which are four strings dangling in a particular way - their purpose is to help the wearer to remember God at all times and has nothing to do with how others seeing them. Same exactly for the Hindu sacred thread worn diagonally across the chest. Muslims have beards because the Quran does not allow them to shave completely. Sikhs are not allowed to cut their hair - just imagine how else they could walk around otherwise, with uncovered 6-meter-long hair dragging behind.

In a different example, a woman in my family, having recently married, discovered that by wearing a "religious" head-cover she no longer receives unwanted sexual attention from men. While she does not believe that God wants her to cover her hair, she finds it quite useful.

«In the process people get segregated on religious lines and this leads to immediate alienation.»

It is not segregating unless you wish so.
I recently saw a woman in the street, completely covered by a Muslim dress, walking hand in hand with a White/Western/Australian man in shorts. That was beautiful.

I am not alienated by it - if you feel alienated, then the problem is with you and you need to ask yourself why.

Everyone should be free to wear whatever they like, or nothing at all for that matter, that is nobody else's business!

Perhaps we should try to find out what type of dress those who are currently attacking Jewish buildings in Sydney's eastern suburbs are wearing.

Methinks its unlikely to be budgie smugglers or King Gee shorts.