Using Clothing to Advertise Faith
Jul 31st, 2009 by Drue Smyther
Teens are wearing religious T-shirts with messages to demonstrate their faith. “His Pain, Our Gain.” “The Road to Heaven is a One Way Street.” The messages on today’s religious T-shirts are not always subtle.
Some see these edgy messages as a welcome anecdote to some of the current messages on T-shirts, many intolerant, violent, or degrading. These messages show that teens are comfortable with publicly displaying their faith. The terminology speaks to teenagers and shows that their faith is a dynamic faith.
Melissa Sabin, a junior, states that she wears a shirt that proclaims “the devil sucks” because she liked it and it went along with her belief. “Its part of my identity, and the clothes that I wear are part of me,” she said.
Asked why they were buying the shirts, some teens responded that it starts with their faith and not so other people will think they are cool. Others responded that they thought the shirts were cool and just liked the positive message.
Teens do tend to be enthusiastic about their faith stated Father K. Robert Smoot, director of the archdiocesan Youth Ministry Office and wearing religious T-shirts is a way for them to display this. But what is most important is living out that message, he said.
Studies have shown that sales of religious articles, particularly T-Shirts with religious slogans have increased over the past years. The retail sales of Christian products have earned more than $4.34 B during the year 2004. Teens are primarily responsible for this increase in T-shirt sales.
These days fashion is not just about showing off the latest trend. Religious clothes are more than a new fashion statement. It is a way of speaking out about your religious belief but by using Christian clothing, evangelism can be spread without saying anything.
People have realized that their faith does not necessarily need to remain within themselves and they are comfortable letting out their spirituality. One way to do this is through the clothing that they are wearing.
