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Definition:
The term "vestments" refers to the liturgical clothing worn by Christian clergy. It
used to be thought that the typical vestments were derived from those originally
worn by Jewish priests, but today scholars argue that they are actually derived
from the ordinary clothing of first century Rome. They are designed today to
fit comfortably over modern street clothing and to remind a congregation that
the person wearing them is performing official functions of an important office.
Vestments, worn by clergy while performing the functions of their offices, can be contrasted with the clothing of monks and nuns, which is usually called a "habit;" the clothing of choir members, which usually called a "robe;" and the clothing of professors, which is called a "gown."
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Christianity?
What are the various Christian groups, denominations, sects and heresies? What are some key concepts in Christian theology? What are some of the most important events in Christian history? All of this and more are covered in the Christianity FAQ.What is the Philosophy of Religion?
Sometimes confused with theology, the Philosophy of Religion is the philosophical study of religious beliefs, religious doctrines, religious arguments and religious history. The line between theology and the philosophy of religion isn't always sharp, but the primary difference is that theology tends to be apologetical in nature, committed to the defense of particular religious positions, whereas Philosophy of Religion is committed to the investigation of religion itself, rather than the truth of any particular religion.What is Theism?
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A system of human beliefs, ideals and practices which is harder to define than it may at first appear. Read more about how dictionaries, scholars and others have tried to define and explain religion.
