Nudists and Christianity.

AMOG

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I have read past threads in this forum on the subject of ''recreational nudity" or "naturists" and though there was some interesting information and opinions there, I would like to focus the discussion a little more in order to lower the noise floor.

I have been a casual, and very occasional nudist for the past 25 years (I am just over 50). However, during the last two years, I have become a much more frequent practitioner. I am now building a cabin at a nudist resort and plan to live there full time. In part it is because the cost of living, month to month, is less than a quarter of the cost of a similar place outside the nudist resort, but it is also because I enjoy being nude in nature and in the micro society of the resort. I also see opportunities for Christian ministry and exhorting the Christians that already live there. (well over half the members self identify as Christian).

I am in the cultural environment of the South Central US. I am a life long evangelical Christian.

I am interested in hearing from people who feel social nudity is sinful or anti Christian. As affirming as the "Yeah, I see no problem with it" comments are, I clearly already believe that way. I am looking for an authentic, well considered, counter opinion. I am also interested in hearing from those people pro and con, who live in other cultures that have widely differing views of nudity.

Since the question is "Is it sinful" then I expect some sort of Biblical support for an argument that there is something wrong with it. For my part, I find no Biblical command to wear cloths and I find the liberty to not wear cloths (When in an appropriate venue) from Paul's general principle that if someone finds something to be sinful (separating them from God) then they should not do it, but if another person sees nothing wrong with it, then it does not separate them from God and they have the liberty to do that thing.

Here are some things I have found to be true during my journey, and some random thoughts of what I have already read here.

1. Social nudity is definaly less sexualy arousing then most forms of dress, even modest dress. If someone is behaving in a sexual way, then yeah, nudity is sexy, but prohibitions against such behaviour are stronger in a nudist group than anywhere else in society. Life in a nudist colony is no more sexually charged then a trip to the Grocery store in the textile world, and much LESS sexualy charged then a trip to the average american beach.

2. "Nudism is about 'being' not 'seeing'. if you go to a nudist resort expecting to see something you will always be disappointed. Every single time. Nudism is a personal experience, not a peep show.

3. Nudist groups should not be confused with 'lifestyle' groups, some of which look a lot like nudist resorts. AANR nudist resorts do not promote any kind of public sex. However, there is a rising interest in nude clubs that do cater to public sex, swingers, alternate lifestyles, etc. these may seem similar to the casual observer but they are worlds apart in reality. I am NOT referring to or interested in discussing lifestyle clubs that may include nudity as I see them as a different issue entirely.

4. I was raised to equate nudity with sexual activity as I would venture to say most kids growing up in the southern US in the 70s were, especially if they were raised in church. Dissociating the two takes time. I think learning to disassociate the two is beneficial.

5. I believe our bodies were designed by God and are 'beautiful' even when we may not feel they are physically attractive. I sometimes wonder if our obsession with covering up what God gave us is not an exercise in vanity. Do we believe that we make ourselves more beautiful then God made us by hiding behind cloths? I'm not trying to be judgemental of others here as the need to wear clothing is a societal imperative. You can't live 100% in a nudist colony. But I do think it is an interesting question to discuss.

6. One poster on a past thread said "I suppose it's okay, but I can't really see Jesus going to a nudist colony." Really? Jesus did a lot of things that the religious folk of his day 'couldn't see him doing'. He associated with Samaritans. He ate with Romans. And their tax collectors. He ignored a host of rabbinic laws. I'm not sure I would cast such a bold statement of what Jesus would or wouldn't do.

7. For many years I have practiced several spiritual disciplines nude. Praying, Studying the Bible, Solitude, etc. As others have noted, it seems different somehow though I cant exactly say how.

8. On a similar note, I have noticed social interactions within the nudist community seem to be more open and with less pretence then in the textile world. Something about shedding you clothes also helps you bring down other facades that stand in the way of authentic fellowship. not always, but it's a general tendency.

9. in the short time I have been working on my cabin in the nudist community, three close friends (who don't know what I'm doing) have all commented that I look happy. I generally consider myself a happy person and I find it strange that something has changed in my demeanor to the point that they notice it. no one ever commented on me looking happy before. I wonder if it is just coincidence, or if something has relaxed in me due to the more 'natural' environment that I am in.

Anyway, that's more than enough general musing. I am interested in hearing what you think.
 

Sketcher

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I'm very much not a nudist myself, and I wouldn't want to go to a nudist colony or beach, even if I were fully clothed. I just don't have an interest in that. I don't see any benefit in doing that, there are probably health risks (bugs crawling up your butt or juices leaking out of it, for instance). Besides, I took life drawing in college with nude models that for the most part didn't look all that great. There's a place for that, people are learning and practicing a skill. But just socializing? I don't see much of a point.
 
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AMOG

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I'm very much not a nudist myself, and I wouldn't want to go to a nudist colony or beach, even if I were fully clothed. I just don't have an interest in that. I don't see any benefit in doing that, there are probably health risks (bugs crawling up your butt or juices leaking out of it, for instance). Besides, I took life drawing in college with nude models that for the most part didn't look all that great. There's a place for that, people are learning and practicing a skill. But just socializing? I don't see much of a point.
It is certainly not everyone's cup of tea. But that doesn't make it right or wrong. I would also think the most obvious health risk is melanoma. Bugs seem to be a problem with or without cloths. Again, I totally respect the mass aversion from most of society due to the 'societal norms' we grew up with, but that doesn't make it wrong. In fact, many societies around the world have quite the opposite norm where nudity is considered no big deal. Often times we look down on those cultures as being unenlightened, which says more about us then them IMO.
 
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CoolDude68

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I hate clothes! In fact, if I were single I'd consider it. I say single because my conservative wife would never do that. Heck, she's even modest around me! lol Anyway, there's nothing wrong with choosing not to be clothed. It's the intent behind anything. If you can look at other human beings that are nude without any lust involved, then it's no different than looking at another person who is clothed, or in a bathing suit, or towel. The clothing isn't the issue, it's the thought process. God knows our hearts.

Good luck in your ventures.
 
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Dave-W

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There have been a few threads on this topic in the men's folder.
I find it interesting that all the posters here are male ....
 
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dayhiker

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AMOG .. thanks for your well thought out post.
I'm with you on this one.

It is interesting that men post in these threads. Yet when one goes to a nudist resort its almost even with the number of females to males.
 
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Poppyseed78

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I don't really care what others do in regards to this, but personally I'm not into nudism. I feel physically safer with clothing on, from the sun, insects, other environmental hazards, etc. I'm comfortable with my body, but I'm not comfortable with anyone besides myself and my husband seeing it (and my doctor of course). I also think it's more sanitary and hygienic for people to wear clothes. The thought of sitting on a chair, nude, after someone else has sat on it nude makes me a little green around the gills lol. Just my personal opinion.
 
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CoolDude68

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...I also think it's more sanitary and hygienic for people to wear clothes. The thought of sitting on a chair, nude, after someone else has sat on it nude makes me a little green around the gills lol. Just my personal opinion.

Good point. Yeah, that would be something to be careful about. I suppose one could carry around a small box of Santi-wipes at all times. :)
 
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dayhiker

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Its standard procedure that if one is naked that one carry a towel or something personal to sit on. So in reality one never has to worry about sitting naked where someone else just sat naked.
 
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Dave-W

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Good point. Yeah, that would be something to be careful about. I suppose one could carry around a small box of Santi-wipes at all times. :)
OK for hard surfaces. But what do you do with upholstered furniture, like an easy chair or a couch?
 
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Dave-W

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Its standard procedure that if one is naked that one carry a towel or something personal to sit on. So in reality one never has to worry about sitting naked where someone else just sat naked.
OK - That could work.
 
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Poppyseed78

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Its standard procedure that if one is naked that one carry a towel or something personal to sit on. So in reality one never has to worry about sitting naked where someone else just sat naked.

That's reassuring lol.
 
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JackRT

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Ten years ago my daughter got married on the beach at a Mexican resort. I did not know in advance that it was a "topless optional" beach. After 5 minutes it seemed perfectly natural and my eye strain disappeared.
 
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faroukfarouk

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Ten years ago my daughter got married on the beach at a Mexican resort. I did not know in advance that it was a "topless optional" beach. After 5 minutes it seemed perfectly natural and my eye strain disappeared.
Was the happy couple clothed, though, for the ceremony?
 
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Yes the entire wedding party was fully clothed.

Which reminds me of an old joke.
Q. What is one advantage of a nudist wedding?
A. You can always tell the best man.:D
 
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dayhiker

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Nothing the in first few pages of Scripture say you shall not be naked!
And if you think God clothing Adam and Eve is an example of of how we should live, then you should be consistent and only where clothes made of animal skins like Adam and Eve did, because the cloths made from human hands wasn't good enough!
 
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Dave-W

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t isn't Christian.
Like, it's in the first few pages of Scripture.
As Dayhiker said, there is no prohibition in the "first few pages of scripture."

What IS in the first few chapters of Genesis is that after the fall, Adam and Mrs Adam (she did not have a separate name at that point) covered themselves in fig leaves and hid in the brush because they were "ashamed."

Did not our Lord die to free us from shame?
 
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Dave-W

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Which reminds me of an old joke.
Q. What is one advantage of a nudist wedding?
A. You can always tell the best man.:D
Sorry - I'm not up for it. :)
 
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