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.
