Naturism (nudism)

A Catholic Friend said:

I have nothing against naturism in a proper naturist area. If you don't think you would be comfortable trying it then it is not right for you.

God bless.

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That pretty much sums it up

mandyangel said:

love your siggy. cutey horsey!

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It is a kangaroo

Cactus Jack said:

Why mention it? How did you mention it? That means a lot. If it's in a personal conversation, then it's uncalled for. If you meet & greet everyone and start shaking hands telling them "and I'm a nudist, too!", then it's justified. It's all in how you introduced it.

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I was about to start a ministry on behalf of the church (not related to nudism). It was important for them (the pastor/top leaders) to know about it beforehand, as if they found out and didn't like me being involved in nudism, a half-started ministry would be worse than no ministry started at all.

Cactus Jack said:

Again...WHY? First, why ask your boss for permission to tell anyone about it, and second why bother telling them unless you're advertising it. And that, in the context you have stated so far, leads me to believe they were in the right because you were advertising not just nudism, but sex.

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Because the boss is the head of the camp. He oversees everything. It's called being respectful. The camp allowed Christians that listened to rap and had big gauges in their ears. I figured maybe I would be alright too. Why should I have to hide telling people about a significant part of my life? Do I tell you to hide being a Christian? Sounds pretty ridiculous to me.

And where did we go jumping from advertising nudism to advertising sex? Nudism has nothing to do with sex. People can have sex with their clothes on. Lack of clothing is irrelevant.

Cactus Jack said:

I wouldn't have consulted with anyone. Christian summer camp is NOT the place to do the nudist gig.

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I wasn't going to be nude at the summer camp. I merely wanted some of my coworkers to know who I was. Big difference.

Balugon,

If you were walking around nude in your household...I would not see that as grounds to fire or excommunicate you. If you were with other naturist somewhere I really don't see the conflict of interest. I am not a naturist and even I can see you were mistreated.

Any time authority is involved with any question that involves sex or nudity those authorities are going to feel defensive. We have all seen it on TV someone texts a nude picture, makes a sexual comment, a 6 yr old kissed a classmate. The new media blasts this story for a couple of days and wants to interview the author to ask what they are doing about it. Letters are sent to parents. Parents are interviewed on the sidewalk.
Even if authorities thought it was OK for someone to be nude outside of work or a ministry they would say NO because they don't want TV cameras outside the entrance asking everyone questions and being on the 5 o'clock news!

Life is funny that way...

Do you have any friends who are non nudist?

If you make a new friend how do you tell them you are a nudist?

Should you tell them?

I neither broadcast my beliefs to anyone, nor refrain from some comment where I consider that would be appropriate. Many of my friends know my beliefs.

John
NZ

Yes you can still be a christian
But I think there is such a thing as conduct in a social environment. I personally believe it is a form of voyeurism.
I always find it funny that many men often say it is part of their makeup to be visual and enjoy the female form, enjoy a good cleavage, short skirt, can't help looking etc blah blah. Yet all of a sudden naked woman in a nudist colony and "oh no", it is not like that at all...
Just remember old people join these things as well, who the heck wants to see what gravity really eventually does, swinging in the wind LOL ...bleeerk not me!

earningmywings said:

Yes you can still be a christian
But I think there is such a thing as conduct in a social environment. I personally believe it is a form of voyeurism.
I always find it funny that many men often say it is part of their makeup to be visual and enjoy the female form, enjoy a good cleavage, short skirt, can't help looking etc blah blah. Yet all of a sudden naked woman in a nudist colony and "oh no", it is not like that at all...

That's where actual experience trumps mere assumption.

Just remember old people join these things as well, who the heck wants to see what gravity really eventually does, swinging in the wind LOL ...bleeerk not me!

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That is a terrible, sub Christian statement.
a) Is the Holy Spirit awkward about indwelling some of God's temples?
b) It tells some people that they are not acceptable as they are, so hide your bodily horrors.
c) It exhibits total brainwashing by the body image apostles of the fashion god.

Enjoy your old age as an enfleshed derelict.

John
NZ

a) Is the Holy Spirit awkward about indwelling some of God's temples?
No, but notice God's temples are not naked at church, work etc
b) It tells some people that they are not acceptable as they are,so hide your bodily horrors.
Naked? Absolutely ! ( hiding bodily horrors?that's why public toilets have doors even though that's natural as well)
c) It exhibits total brainwashing by the body image apostles of the fashion god.
Fashion is not in question here, brandishing one's nudity is
Fashion god is not in question, lack of it is LOL
Prov 11:22

Enjoy your old age as an enfleshed derelict.
Thank you. I will enjoy your voyeurism before your eyesight wanes

earningmywings said:

a) Is the Holy Spirit awkward about indwelling some of God's temples?
No, but notice God's temples are not naked at church, work etc

Wrong definition of church for starters. We are church as God's people wherever we are. Clothing is necessary for many reasons, but nakedness in some situations is not precluded by such necessities. Did you know Christian baptisms were performed naked for some centuries, and that both John and Jesus were naked at baptism?

b) It tells some people that they are not acceptable as they are,so hide your bodily horrors.
Naked? Absolutely ! ( hiding bodily horrors?that's why public toilets have doors even though that's natural as well)

That is suggesting God finds many human bodies somewhat gross. And, don't equate some western societal values as divinely ordained. Our sense of privacy and individualism were unknown in biblical times.

c) It exhibits total brainwashing by the body image apostles of the fashion god.
Fashion is not in question here, brandishing one's nudity is
Fashion god is not in question, lack of it is LOL
Prov 11:22

Which reads:
Prov 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. NIV.

What does that have to do with wrong concepts of physical beauty?

Your views exhibit cultural values. That was my point, which I maintain.

Enjoy your old age as an enfleshed derelict.
Thank you. I will enjoy your voyeurism before your eyesight wanes
Seems to me that you can't get beyond objectifying women - they are sexual stimulants.

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John
NZ

Wow, some people only see things one way? How sad.

I am somewhat surprised at the anger against naturist in this thread and website in general. It is one thing not wanting to be a participant. It is quite another questioning a person's Christianity.

I have known a few naturist in various countries. From what I can tell...even the non-Christian ones, never tried to push it on anyone or shock others.

Which makes me find the hostility towards them to be confusing.

There are a lot of people that can't imagine anyone being comfortable naked around other people. I hear them talk about it when they go to the doctors and such places.

I remember going to high places to get over the fear of heights when I was in the 6th grade. In like manner I'm glad I got over the fear of being naked around others in appropriate places. Its just adds to ones quality of life.

Nudity is godly state,as that is how he made us. That being said, I do not believe in public nudity, only social nudity like clothing optional beaches, coed spas, and family nudity. Also, nudity in a medical setting is okay, as well as being a life model for artists.
Nudity at church would not be a good thing, as we need safeguards against religion becoming a fertility cult. Nudity is not inappropriate content and is not automatically a lustful situation.

BroBrendan said:

Nudity is godly state,as that is how he made us. That being said, I do not believe in public nudity, only social nudity like clothing optional beaches, coed spas, and family nudity. Also, nudity in a medical setting is okay, as well as being a life model for artists.
Nudity at church would not be a good thing, as we need safeguards against religion becoming a fertility cult. Nudity is not inappropriate content and is not automatically a lustful situation.

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I agree with most of your post, but...do you really think the 50+year-old nudists at church are in danger of becoming a fertility cult?

True, nudity is not inappropriate content, and is not a lustful situation unless someone has a problem with lustful thoughts (same as when clothed). I have attended a nudist church many times, and have never had the nudity interfere with the spiritual focus there. In fact, as we sang our final hymn in (clothed) church today, I was thinking how much more profound it would have been for everyone to be nude. It fit with the hymn.

Darkhorse said:

I agree with most of your post, but...do you really think the 50+year-old nudists at church are in danger of becoming a fertility cult?

True, nudity is not inappropriate content, and is not a lustful situation unless someone has a problem with lustful thoughts (same as when clothed). I have attended a nudist church many times, and have never had the nudity interfere with the spiritual focus there. In fact, as we sang our final hymn in (clothed) church today, I was thinking how much more profound it would have been for everyone to be nude. It fit with the hymn.

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"unless someone has lustful thoughts." That is the crux of the issue! Christians should refrain from activities which might provoke sin in others for their sake! You make it sound like a perversion to lust in the presence of a nude person of the opposite sex!

We do not serve alcohol in church and many refrain outside of church so that those who may struggle with alcoholism may not be tempted. Nudists seem more concerned with their own pleasure rather than willingness to avoid tempting others!

Nudity was a natural state before Adam and Eve sinned. After they sinned, they were ashamed and wanted to cover themselves. Paul spoke of a further covering in which the mortal will be swelled up by immortality.

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:13 (See also Romans 14:21)

LARMOG said:

"unless someone has lustful thoughts." That is the crux of the issue! Christians should refrain from activities which might provoke sin in others for their sake! You make it sound like a perversion to lust in the presence of a nude person of the opposite sex!

We do not serve alcohol in church and many refrain outside of church so that those who may struggle with alcoholism may not be tempted. Nudists seem more concerned with their own pleasure rather than willingness to avoid tempting others!

Nudity was a natural state before Adam and Eve sinned. After they sinned, they were ashamed and wanted to cover themselves.

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Yes, lustful thoughts are the crux of the issue, whether the people involved are clothed, nude, or anything else. If nudity causes people to lust, they should avoid it, but what about lusting for clothed people? I've been guilty of that many times, and the solution is not to avoid people. The problem is within my own heart, and the solution is God changing my heart to look at people differently, which with me, is always a work in progress. Lusting for the opposite sex, although sinful, is certainly not a perversion!

If you have never experienced non-sexual nudity, it probably seems impossible that mixed-sex nudity could exist without lust, but it can. Our culture's incessant association of nudity with sex is responsible for this belief; when people experience non-sexual nudity long enough, they realize the error of this association.

The Bible describes Adam and Eve as "afraid", not "ashamed" after the Fall, and they had good reason to be afraid, having disobeyed and realized the wrongness of their sin. Their desire to cover themselves was a desire to hide from and protect themselves from God.

For what it's worth, some denominations (Catholic, Lutheran, etc.) do use wine in Communion.

Darkhorse said:

Yes, lustful thoughts are the crux of the issue, whether the people involved are clothed, nude, or anything else. If nudity causes people to lust, they should avoid it, but what about lusting for clothed people? I've been guilty of that many times, and the solution is not to avoid people. The problem is within my own heart, and the solution is God changing my heart to look at people differently, which with me, is always a work in progress. Lusting for the opposite sex, although sinful, is certainly not a perversion!

If you have never experienced non-sexual nudity, it probably seems impossible that mixed-sex nudity could exist without lust, but it can. Our culture's incessant association of nudity with sex is responsible for this belief; when people experience non-sexual nudity long enough, they realize the error of this association.

The Bible describes Adam and Eve as "afraid", not "ashamed" after the Fall, and they had good reason to be afraid, having disobeyed and realized the wrongness of their sin. Their desire to cover themselves was a desire to hide from and protect themselves from God.

For what it's worth, some denominations (Catholic, Lutheran, etc.) do use wine in Communion.

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Hi Darkhorse!
We cannot stop every form of lust but we do not have to assist it either!

A man (or woman) may lust after the opposite sex no matter what. But let's be honest, a man is more visually stimulated and will often be much more tempted to lust after a woman who is dressed scantily than one who is modestly dressed!

Adam and Eve were "afraid because they were naked." They were unaware of their nakedness until they sinned! Their first instinct was to cover themselves!

God had every opportunity to say to them, "Don't be ashamed of your bodies - continue to be naked - there is nothing to be ashamed of."

Instead what did he do?

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21