- Jun 19, 2005
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Garden of Eden without fig-leaves hits raw nerve
Bill Martin's religious-based nudist camp has upset many quarters,
writes Tony
Allen-Mills in New York
19 Dec 05
IN the beginning was the word of God and God never said anything
about
brassieres or boxer shorts. Thus was born Natura, America's first
Christian
nudist camp.
After two years of biblical debate over Adam and Eve and their fig
leaves and
whether or not nudity is sinful, a 67-year-old Quaker grandfather is
preparing to open a modern-day Garden of Eden 65km north of Tampa,
Florida.
Bill Martin's ambitious plan for an 80ha Christian-oriented Family
Naturist
Village has survived legal challenges, doctrinal disputes and a
plague of
internet prudes. Land is now being cleared for the opening next year
of what
may become the world's only Christian community to feature nude
volleyball.
Despite howls of complaint from fundamentalists who have likened
Martin to the
Antichrist -- and described his nudist plans as "graphic evidence of
America's moral collapse" -- Natura intends to build 50 houses around
a
non-denominational church where clothing for services will be
optional.
He has fought with his neighbours over property rights, fallen out
with other
nudists over his promotional material and sparked a vigorous internet
debate
over whether the true path to godliness really involves getting naked.
Yet Martin remains confident that Christians will flock to Natura to
experience the spiritual benefits of a lifestyle "free from body
shame". He
is spending more than $US2million ($2.68million) on a nudist
recreational
complex that will also feature a hotel, campsites and a children's
water
park.
"As evidenced by Adam and Eve, we believe that when God's children
are in the
right relationship to Him, they will be naked and unashamed,"
explains one of
Natura's brochures.
US Christians have long been intrigued by the biblical implications
of nudity
and Ilsley Boone, a Baptist pastor, was the founder in 1931 of the
American
Sunbathing Association, an early naturist group.
Martin and his supporters argue that nudism is unhealthy, especially
for
children, unless it occurs in a proper Christian context. He has
criticised
non-religious nudist camps for encouraging alcohol and
sensuality. "We are
going after a totally different group, a group that doesn't want a
sexual
atmosphere," he said. "There is absolutely no relationship between
nudity and
sex." Much of his group's philosophy appears in a book, Nakedness and
the
Bible, self-published on the internet by Paul Bowman, a Canadian
author. The
book cites several biblical references suggesting that God does not
disapprove of nudity and that Jesus may have been naked at several
key
moments of his life -- notably when he washed the feet of his
disciples.
Martin's supporters also claim that nude worship is much more in
keeping with
modest Christian values than are the ostentatious displays of wealth
on show
at the suburban "megachurches", where women attend services
in "designer
clothes and $90 haircuts", says one internet posting.
Although Martin's land has been used by naturists before -- the area
has the
largest concentration of nudist camps in the US -- he has alienated
local
residents with proposed property improvements that have spawned half
a dozen
lawsuits.
He has also upset the country's largest naturist association with his
"holier-than-thou" approach. Earlier this year Natura was expelled by
the
American Association for Nude Recreation, representing 270 member
organisations, on the grounds that his website was
publishing "sexually
exploitative material".
Martin also became embroiled in a bizarre dispute about an article
that
appeared on his website discussing male erections -- a perennial
concern for
novice nudists. Martin told the local press that the article was
meant to
help young men worried about an embarrassing reaction when first
confronting
naked women.
"If you can't speak about human nature, I don't know what you can
speak
about," he said. "Erections have got to be addressed. It's a major
concern of
teen males."
Martin's critics depict him as a religious fanatic whose criticisms
of rival
resorts are damaging the naturist industry. "We are not concerned
about him
taking our members," said Elf Anderson, who conducts nude marriage
ceremonies
at other resorts. "But we are concerned about the impression he gives
to the
public about us. We are all for wholesome family nudism -- but he's
just way
off the scale."
The Sunday Times
source
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,17606977,00.html
Bill Martin's religious-based nudist camp has upset many quarters,
writes Tony
Allen-Mills in New York
19 Dec 05
IN the beginning was the word of God and God never said anything
about
brassieres or boxer shorts. Thus was born Natura, America's first
Christian
nudist camp.
After two years of biblical debate over Adam and Eve and their fig
leaves and
whether or not nudity is sinful, a 67-year-old Quaker grandfather is
preparing to open a modern-day Garden of Eden 65km north of Tampa,
Florida.
Bill Martin's ambitious plan for an 80ha Christian-oriented Family
Naturist
Village has survived legal challenges, doctrinal disputes and a
plague of
internet prudes. Land is now being cleared for the opening next year
of what
may become the world's only Christian community to feature nude
volleyball.
Despite howls of complaint from fundamentalists who have likened
Martin to the
Antichrist -- and described his nudist plans as "graphic evidence of
America's moral collapse" -- Natura intends to build 50 houses around
a
non-denominational church where clothing for services will be
optional.
He has fought with his neighbours over property rights, fallen out
with other
nudists over his promotional material and sparked a vigorous internet
debate
over whether the true path to godliness really involves getting naked.
Yet Martin remains confident that Christians will flock to Natura to
experience the spiritual benefits of a lifestyle "free from body
shame". He
is spending more than $US2million ($2.68million) on a nudist
recreational
complex that will also feature a hotel, campsites and a children's
water
park.
"As evidenced by Adam and Eve, we believe that when God's children
are in the
right relationship to Him, they will be naked and unashamed,"
explains one of
Natura's brochures.
US Christians have long been intrigued by the biblical implications
of nudity
and Ilsley Boone, a Baptist pastor, was the founder in 1931 of the
American
Sunbathing Association, an early naturist group.
Martin and his supporters argue that nudism is unhealthy, especially
for
children, unless it occurs in a proper Christian context. He has
criticised
non-religious nudist camps for encouraging alcohol and
sensuality. "We are
going after a totally different group, a group that doesn't want a
sexual
atmosphere," he said. "There is absolutely no relationship between
nudity and
sex." Much of his group's philosophy appears in a book, Nakedness and
the
Bible, self-published on the internet by Paul Bowman, a Canadian
author. The
book cites several biblical references suggesting that God does not
disapprove of nudity and that Jesus may have been naked at several
key
moments of his life -- notably when he washed the feet of his
disciples.
Martin's supporters also claim that nude worship is much more in
keeping with
modest Christian values than are the ostentatious displays of wealth
on show
at the suburban "megachurches", where women attend services
in "designer
clothes and $90 haircuts", says one internet posting.
Although Martin's land has been used by naturists before -- the area
has the
largest concentration of nudist camps in the US -- he has alienated
local
residents with proposed property improvements that have spawned half
a dozen
lawsuits.
He has also upset the country's largest naturist association with his
"holier-than-thou" approach. Earlier this year Natura was expelled by
the
American Association for Nude Recreation, representing 270 member
organisations, on the grounds that his website was
publishing "sexually
exploitative material".
Martin also became embroiled in a bizarre dispute about an article
that
appeared on his website discussing male erections -- a perennial
concern for
novice nudists. Martin told the local press that the article was
meant to
help young men worried about an embarrassing reaction when first
confronting
naked women.
"If you can't speak about human nature, I don't know what you can
speak
about," he said. "Erections have got to be addressed. It's a major
concern of
teen males."
Martin's critics depict him as a religious fanatic whose criticisms
of rival
resorts are damaging the naturist industry. "We are not concerned
about him
taking our members," said Elf Anderson, who conducts nude marriage
ceremonies
at other resorts. "But we are concerned about the impression he gives
to the
public about us. We are all for wholesome family nudism -- but he's
just way
off the scale."
The Sunday Times
source
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,17606977,00.html
