Nudism

[Magisterium]

The Catholic position is that the human body is sacred. Further, the Church also teaches that the procreative life-giving facilities are to be treated with the greatest of reverence. It is through these facilities that people interact directly in the divine plan with the creation of new life.

As such, the sexual organs are reserved for the intimacy of the marital act and not to be regarded or treated indifferently. To do so is to essentially desecrate them. The problem that the Church sees with public nudity is that in baring the sexual organs with indifference, one effectively strips themselves of the dignity bestowed upon humanity by God. This dignity is what effectively elevates mankind above the rest of creation and through which he holds dominion over it. To throw off that dignity by an act of the will is to effectively equate one's self with the animals who are unaware of their nakedness.

 

[Caedmon]

As such, the sexual organs are reserved for the intimacy of the marital act and not to be regarded or treated indifferently. To do so is to essentially desecrate them. The problem that the Church sees with public nudity is that in baring the sexual organs with indifference, one effectively strips themselves of the dignity bestowed upon humanity by God. This dignity is what effectively elevates mankind above the rest of creation and through which he holds dominion over it. To throw off that dignity by an act of the will is to effectively equate one's self with the animals who are unaware of their nakedness.

Could you provide the Catechism reference numbers for this argument, please?

 

[Buzz Dixon]

I'm puzzled by the phrase "practicing nudism."

I mean, who can't get it right the first time?

 

[aggie03]

God gave us a conscience that we should feel ashamed in certain instances - being nude is one...why would I want to violate the things that God has established? Why would I want to sin in order to fight sin?

 

[Risen Tree]

God gave us a conscience that we should feel ashamed in certain instances - being nude is one...why would I want to violate the things that God has established? Why would I want to sin in order to fight sin?

Being nude should make us shameful? Do you feel awkward when taking a shower?

Culture, one's upbringing, and social acceptability all play a major part of what shames us. Case in point, I'm currently alt-tabbing between CF and a FPS* game that I would have been quite ashamed to play several years ago, but it does not bother me in the slightest to play it now. My perspective has changed.

* First-person shooter

 

[Eudaimonist]

The Catholic position is that the human body is sacred. Further, the Church also teaches that the procreative life-giving facilities are to be treated with the greatest of reverence.

I agree with the spirit of this.

As such, the sexual organs are reserved for the intimacy of the marital act and not to be regarded or treated indifferently. To do so is to essentially desecrate them. The problem that the Church sees with public nudity is that in baring the sexual organs with indifference, one effectively strips themselves of the dignity bestowed upon humanity by God.

Why must one conceal what is sacred in order to preserve its sacred character? Going nude in public isn't the same thing as being a stripper or starring in a pornographic film or equating oneself with an animal.

 

[BigToe]

I don't feel shamed by my nude body. I am not a nudist, nor have I been to a nudist resort- but any uncomfort I would feel in such a situation would be one of confidence- not shamefulness. If God created something beautiful should we not share it? Being nude does not mean you are being disrespectful, naughty, animalistic or desecrating anything. It is when people struggle with other issues that being nude in public becomes a concern. If one cannot control their gaze, lust for others, bodily responses, comments, etc- then they shouldn't be nude. But if someone can be around another person while nude and not behave any differently than when clothed- what is the big deal?

 

[silky anteater]

Nudity is shameful. Prior to the fall of man, nakedness wasn't sinful, but when when man fell, nudity became shameful. A number of Christian authors have discussed how Adam and Eve's attempts to cover their spiritual nakedness was a picture of how Christ would eventuall cover us with his righteousness. Adam and Eve attempted to cover (the own works) their spiritual nakedness with aprons made of fig leaves, but this was inadequate and God graciouly covered (a picture of the atonement) them with robes. Clothing is a symbol of our righteousness and salvation; nudity is a symbol of our spiritual nakedness.

Historically, nakedness has been associated with pagan religions and nature worship. Since the Garden of Eden, satan has been trying to undresss man, and has been quite successful at it.

How long will it be before Christian women - collectively - will embrace the wearing of thongs?

Do you think public nudism is a sin?

 

[Archivist]

Nudity is shameful.

The naked human body can be a thing of great beauty. Please note, I'm not saying that my body falls in this category--the last time I was at the beach a couple save the whales guys from GreenPeace kept trying to put me back in the water!

We Americans seem to equate nudity with sex. This is unfortunate, because it leads to unhealthy attitudes towards both nudity and sex. The United States is probably the most breast-obsessed nation in the world. If you do not believe me just look at our television shows, our advertising and our fashions. We do everthing we can to emphasize female breasts without actually exposing them. Even breast feeding in public is strongly discouraged, which is sad because nothing is more beautiful than a woman nursing her infant.

Compare our views with continential Europe, where nudity is much more accepted. Breastfeeding in public is common. Topless beaches for both sexes are the norm. In some parts of Europe both sexes even sunbath naked in public parks. The intersting thing is that you can always pick out the American men on a European beach--they are the ones staring at the topless or naked women.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the naked human body. The problem lies with our attitude towards it.

 

[waterbear]

Do you think public nudism is a sin?

A sin, no. But I do believe nudity among people of the opposite gender (and adults) should be private between husband and wife.

 

[BigToe]

because some people feel the need to cover up because they are ashamed of their nekkid bodies does not mean that everyone is ashamed of their naked forms. nor is it reason to make everyone remain clothed when they feel no need to.

 

[FadingWhispers3]

I believe that nudity has the potential to be sin. Cultural differences and context determine when it is appropriate or not. The human body, clothed or not, is beautiful. One problem with nudity is that it may make life harder on other people who have a different understanding of the body. The intentions of the person in question, above all, determine the nature of the situation. People should be considerate towards others and not cause others to stumble.

 

[Talmidah]

Do you think public nudism is a sin?

Yes.

 

[waterbear]

because some people feel the need to cover up because they are ashamed of their nekkid bodies does not mean that everyone is ashamed of their naked forms. nor is it reason to make everyone remain clothed when they feel no need to.

People are allowed, in public most places, to expose 90-95% of their bodies. When people go to the beach, they probably expose ~80% of their bodies on average. How is it that these people are ashamed of their bodies granted that they simply are refusing to exhibit their genitals to the world? Am I ashamed of my tongue if I don't give stick it out periodically?

I see no correlation between confidence in one's body and agreeableness to flaunting one's genitals in public.

 

[Risen Tree]

Nudity is shameful. Prior to the fall of man, nakedness wasn't sinful, but when when man fell, nudity became shameful. A number of Christian authors have discussed how Adam and Eve's attempts to cover their spiritual nakedness was a picture of how Christ would eventuall cover us with his righteousness. Adam and Eve attempted to cover (the own works) their spiritual nakedness with aprons made of fig leaves, but this was inadequate and God graciouly covered (a picture of the atonement) them with robes. Clothing is a symbol of our righteousness and salvation; nudity is a symbol of our spiritual nakedness.

Historically, nakedness has been associated with pagan religions and nature worship. Since the Garden of Eden, satan has been trying to undresss man, and has been quite successful at it.

How long will it be before Christian women - collectively - will embrace the wearing of thongs?

http://www.rejectshame.com/RSpride.html

 

[Risen Tree]

People are allowed, in public most places, to expose 90-95% of their bodies. When people go to the beach, they probably expose ~80% of their bodies on average. How is it that these people are ashamed of their bodies granted that they simply are refusing to exhibit their genitals to the world? Am I ashamed of my tongue if I don't give stick it out periodically?

I see no correlation between confidence in one's body and agreeableness to flaunting one's genitals in public.

Question: If exposing 90-95% of our bodies isn't really that bad, what's so awful about baring the other 5-10% of them?

 

[hakrev]

Nudism encourages inner sexual desires in many of today's coultures, but God didn't mean it to be this way. He made us nude for a reason. It was his will that we were made nude and to try to hide away from this is actually a sin. I would like to refer to adam and eve, who walked the earth nude until saten distracted them and told them that it was shameful to be naked. So they clothed themselves and God got mad at them partly because they had covered up the precious forms that he had given them.

Personally I'm not a fan of being nude in public, partly due to my conservative christian up-bringing. But I do understand the reason for wanting to show what God gave ya. As long as it's not emphasising on sexuality. Pornography for instance is voulgar and disgusting and normaly features men and woman, who want to show off their private parts to the world to try and increase the sexual desires that men/woman so commonly struggle with.

Their is much to be said for those who do not fear walking in public naked, personally it would kinda freak me out. But as to whether or not it's a sin. well that mainly has to do with whether you are getting nude in public because you wish to show off your sexuality or whether you are doing it because you want to show what a wonderful body you were blessed with. Also if your doing it for the soul purpose of showing off your body, well that would be considered pride, and of course this is a sin. So the only way this is not a sin, is if you are confortable with this in your heart and soul, and are doing it because of your love for God's wonderful creation.

 

[silky anteater]

I agree. The nude body isn't intrinsically wrong because man in his original state was nude; however, because of the fall, God wants the body covered. Rememeber God was the one who designed clothing for Adam and Eve. God didn't give Adam and Eve fur bikinis to wear. He have them tunic like garments (the Hebrew word is Kuttonet) to wear (Gen. 3:21). A kuttonet was a long shirt like garment that went from the neck to at least down to the calves. Adam and Eve covered their privates; God covered their whole body.

In regards to the European mentality towards nudity, their conscience has been desensitized to nudity. Yes, viewing nudes at the beach on a regular basis would become natural, less erotic than viewing people in seductive clothing, but this doesn't justify public nudity. Just because nudity can become natural or non-erotic doesn't make it right. Remember God commands our lives to be modest, holy, and spiced with sobriety.

Ultimately the issue regarding nudity isn't about eroticism, but about God commanding us to cover the body. Clothing is a symbol of our righteousness and salvation; nakedness is a symbol of our spiritual nakedness that occurred when man fell in the Garden.

"Search me o God and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me."

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the naked human body. The problem lies with our attitude towards it.

 

[waterbear]

Question: If exposing 90-95% of our bodies isn't really that bad, what's so awful about baring the other 5-10% of them?

For most people (guessing):
I think it's mostly culture, that nobody else does it makes it inappropriate that you do it. Fundamentally, I don't think most people think it's bad, just inappropriate for the above "reason."

I might also add that clothing does serve to reduce movement in certain areas when walking around or especially running; covering up certain parts of the body might reduce risk of infection (how people cover up their facial orifices when respitory diseases are spreadi); and - in the case of men - the clothing can serve some protective role.

Myself:
I think it can promote initimacy/bonding to keep full nudity private between spouses (to the extent possible).

My major point was just that this is not an issue of shame of one's own body. I'm quite comfortable seeing myself naked; when I get married I won't mind my spouse seeing me naked. However, I will NOT expose myself in public, and will NOT expose myself to any other person of the opposite gender (spouse exempt of course). Refusal to make something public does NOT imply shame: there are other reasons to insist on privacy.

 

[Buzz Dixon]

Weird thought: Is it okay for a buncha blind people to practice group nudity so long as they keep their hands to themselves?

I mean, if you're blind, and you're with a buncha other blind people, who's gonna know?!?!?