Nudism

[stringsinger]

Earlier in this post someone said that all guys can be tempted by nudity. I agree with that.. I'm not saying that all guys are perverts, BUT that God wired them to be visually oriented.. just like women are emotionally oriented.

I am so tired of hearing Christians toss off this idea that men are "wired to be visually oriented" as if this is an established fact. Where does this idea come from? Sex researchers who "test their hypothesis" by showing pornography to male and female subjects? Evolutionary psychologists who have a prior philosophical commitment to the physicalist idea that human beings are nothing more than machines programed to respond to their environments in ways that maximize reproductive advantage? There certainly is no biblical support for this view of human nature. I can personally attest that vision doesn't play a vital role in my sexual relationship with my wife. My responses come from my emotions of love, tenderness and admiration for her. This is just as true when the lights are out as when they are on. I strongly suspect in fact, that if I were to become blind my sexual relationship with my wife would not suffer in the least. We really do not advance the understanding of human nature or help the Body of Christ in any way by advancing these kind of silly ideas. Believe me, I am not faulting Larkspur here, he is only repeating what so many Christian leaders carelessly say.

What happens when we accept this lie and teach it? A woman so taught, may wrongly assume that all that is necessary for her to bring to her sexual relationship with her husband is for her to expose her body to him. What then when she begins to age a bit? Will she become become obsessed with retaining her youthful looks? Will he start searching for someone more visually pleasing because "after all that is how God designed him to function sexually?" No wonder so much of the Church behaves no differently than the surrounding culture when it comes to sexual ethics!

Let us apply an assumption of Intelligent Design in our thoughts about the psychology of human sexuality: God designed our bodies to be trainable to do various tasks though repetition. This is how we can learn to walk, ride a bicycle, drive a car or play a musical instrument. When we have practiced them enough, we can perform these tasks practically without thinking. Human sexuality is no different. If you want to know why so many men in our culture have a visually oriented sexuality, it is this: in our culture that shuns simple nudity, yet consumes massive quantities of pornography, men who repeatedly use porn to sexually stimulate themselves are literally training their bodies to respond sexually to visual images.

Men who live in cultures where nudity is common, don't have a sexual reaction whenever they see an exposed female breast. Men who do not use porn and who's primary experience of other naked human beings is in the context of social nudism where rules of behavior apply, are repeatedly "practicing" civil, non-sexual behavior toward others who are in their created state (naked.)

I am such a man (a nudist,) and I can assure you that my sexual relationship with my wife is both exclusive and satisfying and it is not in any way dependent upon visual stimulation.

-Gregg Gatewood (stringsinger)

 

[Archivist]

Men who live in cultures where nudity is common, don't have a sexual reaction whenever they see an exposed female breast. Men who do not use porn and who's primary experience of other naked human beings is in the context of social nudism where rules of behavior apply, are repeatedly "practicing" civil, non-sexual behavior toward others who are in their created state (naked.)

Very well said!

I have noted on other threads on this topic that you can always pick out American men on the topless beaches in Europe--they are the ones who constantly stare at the topless women. The European men don't seem to pay all that much attention because they are used to seeing exposed female breasts.

If tomorrow women in America were to start going topless everyplace where men now go topless there would certainly be a transition period. However, within a few months I would expect that American men would stop staring and accept it as the norm, just as European men accept it as the norm now.

 

[Natman]

Thanks for your observations.
Just a little more information than we need.

Hey. Sometimes the truth hurts.

This truth only itches... a lot!:o


Son-cerely,
Nathan Powers

 

[Natman]

If tomorrow women in America were to start going topless everyplace where men now go topless there would certainly be a transition period. However, within a few months I would expect that American men would stop staring and accept it as the norm, just as European men accept it as the norm now.

I think it would take a lot less than a few months. My guess would be only a few days at the most.

Day one... "My word, would you look at that!"

Day two... "I saw some of those yesterday."

Day three... "Pass me the sports page."


Son-cerely,
Nathan Powers

 

[Archivist]

I think it would take a lot less than a few months. My guess would be only a few days at the most.

Day one... "My word, would you look at that!"

Day two... "I saw some of those yesterday."

Day three... "Pass me the sports page."

You my be correct. Either way, it wouldn't be long before a topless woman would be seen as the norm.

People forget that men's bathing suits once included tops and that it was considered obscene for men to go topless in public.

 

[Natman]

People forget that men's bathing suits once included tops and that it was considered obscene for men to go topless in public.

They also forget that there was a time, even in America, when swim suits were not necessary at all.

Son-cerely,
Nathan Powers

 

[Archivist]

There is an article at http://www.cincinnatibabes.com/article.mgi2?name=obscene-nipples that does an excellent job describing the unhealthy attitude that we American's have towards the exposed female breast.

 

[Natman]

In an effort to gathe statistical information, I have created two polls that deal directly and indirectly with Christan naturism (nudism).

I am most interested in "Christians" that participate in either skinny-dipping or naturism in general.

They are...

"Have you ever gone skinny dipping?"
http://www.christianforums.com/t2079688-christian-naturism-skinny-dipping.html

"Do you ever enjoy Naturism?"
http://www.christianforums.com/t1994853-do-you-ever-enjoy-naturism.html

If you are a "Christian" please take the time to answer the polls.

Son-cerely,
Nathan Powers

 

[Natman]

Some feedback from some of the polls I have taken...

Pertaining to naturism,

One Christian forum indicated that 80% have either tried naturism or are currently involved in naturism in some form or another.

Another site indicated that only 22% have either tried naturism or are currently involved in naturism in some form or another.

Pertaining to Skinny dipping,

One thread indicated that 68% currently participate in skinny dipping either alone or in a group.

Another thread indicated that 55% currently participate in skinny dipping either alone or in a group.

Yet another thread indicated that 52% currently participate in skinny dipping either alone or in a group.

 

[feline]

Im packing my bags and spending my summer in NY!

Don't bother - no one ever takes advantage of the new law

 

[Doug45]

Feline is absolutely accurate. Lived in Rochester area where the original precident setting case was heard. Have been in the park where the initial protest happened and spent several months waiting and watching for my first topless woman in public.

Lived another 8 years in that area and never did see one.

Interesting because the perception that was put forth is that there are many woman out there who want the freedom to do so. Obviously, that was not the case.

Doug

 

[Maynard Keenan]

" In Genesis 3:21 God clothed Adam and Eve. If being nude were okay, this would have been unnecessary. That's a very brief point, but it's all I've got time for now .
"

God made them naked. If they needed clothes they would have had them. He made them because they desired them after the fall.

 

[Doug45]

Maynard,

Adam and Eve first covered themselves to hide their shame and sin from God. God clothed them with the skin of an animal sacrifice to cover their sin and shame. Jesus sacrifice cleansed us from our sins and shame.

Our sins have been removed because of the cross. Where there is no sin and no shame, there is no need to cover.

Doug

 

[Natman]

RC Sproul - "Covering the Shame - The Holiness of God"

On my way into work this morning, I heard RC Sproul discuss the topic of human nakedness in a radio broadcast titled "Covering the Shame" which is a excerpt from his book "The Holiness of God".
There are many positive comments relating to being naked and his closing remarks are great.

I think you should be able to listen to it by clicking on the following links...

http://broadcast.ligonier.org/playlists/rym20050920.m3u (Wind Media)

http://broadcast.ligonier.org/playlists/rym20050920.asx (Real Player)

Son-cerely,
Nathan Powers

 

[Natman]

RC Sproul - "Covering the Shame (from "The Holiness of God")

On my way into work this morning, I heard RC Sproul discuss the topic of human nakedness in a radio broadcast titled "Covering the Shame" which is a excerpt from his book "The Holiness of God".
There are many positive comments relating to being naked and his closing remarks are great.

I think you should be able to listen to it by clicking on the following links...

http://broadcast.ligonier.org/playlists/rym20050920.m3u (Wind Media)

http://broadcast.ligonier.org/playlists/rym20050920.asx (Real Player)

Son-cerely,
Nathan Powers

 

[tgg]

Hi Nat,

I posted those links onto the groups that I moderate, and a few people have written to me and complained that they could not access the sites.



tgg

 

[""]

I get an instrumental on the real audio link.

 

[Velo Princesse]

I have been researching nudism, preferably called naturalism, lately and here is what I've found. Alot of the resorts are family places, meaning children are welcome. Also, it is against the rules to hit on anyone while you are there and there is no touching, unless w/ your partner, or any kind of sexual contact at all. They are just people chilling out the way nature intended. There is nothing sexual about it at all. The rest of the country thinks it's sexual because most people can't handle the sight of the human form. I read on one of the websites, and posted here at some point, this quote which I really enjoyed:

"Despite popular belief, the human body is really quite common and they all basically look the same... that's why we can mass produce shirts."

 

[Johnnz]

" In Genesis 3:21 God clothed Adam and Eve. If being nude were okay, this would have been unnecessary. That's a very brief point, but it's all I've got time for now .
"

God made them naked. If they needed clothes they would have had them. He made them because they desired them after the fall.

Their nakedness was before God and each other, open, unsullied, guiltless. Sin produced fear of God (they were afraid) and the shame of having broken their relationship with God caused them to attempt concealment. That was impossible. God graciously provided a sacrificial cover, a recurrent theme throughout Scripture.

And, if we accept that it was Jesus walking & talking in the garden (a theophany) we have the first example of redemptive sacrifice recoded in Scripture.

Sin broke relationship with God, with each other, with themselves and with creation. Jesus has begun the wonderful work of restoration of all those broken relationships which will find its final fulfillment in the new earth.

John
NZ

 

[precious stone]

Alot of the resorts are family places, meaning children are welcome. Also, it is against the rules to hit on anyone while you are there and there is no touching, unless w/ your partner, or any kind of sexual contact at all. They are just people chilling out the way nature intended. There is nothing sexual about it at all. The rest of the country thinks it's sexual because most people can't handle the sight of the human form.


So, do you know why most people can't handle the sight of the (naked/nude)human form?

Well, isn't it because porn has led people to think that way, that human form in nude...is an object for gratifying their sexual appetite?

But in the case here, I've seen an old man and a young man in nude, and do you know why ? Unfortunately, they were mentally disturbed and had to be sent to the mental institute. Where I live is not where you live. In our society, public nudism is a shame and degrading. Only those who are mentally disturbed dared to go nude publicly.

You can't do this in a muslim country, and it really depends where you live and the kind of society you're in. Obviously, even the tribal people in the jungles have started to wear clothes. They do not go in nude, but cover their private parts. A good place for those who opt for public nudism, I would suggest the rainforest or to join in the tribal people. Live in the jungle and enjoy nudism. That is truly natural surrounding.