Christian naturism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christian naturists are followers of the Christian faith who practice naturism or nudism, and thus are part of the clothes-free movement. They can be found in almost all branches and denominations of Christianity. Many have studied the Bible extensively and find no conflict between its teachings and naturism. However, most have various disagreements with New Age and/or humanist philosophy which is common among other naturists and wish to be separated from it. They see being nude as a wholesome way of life and acceptable state of dress which was never condemned by God in the Bible.
[edit] Foundation and history
In Genesis chapter 3 [1], Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit in defiance of God's command not to, persuaded by the devil in the form of a serpent. They immediately realize that they are naked, and sew fig leaves together to cover themselves. After hearing the sound of God walking in the garden, they hide themselves in the trees. God then asks Adam where he is located. Adam answers that he heard God, and was afraid because he is naked, so he hid himself (in spite of the fact they are wearing fig leaves). God asks him (perhaps rhetorically -- no reply is recorded), "Who told you that you are naked?" The implication, as Christian naturists see it, is that whoever told them they were naked was not of God. Furthermore, not only is God displeased that the forbidden fruit was eaten and sin had occurred, but also that they were now attempting to cover it up with clothing.
As Adam and Eve were man and wife (i.e. nudity within a marriage context) and there were no other humans were on the planet at this time, there seems to be no other explanation for covering their bodies except to hide their sin by hiding themselves from God -- not from each other. No longer nude by their own accord, God banned them from the Garden of Eden where they were currently living, and made them garments from animal skins. Christian naturists believe this was for protection from the harsher elements outside of the garden, and implied that sin requires a blood sacrifice. There is no mention that Adam and Eve should be ashamed of their bodies. As Jesus Christ is the blood sacrifice of Christians under the New Testament, Christian naturists believe there is no need to wear clothes as a covering for sin.
Other Bible passages include the story of King David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. Although David was rebuked by God for his lust of Bathsheba (a married woman), nothing was said about her nude bathing. [2] Further examples of passages which include references of public or semipublic nudity that are either not condemned by God, or are facilitated and commanded by him are Genesis 2:25, I Samuel 19:23-24, and Isaiah 20.
Christian naturists believe that social nudity and Christianity have been practiced together by singles and families for as long as Christianity has been in existence.[3] Regarding the upbringing of children, they may believe that when non-naturist parents tell their children they are too old to be seen nude in public, their innocence is lost. This often occurs as a child approaches the age of accountability (which can vary by denomination and culture). Conversely, non-naturists (whether Christian or not) may believe that if children were to see others nude and be seen nude themselves, that is precisely what would cost them their innocence. Thus, there is a severe and irreconcilable conflict between these two views. [4]
[edit] Facilities and the Internet
Several Web sites have been formed to facilitate communication and fellowship among naturist Christians throughout the world. Among these are the Christian Naturist Village, Christian Naturism Homepage, Boyd Allen’s Christian Naturism, the Fig Leaf Forum, RejectShame.com, Naturist-Christians forum, and the Christians4naturists. Other sites, such as Happy Nature, Family Skinnydippers and Clothesfree Forums, have active Christian or religious sections.
There is also an effort to open one or more clothing optional facilities, which are hospitable and friendly to Christians (including families) who practice this way of life. Many Christian naturists prefer resort and recreation sites which prohibit alcohol, smoking, gambling, and other adult lifestyles such as swinging. These sites might even have a Christian theme. This includes the controversial Natura resort in Pasco County, Florida which has been delayed in its opening. [5] It is managed by Bill Martin, who also operates the Naturist-Christians forum noted above. The naturist community as a whole has been quite polarized in either being for or against this resort. (Pasco County has seven nudist/naturist resorts -- by far the most of any county in the USA.) Also, the AANR status of Natura was revoked for a time, but has since been restored.
[edit] History
Historically, some religious sects, both Christian and syncretist, have made nudism a general practice. This was the case with the Adamites. The idea that the unclothed body is evil or sinful may originate in Platonic Asceticism (founded largely on the works of ancient Greek philosopher Plato) which was adopted and passed down by "Christian" Platonists in early church history. Platonism is a dualistic theology which proposes a realm of forms to include, on the one hand, "pure ideas", which are good; and, on the other hand, "matter", which is evil. When applied to humans, the soul is necessarily good, and the body is necessarily evil. Therefore, according to this philosophy, our "evil bodies" must be covered by clothing. Christian naturists reject such notions as unbiblical.
Christian naturists may also feel that modern decency laws are more relevant to the Victorian era than the Biblical era. In the previous few centuries, racism and anti-nudity attitudes were often linked closely together, as many people of European descent wanted nothing to do with "naked savages of the jungle." [6] Thus clothing, along with skin colour became an important factor in determining social status.
In the USA, the Christian naturism movement began in the late 1920s at nearly the same time as the start of the Great Depression. This was under the leadership of Baptist minister Ilsley Boone along with his wife, two daughters, and a son. He was vice president of the American League for Physical Culture (ALPC) and also headed the American Sunbathing Association. These later merged (without Boone) to become the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR).
[edit] Denominations
[edit] Catholics and Protestants
Non-denominational services are the most common among Protestant Christian naturists. Often someone's home or (with permission) a portion of a secular naturist resort is used. In fact, several resorts have chapels on their grounds for the purpose of providing worship services.[7] Two annual Christian Nudist Convocations are held regionally during the summer months at a naturist resort.
At most of the Farm & Wilderness camps in Vermont, USA, campers are free to wear what they want at the waterfronts. This includes skinny dipping after a discussion on body acceptance, and respecting others choices. All campers and staff participate in meetings for worship each day.[8]
[edit] LDS naturists
LDS naturists are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes colloquially known as "Mormons") who practice naturism or nudism, and are part of the clothes-free movement. Like other Christian Naturists, LDS Naturists have accepted casting aside their clothing as a wholesome state of dress for recreation; a state that is believed not to be condemned of God. A growing number of active members of the LDS religion consider themselves naturist.
Like other Christian naturists, LDS naturists reject the Gnostic teaching that the Body is evil and the Spirit is good. Rather, the spirit is good and that the body is sacred is the accepted belief. Although for the LDS naturist, this fact is supported by revelation, both modern and ancient. [9] [10] Both Christian naturists and Latter-day Saints believe that the body is created in the image of God. For the LDS naturist, however, this belief is further supported by modern scripture as well as ancient Scripture. For instance, in Ether 3:16[11], the Lord tells the brother of Jared that His spirit body is identical to His physical body, and He created man after the image of His Spirit body. See also Moses 2:27 [12] and Genesis 1:27 [13]. However, there are a few differences. Unlike their Protestant and Catholic Christian brothers and sisters, LDS naturists do not believe in the ideas of Original Sin. This is because of the Second Article of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which states: "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." [14] Also, LDS naturists pursue chaste naturism and nudism because they believe it is good, and it is chaste. This is in accordance with the thirteenth article of faith, which states that Latter-day Saints believe in being honest, true, and chaste and they should seek after all things which is virtuous, lovely, and of good report. [15]
LDS web sites include the Latter-day Saint Skinny-dippers' Forum, and the Latter-day Saint Skinny-dippers' Connection. Also, the Family Skinnydippers site noted above is mostly, but not exclusively, of LDS members.
[edit] Criticism
Many Christian groups and denominations are not supportive of naturism and nudism. Partly due to cultural tendencies to equate nudity with sex, they may feel the temptation of lust is too difficult. However, as Christian naturists point out, lust can occur even though the subject is fully dressed. They may believe that Christians who cannot comprehend nudity without sexuality were deprived of any opportunity to do so in their upbringing. [16]
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul speaks of the need for women to wear a head covering. This passage has also been used to criticize naturism in the church. However, it only applies to prayer and prophecy, and says nothing about covering the rest of the human body. Conversely, according to the passage, men must not have their heads covered. This due to Christ being the head, image, and glory of every man; while the head of a woman is man, which is her glory. [17] Today, many Western churches which are not naturist don't require women to cover their heads in church.
Other criticism, while not opposing naturism per se, is concerned that it will hinder witnessing, divide spouses, promote secrecy to prevent embarrassment, excommunication, etc. As a result, some Christian naturists are isolated from other Christians and their churches. In their effort to find fellowship, many have formed local fellowships, while others are still accepted by their own church groups even though they are known as naturists. [18]
[edit] Biblical facts about nudity/nakedness
[edit] Who told us we were naked?
(Genesis 2:25, 3:11) God never told Adam and Eve they were naked.
(Genesis 3:7, 3:11) Man covered himself after he sinned, because of fear and as a self-righteous act to redeem himself, rather than simply confess his transgressions. Instead, he blamed the snake, the woman God had given him and therefore God Himself.
[edit] God declares our nakedness "very good"
(Genesis 1:31, Acts 10:15, Isaiah 5:20) God declared His handiwork, including the nude human figure made in His own image, to be "very good".
[edit] Even the prophets knew God approved of our nudity
(Micah 1:8) Prophets were known for prophesying in the nude. Some claim that "naked" means wearing only a tunic or loincloth. However, it was common for people in those times to possess only one article of clothing. Many did not even own a cloak, or if they had a cloak they owned no tunic. In our day of machine made cloth we have little concept of just how much labor went into making cloth and clothing.
(1 Samuel 19:23-24) Saul, Samuel and all those who went before him, prophesied naked "all day long" after the Holy Spirit of God came on them. See above.
(Isaiah 20:2-4) Isaiah was commanded by God to go naked before everyone for three years as a sign. God who hates sin does not command people to something sinful or wrong. See above. Yet, it would not have been anything significant for Isaiah to go about clad only in a tunic or tunic-like garment, for many had only one garment.
[edit] Take care when you admonish the "Image of God"
(2 Samuel 6:14, and 20-23) David danced naked, i.e. wearing only a vest (or "linen ephod"), before all Israel as an "act of worship" of God. His wife, Micah, claimed he was acting as a "vulgar man would," but it was she who was cursed by God for her rebukes.
(Mark 14:51) A follower of Jesus fled naked. Again, objectors claim that this meant in only a tunic, not totally naked.
[edit] Even Jesus was naked yet without sin
(John 19:23) Jesus was hung on the cross completely naked, yet "He was without sin."
[edit] Christ's own followers labored in the nude without rebuke
(John 21:7) Peter, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, fished naked, and was doing so when Jesus came to him after he was resurrected.
[edit] Clothing neither guards against nor covers sin
(Hebrews 4:13) Nothing is hidden. All are naked before the eyes of God.
(Acts 5:42, Colossians 2:8, 2:23, 2 Peter 2:19-20) Clothing (and nudity) will not keep you or others from sinning,
(Galatians 5:16) but Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will.
(Mat 25:41-43) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."
- There is no sin in being homeless, hungry, thirsty or even naked here. The sin is in seeing a need and choosing not to fill it.
(Matt 6:25-34, Luke 12:22-28) We are not to worry about what we shall eat, where we will live or what we shall wear, for God Himself will adorn us.
[edit] Other related facts
[edit] Early baptism required total nudity
Originally Jewish, and later, Christian, baptisms (or mikvehs) required people to be completely naked, even mass baptisms with men, women, and children together. It signified their being restored to man's original condition, having their shame removed. Others claim that children were baptized first, then men, then women, all separately.
[edit] Public bathing was common throughout history
Due to a common lack of inside plumbing, public bathing was a common practice through the time of Jesus and still occurs today in certain cultures. Whole families were together at the public bath -- including Christians. Jesus even preached frequently at the public baths in Jerusalem (John 5:1-7).
[edit] Nudity was required at the YMCA
Until the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) became co-ed in the early 1960s, men and boys, including the swimming instructors, swam in a state of complete nakedness. Nylon was a relatively new invention at that time, and allowing cotton or wool swimsuits in the pool would clog up the filtration system. The word gymnasium means to train in the nude. This is derived from the standard practice of athletes who used to train and compete without any clothing (though it originates from pre-Christian Greece).
[edit] Quotations
[edit] Pope John Paul II
Quoting from Genesis:
- "They were nude but they were not ashamed." Furthermore, because God created it, "The human body can remain nude and uncovered and preserve its splendor and its beauty."
- "Sexual modesty cannot then in any simple way be identified with the use of clothing, nor shamelessness with the absence of clothing and total or partial nakedness... Immodesty is present only when nakedness plays a negative role with regard to the value of the person."
From Love and Responsibility (1981):
- "Nakedness itself is not immodest... Immodesty is present only when nakedness plays a negative role with regard to the value of the person, when its aim is to arouse concupiscence, as a result of which the person is put in the position of an object for enjoyment."
[edit] C. S. Lewis
From The Screwtape Letters, page 107:
- Screwtape (senior demon - on pornography):
- "We have engineered a great increase in the license which society allows to the representation of the apparent nude (not the real nude) in art, and its exhibition on the stage or the bathing beach. It is all a fake, of course; the figures in the popular art are falsely drawn; the real women in bathing suits or tights are actually pinched in and propped up to make them appear firmer and more slender and more boyish than nature allows a full-grown women to be."
From The Great Divorce:
- "half the people in heaven are nude"
From Perelandra:
- "Yet could it be possible, in the long run, to wear clothes without learning modesty, and through modesty lasciviousness?"
[edit] A. W. Tozer
From The Pursuit of God - Chapter 10: The Sacrament of Living:
- "The monkish hatred of the body which figures so prominently in the works of certain early devotional writers is wholly without support in the word of God. Common modesty is found in the sacred Scriptures, it is true, but never prudery or a false sense of shame. The New Testament accepts as a matter of course that in His incarnation our Lord took upon Him a real human body, and no effort is made to steer around the downright implications of such a fact. He lived in that body here among men and never once performed a non-sacred act. His presence in human flesh sweeps away forever the evil notion that there is about the human body something innately offensive to the Deity. God created our bodies and we do not offend Him by placing the responsibility where it belongs. He is not ashamed of the work of His own hands."
[edit] Dr. R. C. Sproul
From The Shattered Image:
- "God does not COMMAND us to be clothed. He ALLOWS us to be clothed."
From Covering the Shame/The Holiness of God:
- "Jesus provides the covering for our nakedness... so that once we are covered by the righteousness of Christ, we can be naked in the presence of God and not be shamed. We can stop running. We can stop hiding. Because we have been adorned with a gown of perfect righteousness, if we trust in Him."
[edit] Unknown
- "The nude body is the ultimate in designer clothing."
- "If God had intended for people to go around totally naked, we'd be born that way." (attributed, in several forms, both to Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde)
- Crucifixions were usually done with the victim naked. There is no reason to think that Jesus' crucifixion was anything but ordinary. The wrapping around his lower part is a concession to later sensibilities.
[edit] External links
- Christian and LDS Naturism FAQ
- Religious Tolerance: Nudity as mentioned in the Bible
- VivreNu le forum Religion et Naturisme (French with some computerized English translation)
- Christian Nudist Convocation (annually during the summer months by region in the USA)
