Nudity in religion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Attitudes concerning nudity in Western cultures are not all the same, and likewise attitudes in non-western cultures are many and variant. In almost all cultures, acceptability of nudity depends on the situation.
Cultural and/or religious traditions usually dictate what is proper and what is not socially acceptable. Many non-western cultures allow women to breast feed in public, while some have very strict laws about showing any bare skin.
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[edit] Asian religions
In the ancient culture of Southern Asia, there is a tradition of extreme ascetism (obviously minoritarian) that includes full nudity, from the gymnosophists (philosophers in Antiquity) to certain holy men (who may however cover themselves with ashes) in present Hindu devotion and in Jainism.
[edit] Christianity
The general Christian attitude to nudity has since its inception been that it is only acceptable between marriage partners, and between children, or children and their parents.
However, there have been movements within Christianity from time to time, such as the Christian naturism of today, that maintain that social nudity is acceptable and as part of the practice of Christianity.
[edit] Islam
In Islam the area of the body not meant to be exposed in public is called the awrah, and while referred to in the Qur'an, is addressed in more detail in hadith.
- For men, interpretations differ. Some interpretations state the awrah to be from the navel to the knees. Others state that only the genitals and the anus need to be covered.
- Some strict interpretations of Islam require women to observe purdah, covering their entire bodies, except the face (see burqa). A perhaps more common interpretation, however, is to cover everything but the hands and face.
The example of the Turkish baths, where men go to get washed by other men, and women to get washed by women, is an example of how some Islamic cultures do not accept the strictness of the above interpretations.
[edit] Judaism
Judaism requires that clothing be worn at all times, except when it is practically impossible to do so, for example when taking a shower. In Hasidic Judaism, males commonly immerse in a mikveh every morning before the morning prayers.
See also the article on Tzniut, which describes the Jewish laws of modesty, especially regarding female clothing.
[edit] Wicca
In many modern NeoPagan religions, such as Wicca, social and ritual nudity are (relatively) commonplace. In Wicca, the term skyclad is used to denote ritual nudity as opposed to social nudity.
[edit] Raelism
In Raelism, there is nothing problematic with nudity.
