Christian naturism
Christian naturism is the practise of naturism or nudism by Christians.[a]
Naturism is a lifestyle of non-sexual social nudity; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. It is not certain that Christian naturism exists in any formal organisations, however, there are informal (mostly online) networks of Christians who practise naturism.[2][3]
Many of the early protagonists of naturism were Christians. For example, authors such as
History
Ancient
Originally, Jewish
Public bathing was the common practice through the time of Jesus and still occurs today in a few cultures, including the Turkish bath or hammam, the Finnish sauna, Japanese onsen or sentō, and the Korean jjimjilbang. With the exception of the family-focused Finnish sauna, most public baths are gender-segregated today. Entire families took part in the public bath—including Christians. Jesus even preached at the public baths in Jerusalem.[8]
Some
Modern
In the United States, the Christian naturism movement (which was the first naturism movement of any sort in the U.S.) began in the late 1920s. This occurred at nearly the same time as the start of the
With the beginning of the modern internet in the mid-1990s, Christian Naturism became much more organized in the U.S. than ever before. The website Naturist-Christians.org founded in 1999 is the largest website devoted exclusively to Christian naturism. Annual Christian Nudist Convocations began early in the decade of the 2000s.[citation needed]
Vatican
In
Pope John Paul II began his papacy in 1978, becoming the first non-Italian pope in four and a half centuries.[14] His views on naturism differed substantially from that of his predecessors. Authoring the book Love and Responsibility (1981),[15] he wrote: "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".[16]
Nudity and historical Christian sects
- Adamites – A sect in North Africa in the 2nd through 4th century that believed they were "re-establishing Adam and Eve's innocence".[citation needed]
- Naaktloopers ('naked walkers') – A group of 11
Bible passages involving nudity
The Garden of Eden
Christian naturists view the story of the
Christian naturists see Adam and Eve being in the blameless state that God had intended them to be. God knew that they were naked, as this was how he had created them, in his image. Even before Eve's creation, God had warned Adam "but you must not eat from the
Shortly thereafter, Adam and Eve hear God walking in the
Christian naturists maintain the fig leaves were worn in a futile attempt to hide what the couple had done from God—not each other, noting they were married, and equally guilty of the same original sin.[26] The second sin was to cover parts of the body.[citation needed] The devil had chosen the sexual organs as the area of shame because, unlike God, he has no ability to create life. As the next chapter begins with Adam and Eve engaging in appropriate marital sexual relations,[27] they conclude the couple would have seen each other naked subsequent to the fall of mankind.
After the Fall, God
Other scripture
There are other references to nudity in the Bible, such as:[29]
- 1 Samuel 19:24: "He (Saul) stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'"[30]
- 2 Samuel 11: From the roof of his palace, King David saw Bathsheba—a married woman—bathing. David later committed adultery with Bathsheba, impregnated her, and arranged for her husband Uriah to die in battle.[31]
- Isaiah 20:2–4: "The Lord said to Isaiah: "'Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.' And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot. Then the Lord said, 'Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared—to Egypt's shame'"[32]
- Micah 1:8a: (Micah speaking:) "Because of this [Jacob's transgression] I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked."[33]
- Matthew 6:25 and Luke 12:22–23: "Then Jesus said to his disciples: 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?'"[34]
- Mark 14:51–52: "A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind."[35]
- John 19:23–24: "When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, [...] 'Let's not tear [the undergarment],' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.'"[36]
- 2 Corinthians 5:1–4: "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life."[37]
Although no major Christian group accepts the
His disciples asked, "When will you become revealed to us and when shall we see you?" Jesus answered, "When you disrobe without being ashamed and take up your garments and place them under your feet like little children and tread on them, then will you see the son of the Living One, and you will not be afraid."[38]
Naked Christ
Birth
The story of the birth of Jesus is told in the gospels of Matthew[39] and
-
Virgin and Child in a Landscape by an anonymous artist
-
Madonna and Child by the Master of the Castello Nativity
-
The Infant Christ Sleeping by Bartolomeo Schedoni
Baptism
Jesus was baptised by
-
in the Pammakaristos Church
-
in the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon
-
in theNational Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Crucifixion
Jesus was crucified after being stripped of his clothes by the executioners.[47]
-
byKonrad von Soest
-
at the Sagrada Família
Resurrection
In the Synoptic Gospels, the women who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body found only an angel[48] or a youth[49] or two men;[50] all were wearing white or dazzling garments. In the Gospel of John, it is stated that Jesus' grave clothes were left in the tomb;[51] there are also two angels in white,[52] in contrast to the Synoptic Gospels Jesus is also present; however, no mention is made of Jesus wearing dazzling white robes,[b] and Mary Magdalene mistakes Jesus for the gardener.[c] Knights 1999, p. 178 and Neal 2012 find it likely that after his resurrection, Jesus emerged from the tomb naked.
Naturist Christian worship
In the U.S., a few naturist resorts have chapels (permanent or makeshift) on their grounds for the purpose of providing worship services:
- Cedar Waters Village, Nottingham, New Hampshire (only open in summer months);[citation needed]
- Come As You Are Fellowship, De Anza Springs Resort, Jacumba, California;[citation needed]
- Garden Of Eden Church, Lake Como Resort, better source needed]
- Glen Eden Nudist Resort, better source needed]
- Oaklake Trails, Depew, Oklahoma (only open in summer months);[citation needed]
- Rock Haven Lodge, Murfreesboro, Tennessee (open from mid-March to early October);[citation needed] and
- White Tail Resort,better source needed]
In the naturist village of Heliopolis on the
Naturist Christian camping
While not actually a position of the
The founder of the Quaker camps (
A study of comparative cultures leads to the suspicion that it could be, that our culture is wrong in this regard; that the evil that has falsely imputed to nudism is in fact an evil in our own minds. It has cut us off from a health-given, wholesome and joyous practice in which children thrive and adults may find an honesty and straight forwardness, and even a spiritual surety and strength that we grievously lack at present. This "piece of work" that is man, how are we to become convinced of its wonder if by the fetish of hiding the body we deny and destroy some of the health and most of its godlike beauty?
Criticism
By far, the most frequent biblical argument against Christian naturism is that if God approved of people being nude, he would not have clothed Adam and Eve after they sinned, thus making it a reminder to man that we had, in fact, sinned.[57][unreliable source?] The counter-argument is Adam and Eve had already clothed themselves upon sinning, and God merely replaced the fig leaves with animal skins in granting them free will.[29]
Due to cultural tendencies to equate nudity with sex, many Christian denominations and groups are not supportive of naturism and nudism. Such groups may feel that the temptation of lust is too difficult. Christian naturists counter that the notion of Christians being unable to avoid lust where non-sexualized nudity is present has no scriptural basis whatsoever.[citation needed] Furthermore, they believe Christ has given mankind the power to avoid sin.[58][failed verification]
Christian naturists have been criticized for being nude around non-Christians (in the sense that some contact between Christians and non-believers takes place), given that they might have no inhibitions against lust and other carnal sin.[citation needed]
In
Other criticism, while it may not oppose naturism per se, is concerned that it will hinder witnessing, divide spouses, promote secrecy to prevent embarrassment,
In May 2002, a pastor in southern
See also
Notes
- Durkheim termed "naturism" as an explanation for the origin of religion[1]
- ^ See the Transfiguration of Jesus
- ^ It is believed that outdoor work, like gardening, farm labour and fishing in biblical times was often done naked.[citation needed]
References
Citations
- ^ Bois 1916.
- ^ Harden 2000.
- ^ Horrocks 2011, p. 42.
- ^ Hirning 2013, p. 276.
- ^ "Dean Inge and The Nudists". Gloucestershire Echo. 17 November 1932. p. 1 col E. Retrieved 2016-05-02 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Easton, Burton Scott. "The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus, translated by Burton Scott Easton—a Project Gutenberg eBook". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ "The Jewish Background of Christian Baptism". Bebaptized.org. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
- ^ John 5:1–7
- ^ Havey, Francis Patrick (1907). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company. . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).
- ^ Schwegler 1868, pp. 182–184.
- ^ Mussell 2010.
- ^ a b Time 1935.
- ^ "The History Of Nudism - AANR". aanr.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "Pope John Paul II dies in Vatican". BBC News. 2005-04-03. Archived from the original on 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
- ^ Pope John Paul II 1996.
- ^ "Catholic Activity: St. John Paul II on Modesty". catholicculture.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "Controversy". Comm.unt.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ van der Zijpp, Nanne (1957). "Naaktlopers (Naaktloopers)". In Roth, John D. (ed.). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
- ^ Genesis 2:25
- ^ "Definition of NAKED". 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Definition of NUDE". 13 June 2023.
- ^ "Naked". www.biblegateway.com.
- ^ "Nude". www.biblegateway.com.
- ^ Genesis 2:17
- ^ Genesis 3:1–6
- ^ Genesis 2:22.
- ^ Genesis 4:1
- ^ Genesis 3:21–23
- ^ a b Robinson 2007.
- ^ 1 Samuel 19:24
- ^ 2 Samuel 11
- ^ Isaiah 20:2–4
- ^ Micah 1:8a
- ^ Matthew 6:25, Luke 12:22–23
- ^ Mark 14:51–52
- ^ John 19:23–24
- ^ 2 Corinthians 5:1–4
- ^ "Gospel of Thomas Saying 37". Early Christian Writings. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
- ^ Matthew 2:1
- ^ Luke 2:6
- ^ John 1:14
- ^ Job 1:21
- ^ Matthew 3:13–17
- ^ Mark 1:9–11
- ^ Luke 3:21
- ISBN 978-1-136-10146-5.
- ^ Matthew 27:35
- ^ Matthew 28:2
- ^ Mark 16:5
- ^ Luke 24:5
- ^ John 20:6–7
- ^ John 20:12
- ^ "About Garden Of Eden Church". www.gardenofedenchurch.org.
- ^ http://gallery.mailchimp.com/07d2ab52891f0b62197e82369/files/mailchimp.124.pdf p.3
- ^ "White Tail Resort". whitetailresort.org. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
- ^ "Heliopolis". Archived from the original on August 26, 2014.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about nudity". Catholicdoors.com. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
- ^ 1 Corinthians 10:12
- ^ "Naked for Christ? Christian Nudism". Themarriagebed.com. 2006-01-01. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
- ^ "Nudism - Christian nudism, nudism & religion". Nudism.yaia.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
- ^ "Persecuted for Good Nudity". Archived from the original on September 1, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
Sources
Books
- Jensen, Robin M. (2011). "Nudity in Early Christian Art". In Niang, Aliou Cisse; Osiek, Carolyn (eds.). Text, Image, and Christians in the Graeco-Roman World: A Festschrift in Honor of David Lee Balch. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61097-524-7.
- ISBN 978-1-85174-438-1.
- Horrocks, Bob (2011). Uncovering the Image. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-4717-0383-6.
- Shaw, Elton Raymond (1951). The Body Taboo: Its Origin, Effect, and Modern Denial. Sunshine Book Company.
- Lippy, Charles H. (1985). Bibliography of Religion in the South. Mercer University Press. ISBN 978-0-86554-161-0.
- Marshall, Robert (1993). Storm from the East: From Genghis Khan to Khubilai Khan. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-563-36338-5.
- Schwegler, Albert (1868). Handbook of the History of Philosophy. Edmondston & Douglas.
- Livingstone, E. A.; Sparks, M. W. D.; Peacocke, R. W. (2013). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-965962-3.
- Hunt, Lynn; Martin, Thomas R.; Hsia, R. Po-chia; Rosenwein, Barbara H.; Bonnie G. Smith (2006). The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures, A Concise History: Volume I: To 1740. Bedford/St. Martin's. ISBN 978-0-312-41593-8.
- Fitzgerald, Allan; Cavadini, John C. (1999). Augustine Through the Ages: An Encyclopedia. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8028-3843-8.
- Hibbert, Christopher (2010). Queen Victoria: A Personal History. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-00-737201-0.
- Ariès, Philippe; Veyne, Paul; Duby, Georges (1992). A History of Private Life: From Pagan Rome to Byzantium. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-39974-7.
- Pope John Paul II (1996). Love and Responsibility. Fount. ISBN 978-1-85310-786-3.
- Smith, Virginia (2007). Clean: A History of Personal Hygiene and Purity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-157993-6.
- Parker, Dan (2003). The Bathing Suit: Christian Liberty Or Secular Idolatry. Xulon Press. ISBN 978-1-59160-753-3.
- Russell, Thomas Arthur (2010). Comparative Christianity: A Student's Guide to a Religion and Its Diverse Traditions. Universal-Publishers. ISBN 978-1-59942-877-2.
- Webb, Kenneth (1973). As Sparks Fly Upward: The Rationale of the Farm and Wilderness Camps. Phoenix Pub. ISBN 978-0-914016-04-5.
- ISBN 978-0-87784-325-2.
- Ziegler, Daniel D (2014). Naked Before God: A Look at Healing, Self-Discovery and Spiritual Growth Through Social Nudism. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1497554375.
- Hirning, L. Clovis (2013). "Clothing and Nudism". In Albert Ellis (ed.). The Encyclopædia of Sexual Behaviour. Albert Abarbanel. Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4832-2510-4.
Journal articles
- Booth, Douglas (1997). "Nudes in the sand and perverts in the dunes". Journal of Australian Studies. 21 (53): 170–182. ISSN 1444-3058.
- Mussell, Gary L. (2010). "A Brief History of Nudism and the Naturist Movement in America" (PDF). Southern California Naturist Association. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
- Moreland, Kim (30 January 2012). "Nudity and the Christian Worldview". colsoncenter.org. Archived from the original on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
- Furness, Jim (May 2001). "Redeeming the Flesh". Thirdway. 24 (3): 23–26.
- Martin, Richard (1991). "The Deceit of Dress: Utopian Visions and the Arguments against Clothing". Utopian Studies (4): 79–84. JSTOR 20718951.
- Bois, H. (1916). "A Sociological View of Religion". International Review of Mission. 5 (3): 449–460. .
- Knights, C. (1999). "Nudity, Clothing, and the Kingdom of God". S2CID 170296732.
- Rode, Susan L. (2000). "A Christian perspective of contemporary nudity: Theological and ethical reflections on symbolic nakedness". hdl:10393/9302.
- Smith, Jonathan Z. (Winter 1966). "The Garments of Shame". History of Religions. 5 (2): 217–238. S2CID 161638287.
Newspaper articles
- Harden, Rachel (August 2000). "Naturism and Christianity: Are They Compatible?". Church Times.
- "Growing Threat of AIDS". Time. 1985-08-12. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- Bonthrone, P J (29 Jul 2000). "Don't feel bad about nudity, vicar tells Christians". The Telegraph.
Websites
- Wijngaards, John. "Naturism/nudism - may Catholics join?". The Body is Sacred. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
- "On Christian Nudism". The Mad Parson. 23 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
- Neal, Matthew (14 January 2012). "The Biblical Naturist: Squeamish Translating – Part 4 – Unclothed Servants". thebiblicalnaturist.blogspot.co.za. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- Melling, Dr Joseph (September 2010). "A Brief History of Nakedness". Reviews in History. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
- Fruhwirth, Jesse (2009-12-16). "Skinny-Dipper Crackdown". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- Tartakovsky, Margarita (2011). "The History of Nude Psychotherapy". Psych Central. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- "End of the Sexual Revolution". Time. 1984-04-09. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- "Facing Up to Sex Abuse". Time. 1984-11-12. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- Weinstein, Adam (22 Jul 2014). "Naked and Unafraid: Baring Witness at a Christian Nudist Festival". Gawker. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
- "Swimming Class News Articles". Historic Archives - Nude Male Swimming. Archived from the original on 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- "Religion: Pope on Nudism". Time. 18 March 1935. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
- Robinson, B.A. (16 September 2007). "Nudity as mentioned in the Bible". religioustolerance.org. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Archived from the original on 2014-05-18. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
- De Lotta, Dr. Del (24 May 2004). "Answers to Objections to Nudism / Naturism". Archived from the original on 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
- Bowman, Jeffrey S. "Good Nudity". jeffreybowman.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
- Rockel, Jeff (1996). "The Bible, Society and Nudity: A study of social nudity from a Biblical and secular perspective". Archived from the original on 2001-07-10. Retrieved 2014-08-24.