From: arnett@unixg.ubc.ca (Bill Arnett)
Newsgroups: rec.nude
Subject: Christianity and nudity
Date: 19 Nov 1992 10:55:43 GMT
Organization: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
NNTP-Posting-Host: unixg.ubc.ca


This is an anonymous post from a long time rec.nude reader who feels
posting at this time could be detrimental from a career point of view.

Bill.

PS: I particularly agree with the last paragraph.

------------------------------- begin included text -------------------------
Christianity and Nudity
-----------------------

I'll keep this relatively brief, but it simply amazes me that so many people
can maintain so many different arguments at the same time.  Person A 
says one thing... person B "refutes" what A says by stating something totally
irrelevant... person C does the same to B, and so on.

This is a quick attempt to address one small area of these debates.  There is
no need to tell anyone else what you answered.  This is between you and your
personal God, if any.  If you are not religious in any way, then this entire
post will be irrelevant to you.  This post is directed at the many people
who are trying to reconcile nudism with Christian beliefs.  I have reconciled
these beliefs (in my mind), so I hope this post can help do so for others.

1.  If you are Christian and attend CO events...

    Are you committing lustful acts?  Ask yourself these questions:
    
    a) Did I attend the CO event (or *ANY* event!) primarily to have a
       sexually gratifying experience with no intention of becoming 
       emotionally close to anyone?  (If you're a gawker, the answer is
       probably "yes".  If you do this all the time as a social event with
       friends, the answer is clearly "no".)  

       If "yes", chances are you may have a conflict of beliefs.
       If "no", then go to question b)
       If "I don't know" or "maybe", try to keep this in mind the next time
          you attend such an event, so that you are aware of your motives.
          Motives are very important to understand.  Go to question b)

    b) Assuming many people attend the CO event, how certain is it that
       I will become sexually aroused in a way that makes me feel ashamed
       later, in a way that I'd be embarrassed to tell to a minister or
       Priest (or fill-in-title)?  

       1) Certain, or almost certain
       2) Probable, very likely
       3) Possible, but not probable
       4) Very unlikely

       If you answered 3 or 4, then you are clearly not consciously 
       participating in activities which lead to (or tend to lead to) sin.
       If you answered 1 or 2, then ask yourself this:  would your answer have
       been 1 or 2 had the same activity occurred with clothed people?  If so,
       then you're "guilty" only of having hormones, and there is probably
       no conflict between your Christian and nudist beliefs.  If not, if
       you would have answered 3 or 4 had the people been clothed, then you
       are consciously putting yourself into a situation that makes *you*
       personally (but not necessarily everyone, or even anyone else) more
       likely to sin, so you may wish to re-examine your beliefs.  In this
       event, it is ILLOGICAL to assume that everyone else reacts as you do,
       so please do not try to oppose nudist events to save their souls.


    c) What primarily describes your feelings during a majority of your time
       at the CO event?

       1) I am sexually aroused (mentally) most of the time, much more than
          I would be were the event clothing-required.  I feel uncomfortable
          (mentally) on several occasions because of the extent of arousal
          brought about by this sexual situation.

       2) I am having a good time.  I am enjoying the wonderful freedoms of
          being nude, of feeling new textures, new emotions, a new sense of
          awareness.  I feel almost childishly happy.  Why can't we do this
          all the time?

       3) I am relaxed, having a good time, and sexually aroused about as
          much as I would be were the people clothed.  The arousal seems to
          be as normal as it is at other events, and it does not keep me from
          acting (i.e., personal interaction) how I otherwise would around 
          the same people (if clothed).  There is an innocent joy and 
          excitement about being nude around others.  I feel closer to them,
          like we have something in common.

       If you answered 1), then you may wish to re-examine your beliefs.  If
       you answered 2) or 3), then you have very little to worry about, as far
       as the Bible goes.  There is nothing inherently sinful about nudity.
       The extent to which nudity leads you to sin is important to Christians,
       and other people (but this is directed at Christians) and the above 
       questions should have, I hope, given you a better idea of whether your
       beliefs conflict or not.

       However you answered these questions, please be aware that there are
       many Christians who attend CO events regularly and who do not do this
       for sexual reasons.  The descriptions I used above are mostly 
       paraphrased (often, the exact words are used, but I leave out some
       parenthetical remarks) from actual letters I've exchanged with 
       Christians who attend CO activities!

       Please realize you are not saving peoples' souls by condemning the
       nudist lifestyle, a lifestyle which fosters fellowship and acceptance
       of people as HUMAN BEINGS, not as sex objects.  Please channel your
       God-given energies towards keeping violence off the streets, and
       maybe towards convincing networks that nudity is not as dangerous to
       show as graphic violence is.
-- 
Bill Arnett                            Internet: arnett@unixg.ubc.ca