Christian Naturism/Nudism
A Practical Case For Christian Naturists/Nudists
It's within the legal right of Christians to practice a lifestyle in Naturism or Nudism without sexual objectification.
Within the biblical context, there is neither an outright promotion of social nudity nor an admonishing for a complete ban on it.
Hence, we are obligated to defy against all falsehoods and taboos along with negative claims, as well as to oppose the relentless doses of fierce defiance, menaced by conservative Christians and evangelical fundamentalists.
As instructed by Word of God, we are of without the right to be judgemental, as Jesus had commanded us not to judge, or we too will be judged;
As stated in the Biblical Scripture:
(NKJV - New King James Version)
[Matthew 7:1-2]:
“Judge not, that you be not judged.
For with what judgment you judge,
you will be judged; and with the measure
you use, it will be measured back to you.”
[Luke 6:37-38]:
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged.
Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you:
good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
and running over will be put into your bosom.
For with the same measure that you use,
it will be measured back to you.”
Supports From Bishop/Archbishop/Archdeacon/Parish
Back in 2009, The trendy female vicar from the next parish named Lavinia had been advocating the Ancient Order of Adamites, dealing with the outrageous subject of Christian nudism.
“It’s a serious matter.” Lavinia replied. “It’s perfectly natural to enjoy being naked, and naturists are discriminated against simply because they prefer to go about as God created them. I think it’s a jolly good thing the government is doing something about the frightful discrimination against these people.”
When asked about what Anglican Adamites were exactly, Lavinia responded: “The Adamites are a very ancient expression of the Christian religion. They practice ritual worship as nature intended without the encumbrance of textiles. In solidarity with the naturists who are being discriminated against. We are forming the Ancient Order of Anglican Adamites to bring this matter to attention of the General Synod. We will be campaigning for ‘textile free’ options in worship.”
She also added: “Adamites pedigree goes right back to the second century. It’s arguable that they are the genuine Christian article, and all we’re doing is restoring the original primitive Christian faith. There have always been Christian naturists, but they’ve been persecuted by the hierarchical, patriarchal Roman Catholic Church. Surely, you can trace them right back to the very beginning.”
Also, in support of Christian naturism in Britain, on 26 Nov 2015, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that The Queen of England had approved the nomination of the Venerable Karen Gorham, the Archdeacon of Buckingham, The Church of England, Bishop of Sherborne. Gorham, who is also a leading advocate of Christian nudism, has urged churches to educate their members on naturism, or nudism. She was also cited: “There is need for much education and openness to talk about issues of sexuality, to remove false taboos which we tend to have about our own bodies, and to define the differences between what is impure and what is godly and properly natural to us.”
Gorham argued that the naturist lifestyle is not incompatible with Christianity. A distinction must be drawn between “physical nakedness and sexual impurity” she further argued, noting Scripture was agnostic on the subject, neither promoting nor banning social nudity.
She wrote: “Some naturists say that it is more fitting for a Christian than a non-Christian to be a naturist given that Christians are new creations living before God, who need not know that shame which gives nakedness such symbolic potency.”
Archdeacon Gorham explained: “Naturists believe that the ‘hang up’ about the body being shameful in itself, in whatever way, is both morally wrong and mentally harmful. This points to the fundamental difference of attitude between naturists, who are not frightened or ashamed of their bodies, and that of much of the world, which would seem to be so. In naturism one realizes that there are no truly private parts; all parts of the body serve their proper and honourable purpose, and in this respect we are all alike.”
Gorham concluded: “from this review of the different aspects of nakedness that there is no essential conflict between Christianity and naturism, that there is nothing inherently sinful about the naked body, and that the realization of this is part of what it means to be at ease with oneself, to be healed, to be made whole.”
Gorham also did further investigation in her book at different expressions of naturism, noting that for many people it is an expression of their desire to live in harmony with nature and has nothing to do with sex. It says: “The connection of nakedness and sex, though it may seem inescapable, need not necessarily be so.” Asking, “Must nude be crude?”, she answers in her book: “No; life in a naturist club, or a naturist resort, is just about doing things which one generally does with clothes on, but unclothed when the circumstances permit it.”
Her book also noted that “many naturists belong to local churches and regularly worship God; obviously such people see no conflict between Christian morality and regular social nudity.”
Gorham concluded in her book that there are “no biblical grounds either for a promotion of social nudity or for placing a complete ban on it. Clearly, though, there is an important distinction to be drawn between physical nakedness and sexual impurity.”
Her book also called for “education and openness” about sexual issues in churches and the need to remove “false taboos”.
Support From Pope John Paul II
In checking the facts, it's also worth mentioning that Pope John Paul II began his papacy in 1978, becoming the first non-Italian pope in four and a half centuries. His views on naturism differed substantially from that of his predecessors. Authoring the book “Love and Responsibility (1981)”, 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”.
Spiritual Enlightenment Attaining From Naturism
In terms of viewing naturism as a spiritual enlightenment, we can learn much from the following excerpts published in the article (July 2019) by “The Way” (https://theway.org.uk/):
“Wholeheartedness in the service of God demands a constant effort of discernment, a growing sensitivity to the will of God. Without this, generosity can lead only to ‘the expense of spirit in a waste of shame’”.
“But spiritual direction and the Spiritual Exercises, in particular the Examen and the Rules for Discernment of Spirits, have especial promise as effective methods for transforming the oppressive and unjust structures in the world. These processes enable the person to see himself - or herself in graced openness and honesty, and inform that person if he or she is digressing from the path that leads to God.”
“God at one and the same time upholds a given political or economic system, since some such system is required to support human life; condemns that system insofar as it is destructive of fully human life; and presses for its transformation into a more humane order.”
“Since all systems and structures are made up of human beings who are endowed with the promise and possibility of being transformed, therefore, oppressive and unjust systems and structures can be transformed as well.”
Practical Legality
Considering all above mentionings, Christian naturists can safely conclude that in the context of legality as well as spiritual worship, it's within our legal right to practice naturism/nudism on all public grounds. At the present time, we praise the Lord that the current legal system in United Kingdom has prevented Christian naturists/nudists from dealing with otherwise relentless persecution.
Based on a report published by “Guardian”
(theguardian.com), it has also indicated that:
“Being naked in public is not illegal in England,
Wales or Northern Ireland, provided you show
consideration for others, though there are two
acts you run the risk of coming up against:
- The 1986 Public Order Act, and;
- The 2003 Sexual Offences Act.
Avoid causing “harassment, alarm, or distress”, and don’t be a pervert, and you should be fine. The laws are different in Scotland, which is partly why Stephen Gough, the “naked rambler”, has done so much jail time. For England and Wales, the Crown Prosecution Service’s guidelines are reassuring: “A naturist whose intention is limited to going about his or her lawful business naked will not be guilty of an offence.”
With the exception of United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Scandinavia, Christian naturists from other countries are not yet so fortunate, and still facing these legal hurdles and challenges to be finally free from this holy bondage.
We pray to the Lord that other jurisdictions in the world, however distant long into the future, will be able to receive the same blessings, and be able to practice naturism in a more open and acceptable manner. In the Almighty name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Our Mission/Beliefs/Commitment
Please feel free to check out our “Mission”, “Beliefs”, and “Commitment”, to see our roles as we strive to live our Christian life as naturists/nudists.