I appreciate nude art, photos, videos and statues. I see nudity as the
height of beauty. But I am wondering am I wrong in this belief??? I do
NOT like porn or any suggestive or sexual
nudes, or non-nudes, but I don’t see a problem with natural nudes and tasteful
artistic nudes (I say tasteful to distengush it from things like playboy who
some say is art). Not all nudity is sexual (case in point locker rooms aren't a
hotbed of sex). I just wonder is my
appreciation of these photos, art, statues and videos sinful??? Obviously
it was ok at one point as God created us nude and said it was good. Nude art,
especially paintings, have been around for centuries especially in Europe. Even
here in America you can see in some cities nude statuary especially with
fountains. Both Michael Angelo's and Donatello's David’s are very beautiful.
There used to be nudist magazines showing nudist in all ages, shapes, and sizes.
Again I state unequivocally I hate
pornography!! Not only is it against God but it cheapens the body, degrades it,
and takes away it’s true beauty. If it weren’t for playboy et al and the porn
industry maybe we would appreciate the nude form and maybe society wouldn’t be
so obsessed with size (either male or female) or put such emphases on certain
body parts (as they have zero impact on beauty).
The YMCA even used to, way
back when, teach swimming to kids in the nude (I have seen photos to attest to
this and some here are probably seasoned enough to remember it). Back in bygone
days kids swam nude at the ol’ swimming hole without being ashamed or feeling
their body was inferior to the body of the kid next to them. There is a Norman Rockwell painting illustrating this showing boys holding
their clothes running with a sign with ‘no swimming’ on it shown (indicating
they were swimming nude obviously without fear of been seen by each other). I
have even seen a photo similar to this with boys swimming nude in a pond with a
’no swimming’ sign up. Even in the past in high school and middle school kids
showered after gym without fear of being nude in front of your fellow
classmates. Now many schools have done away with showering after gym. I feel for
those sitting next to them in their classes after gym. I know today’s boys are
glad for this no shower development as many, include my self at that age, are
convinced that they have the smallest penis of their peers. I don’t know if
girls have embarrassment issues but would imagine they do I wouldn’t imagine
boys are the only ones.
I am not saying the people in the MK will be walking about nude but I just
never saw nudity as a sinful thing by itself but a beautiful thing. I wouldn’t
think ‘skinny dipping’ would be a offense in the MK but that nude swimming might
be considered acceptable. Not that I have anything against speedo briefs and
most other swimwear. I just feel God created
your body so you shouldn’t be ashamed of his handiwork. Am I not a good christian because of my stance
on nudity??? Am I sinning against God thinking the nude form is beautiful??? Or
looking at nude art??? Or is the sinful part not the nudity but the impure
thoughts some have when they see nude bodies due to our hyper-sexed culture??? Would paintings, statues, photos, and even
videos of nudes be ok as long as they are not viewed with lust and impurity but
with appreciation of the beauty shown within???
Paul