Do Jehovah's Witnesses participate in social nudity?

Question

Why does one think of modesty immediately when nudity is brought up? Modesty is defined as "regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress". When you look up decency, is basically refers back to modesty. Thus modesty and/or decency must be how a society or group of people see something.

Thus nudity must be looked down upon by society. Yet why?

Why is it wrong to be nude?

If a group of people felt that wearing shorts would be immodest then when a person that is wearing shorts is present with this group they would be regarded as immodest.

So again I ask why is modesty brought up nudity is mentioned?

Answer 1

Nudity is associated with pornography.

"Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things." -- Philippians 4:8

"O you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad." -- Psalm 97:10


The Bible makes us understand that seeing someone naked or being naked in front of others is a shameful thing (except husband and wife, of course).

"Now Noah started off as a farmer and proceeded to plant a vineyard. And he began drinking of the wine and became intoxicated, and so he uncovered himself in the midst of his tent. Later Ham the father of Canaan saw his father’s nakedness and went telling it to his two brothers outside. At that Shem and Japheth took a mantle and put it upon both their shoulders and walked in backwards. Thus they covered their father’s nakedness, while their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.Finally Noah awoke from his wine and got to know what his youngest son had done to him. At this he said: ‘Cursed be Canaan. Let him become the lowest slave to his brothers.’" -- Genesis 9:20-25

"And where a man takes his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother, and he does see her nakedness, and she herself sees his nakedness, it is shame. So they must be cut off before the eyes of the sons of their people. It is the nakedness of his sister that he has laid bare. He should answer for his error." -- Leviticus 20:17


http://www.watchtower.org/e/20030722/article_03.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000608/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Interesting question. (But why did you single out JW's lol?)

We try to be modest and that means accepting the culture and traditions of where we live so long as they're not unBiblical or against our conscience etc.
My husband has to have so many credit of education classes to keep his medical license and one of the places we go to do that every year is Hawaii. The classes rotate between islands and one year I treated myself to their spa. It was more than amazing (they had a Japanese style heated pool, and 3 baths with seaweed, milk and mud etc).
Women and men were completely separate because clothing was optional.
Personally, I don't like revealing THAT much to strangers, so I wore a bathing suit, but I wasn't offended by the naked women there.
Afterwards though I felt a little ??? not "bad" but worried that I was out of line. I asked our PO's wife and she said there was nothing wrong with it. (Her husband is now a Circuit Overseer)
But now I'm wondering again... mostly because I'm thinking about going to the spa again this year lol.
I'm going out in Service this afternoon and will get some more thoughts on this (one of the ones I'll probably be working with is an Elder)

Hmmm... most curious.

Answer 3

Actually, I think the Quakers did that. Something bout having nothing to hide. Seems I read something about Nixon greeting somebody in the oval off nude. I believe Nixon was a Quaker. If the story was true, it was used to prove his instability, but somehow it makes sense to me, under the circumstances.

Answer 4

No.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe the bible to teach that nudity itself is a serious sin. However, when it is illegal or brazenly ignores the sensibilities of others, public nudity would constitute "loose conduct" (which is a serious sin).

(Ephesians 4:18-19) They are in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that belongs to God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the insensibility of their hearts. Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort with greediness


Of course, even in localities where it is perfectly legal or tacitly encouraged, Jehovah's Witnesses still tend to avoid public nudity. Since every Witness is a minister, they take seriously the bible's admonition to present themselves in a dignified manner befitting their godly vocation. Their professional appearance can serve effectively to dissuade criticism and avoid distractions from their Bible message.

(1 Timothy 2:9-10) Adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind...in the way that befits women [and men] professing to reverence God

(Titus 1:16-2:5) Let the aged men be moderate in habits, serious, sound in mind... Likewise let the aged women be reverent in behavior... so that the word of God may not be spoken of abusively.

(2 Timothy 2:15) Do your utmost to present yourself approved to God, a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm

Answer 5

I'm not a Jehovah's Witness, but the only "social nudity" they participate is husband and wife alone in their private time/place.

Answer 6

I think people across the entire spectrum practice social nudity. My wife and I found it very liberating.

Answer 7

No, modesty etc...but really, why would you wanna get naked with a load of strangers???

Answer 8

Social nudity? They shower in private with their clothes on.

Answer 9

No, Jehovah's Witnesses try to be modest at all times.

Answer 10

wow, um, Alex hit it outta the ball park. But yeah, it would be associated with pornography.