Nudity in the Bible?

Question

Sin is what caused nakedness to become a problem. Sin introduced lust, immorality, and perversion into the human race. As a result, we can no longer look at a nude person of the opposite sex in a pure manner. God made clothing for Adam and Eve to resolve this problem.

If this is true, what about the many tribes in Africa, that are freely naked, and view one another in a pure manner?

If this is true, why do psychologists state the the shame of nudity is environmentally and society-learned and humans that were tested at a young age to adult hood within cultures where nudity was ok, stated that there were no second thinking about nudity

Doesnt this contradict the whole theory of nudity in the bible?

Answer 1

Have you read the book of Solomon? Yikes, there is definitely nudity portrayed in a positive manner in the Bible. It's just the fundamentalists tend to focus on the "shame" bits instead of the positive aspects of nudity and sex that are freely expressed there. They try to dress it up as some kind of "metaphor" for God's relationship to the Church. If so, God is one kinky lord. Why not take Solomon for what it is? It's a beautiful paean to love and sex, and to the naked human body.

Our culture's feeling of shame or embarrassment over nudity is entirely based on the hysterical teachings of early fundamentalist leaders, who thought that sexual thoughts would lead people away from religion. Alas, by making sex and nudity taboo, they only served to make them more attractive and sought after.

Answer 2

I think nudity is a complex issue, and not clearly explained in the Bible. Nudity is not always wrong... consider that Jesus' disciples did their fishing in the nude.

See John 21: 7 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/john/21/7#7

I think it depends on the social context.

Regarding your assertion that tribes in Africa are freely naked, and view each other in a pure manner, I think that is a slightly naive view. Yes, they CAN view each other in a pure manner... I remember reading a book about an African Muslim girl whose family were always naked. She slept every night, as a little girl, naked in the arms of her equally naked father, and it was all pure.

However, there are also many accounts of childhood sex games, extreme (and culturally common) incidences of rape, etc.

For some, nudity does indeed pose a sexual temptation, regardless of culture. I think clothing has a place in protecting people from inappropriate behaviours or thoughts. When it is safe, and people's minds are pure, there is no harm in nudity.

But in a social context, it is hard to know when people will be pure in thought or when nudity will be a problem.

Nurses and doctors (both Christian and Atheist) deal with nudity all the time, in a pure manner... but not all of them do. And those who have a problem with nudity will generally avoid professions where it become necessary to observe people naked.

Conclusion: The Bible does not really make any firm statements about the goodness or badness of nudity.

EDIT: The assertion that the Greeks had no problem with nudity is not true. Actually, it was the Greeks that inserted the whole concept of "the evils of the flesh" and "original sin" into early Christianity. It is thanks to them that many sects of Christianity have understood the body to be evil, when in fact the body is the temple of God, to be viewed as pure and holy, and treated as such.

Answer 3

You wrote a circular argument...
You wrote a blanket statement in your first two sentences, without qualifying it against applying to all people. If some people look at each other naked each day (i.e a tribe) the the effect is not the same as Pamela Anderson walking down a London street nude.
It is obviously a culturally learned reaction in addition to a physiological one... so I know of no place the Bible talks about nudity after Adam and Eve except for David and Bathsheba.
Why are you stretching something that isn't there?

Answer 4

Actually when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the Garden of Eden they gained knowledge through that sinful act.
They became self aware and they became ashamed and did not want each other or God to see their nakedness.
Then they covered themselves first with Fig Leaves, so when God called out to them and discussed with them what they had done He then gave them garments He made from animal skins.
There are many nude tribes in Africa and South America that seem to not have any problems going around naked, but usually when the Missions come in and teach the tribes-people about the Bible -- they put on clothes. They then become ashamed. It has more to do with modesty than lust.

Answer 5

It's a good question, actually. Why would God accept, and later encourage, an act that started due to embarrassment over his creation? This is my understanding: When Adam and Eve sinned, their embarrassment wasn't the only result. They developed lust, which had the potential of leading them astray (spiritually). The generally accepted conclusion is that covering our nakedness reduces temptation, and allows us to focus on God, not obsess over our bodies. Personally, I see nothing shameful in nudity. But there certainly are benifits of clothing 1) Protection from the elements is useful. 2) Public nudity is illegal in many places. 3) Because of the social stigmas associated with nudity, one risks damage to their social status if they openly support it (which can lead to the development of the idea that we "need clothes").

Answer 6

You seem to be suggesting that nudity is objectively sinful. This is not the case. For example, it's not wrong for a married couple to look upon each other in the nude. But there are many situations in which nudity is inappropriate (and thus sinful).

So, you have to consider the context in which the nudity is taking place before you can judge whether or not it is morally good or bad.

Nudity, as far as Adam and Eve are concerned, has less to do with nudity itself and more to do with the nudity helping symoblize their shame.

Answer 7

I'm not at all sure what your question really is. There is no Biblical theory on nudity. Nudity is not a theory...it is a fact. We are naked beings created and born that way. The wearing of clothing is not God-mandated, but rather God-tolerated.

Also, being naked has nothing to do with viewing another person with purity of heart. In fact, Jesus said if you can't look at a person without lusting (clothed or not) then the sin problem lies with you.

The only contradiction to be seen is the predelection of Western culture to want to blame others for its own short-comings. Eastern culture would say, "if your eye offends thee (causes you to sin), then pluck it out!" Western culture says, "If your eye offends you (causes you to sin) then blame whatever you are looking at."

Answer 8

The sin that Adam and Eve committed was their decision to make their own rules, that is to decide for themselves what is right and wrong.

God said don't eat the fruit of that tree, Adam said we have the right to and the rest as they say is history.

Adam and Eve started the clothe thing with fig leaves. God in His mercy made more suitable ones for them.

As far as a biblical theory on nudity, it's a new one on me.

But, in case you missed it, most of us are born without clothing, some of us bathe without clothing and all of us are naked underneath our clothing.

Answer 9

Honestly, to me nudity is not a sin. I'm a photographer and I photograph men and women in the nude sometimes. These are classy tasteful pictures not sexual intended.

You have to have the eye to admire the human body as perfection, if you do not see what the beauty that god has created, then your mind is in the wrong spot

Answer 10

Reaction to nudity is caused by your culture. While in some countries women can wear a bathing suit without causing any reaction in men in others the reaction to all that bare skin is lust (and considering the woman a whore) because they never see it in their own country.