Nakedspirit sent me a link that I checked out in my research: Fig Leaf Forum (http://www.figleafforum.com) and I signed up for the newsletters. Sounds like a very intellectually sound realm of interaction on this subject.

I am still avidly researching the nudist philosophy. My wife thinks I'm off on a tangent, but to me, the implications, if true, are nothing less than revolutionary for Christians, especially those who have fallen into addictions to lust and pornographic shame. Every time I have heard confessionals in men's meetings, this sexual lust thing is so pervasive, almost universal, and many cannot at all see how I can work with female nudity in the intimate way I do as an L&D RN, without lusting. That is the point of social nudism. If they did what I was doing, they would probably see it in only a few minutes.

One time, when I was starting nursing as a nursing aide and had to shave a woman's vulva for surgery, she asked the question: "Isn't it hard for you to do this as a male?" My response was not thought out, but it came as naturally as it did spontaneously: "No, because shaving and touching you like this is too realistic and ordinary, but pornography does bother me. It has a spirit behind it of intentionally trying to incite lust, even though it is only ink on paper. Your nakedness is just too real, and you're not trying to entice me with it." I later helped her get into the shower and she felt the liberty to take off her patient gown in front of me and be totally nude.

In my nursing career of 23 years, I have found this freedom in most women patients I've dealt with. It only takes a few minutes for a mental readjustment of what modesty actually means, and they accept my seeing and even touching them without shame. In fact, my manner of caring for them has made some of them so comfortable that they ask to have me be their nurse again when they are in labor with another child. One of my Christian friends I used to pray with weekly at her grandmother's house recently wanted that for her second baby, and my daughter-in-law has insisted I be present for the delivery of each of four grandsons she gave birth to, the last one (named after me) when I was for the first time her actual nurse. Wow, being sought after as a nurse... that makes me feel great!

However, I am not there yet in nudism. Still too much to think through, to pray through. I must weigh carefully what I do, since I also have my ministry as a pastor of a small church to think about. The implications of active social nudism could have repercussions that I would not want to see happen. At the same time, I'm not giving up my search and research...

--PastorDavidRN

You're on the right track and have the right attitude that all honest nudists have. I have never felt so relaxed and free when I've met with nudists. To me, they seem much more honest than most church members.

Don't leave off this site in your research: http://www.execpc.com/~jrockel/sbs/bsn/index.html

I had a meeting with our preacher (comments below on it). He was completely naive on the subject. I hope he'll look further into it.

Ralph
The naked gardener
God's original intent

I can remember back when I first started nursing, I was in a gynicolgical unit and all the staff of the unit changed while I was there, Even though I was the most junior of the nurses I was teaching the other staff what shaves or clips the doctors wanted for what proceedures. One of the patients asked me did it bother me when I was doing all these shaves on women and in particular around their vagina. My resonse came out real quick without thinking. "No, not while I'm doing the shave but it's spoilt my appreaciation of 'Playboy'." AQfter a few laughs the other staff thought about it and agreed that shaving men had taken the sexual nature away from seeing the male nude.
In cultures where the womens toe is considered sexual men are aroused by the glimse of a naked foot but the site of a woman's vagina does nothing. Again sexuality is in the eye of the beholder.

This is exactly where we want to go. We are not in a hurry to get people into naturism as we are wanting people to understand why they think the way they do. "We must change the way we think" is a common theme in the bible. It all started in how Adam and Eve started to think.

Maybe you need to do a bible study on Adam and Eve and take a long hard prayerful look at "What really happened in the garden?" approach.

Then a sermon (maybe a series) for your church that will build up to their understanding so they too can change the way they think.

Even though my pastor has no problem with me being a naturist, he still says things that tells me he is struggling with the issue. I don't expect him to understand or agree with everything I say about it, especially on this web site, but I was hoping he would stop slipping in comments in the sermons that tells me he is still "clothed" minded.

Don't get me wrong here, he is still fine with me being a naturist, he just doesn't understand the full picture. He is very wise in many matters and we are very happy and blessed he is our pastor. We wouldn't trade him for anyone! But it would be nice if he backed off of his obviously traditional views of nudity.

But we'll all grow over time. And maybe I need to revamp my website with new understanding and talk to him again about the subject.

I need to get back on FLF, and for that matter, I have no idea how I got off of it in the first place! It just quit coming. Maybe I changed my email one time and forgot to tell him!

Boyd Allen

Boyd, FLF dropped me too and I realized only today that it had occurred. It took me less than two minutes to renew my subscription, so I look forward to getting it again!

Dear RN:

You are very much right. You have to be of the right and not the left spirit. Seriously, becoming and understanding naturalism is a slow process. Its like baby steps to becoming a mature Christian. Society has placed a strong enforcement of clothing and materialism in this world. Yet, there are those that can not understand naturism from lusting thoughts and do mix up the meaning. Those are those that use nudism to help out their lusting and sexual behavios as a crutch. That is why I agree with you about being of the right spirit, in Christ Jesus.

There are many women naturalist out there in society but unlike Beth and I, they remain silent. We I visit resorts that have been set up for naturalism I see and chat with other lady's. I personally can not tand to sleep with cloths on. As the weather cools down, I'll have to become more warm up. I thought about living in Toronto, Caqnada -where I hear the women can be top free in public. Wear Pants don't bother me. But wearing two items of clothing on my upper body and its hot outside and in the house is very hot at times.

SunkyLady (Trying to living by the Right Spirit)

The FLF has some of the best Christian-oriented writing by and for nudists that I have come across (no offense Boyd!! You're on that list, too ). For a modest fee John can even send all of the back issues to you (the next issue to come out will be #100). I got all the back issues when I got my subscription 8 or 10 months ago. It's alot to go through, but very well worth it.

Try to read issue #99 as soon as possible. The leading article is about stumbling blocks, and it is EXCELLENT !!

Subscriptions are free by e-mail (or at least they used to be- I guess they still are), or you can get hard-copies by snail-mail.

God Bless, and thanks for joining us if I havn't said it before.

Kevin

I am not offended at all Kevin! Several of my articles from this website has been written in FLF when the site first got built!

In fact, John Kundert was my "editor" for my site. If it were not for him, you would have had jibberish for a website!

Thanks to FLF and John Kundert!

Boyd Allen

It is great to know that so many on the BACN forum also read Fig Leaf Forum. John does a great job for all of us and -- if you are an e-mail subscriber -- at no cost.

However, scripture reminds us that a worker is worth his hire.

Let's all make it a point to send John a financial contribution to help support this important ministry to the Christian nudist community. He accepts PayPal and he acknowledges each gift. Go to http://www.figleafforum.com and click on "contribute."

(BTW, Boyd, now that you have upgraded to "first class" do you need our help with your internet & forum expenses?)

Hopeful.