In the past I was a VERY insecure and self conscious person. As a kid I was just so so and then I saw my eight grade photo taken at school and was devistated. I didn't like it despite my parents telling me how nice it looked and no one else commenting negatively on it. I just didn't like it. It set me on a path of negative self image that lasted for many years. I didn't even like looking at myself in a mirror or window reflection other than combing my hair. HOWEVER...I noticed after we became nudists that I had a complete turn around. I enjoyed looking at myself nude, in person or in photos, more than clothed. I walked with an air of self confidence and it seems to have a positive effect on others. Confidentially, my wife says other women look at me and steal glances when I walk by...LOL. I've noticed when you are secure in yourself that you seen to look better to others and they want to get to know you better. Confident people seem to attract other people.
Has anyone else experienced this? Has nudism turned you around and made you a better person? Have you regained a part of yourself you may have lost through some sort of bad life experience? Just curious how being naked has effected us in a postitive way.
I walked with an air of self confidence and it seems to have a positive effect on others. Confidentially, my wife says other women look at me and steal glances when I walk by...LOL. I've noticed when you are secure in yourself that you seen to look better to others and they want to get to know you better. Confident people seem to attract other people.
I'm not so sure that nudism is the answer here, but it doesn't hurt. You are also describing pre-married/married demographics also. As most of you know I'm going through a divorce. I'm not even offically on the market yet, and I've got a few interested ladies calling me often (and they wasn't even scared off to find out I was a nudist) Back when I was in my teens I couldn't get a date to save my life, now I can get more than I could possibly afford or have time for. Was it the confidence that nudism has given me, or the confidence around women that married life has given me? In my case I would say that it's the married life that's given me the confidence. I have a nudist friend that has been a nudist a lot longer than I have, and still can't get anywhere with the ladies, and when the gals he does talk to find out he's a nudist they tuck tail and run. Again, I don't think nudism hurts, but I think there's more to it than just nudism.
I had a very negative body image for most of my first fifty years. I know without a doubt, that my limited "exposure" to naturism has had a major positive effect. Greg P
It was the same for me, but I was 55 before I started to get over my fear of being seen nude. Social nudity has done wonders for my self-esteem--something that being a Christian couldn't even do.
Re: ...something that being a Christian couldn't even do
March 23 2007, 12:54 PM
I say "couldn't" because Christianity teaches us that our bodies are sinful and should be hidden--especially from childrem who would be "tramatized' and "harmed" by nudity. We are often taught by ministers that mixed swimming should be avoided. I had a pastor who didn't believe in men and women swimming together. Most Christians cannot separate sex from nudity. To them those two are one and the same. One pastor told me that he could NOT separate the two.
As long as Christianity and Christians have the attitude of "the naked body is sinful and indecent", they will not be able to help people get over the shame of their bodies. Unfortunately, it's not just Christians who believe that way, which is why we have laws against public nudity, and anyone who allows children to see him/her nude is considered to be a pervert--like a friend who was charged with "lewd behavior just for being nude in his own home around his two daughters. His marriage is shot, and he will be moving out of the home, and will probably be moving out of that area since he is now being shunned by everyone.
No, Christianity cannot (in my opinion) at this time do what social nudity can and does do--remove all fear of being seen nude, remove all body shame, and make us comfortable in our nude bodies even with other people without any hint of sexual arousal or embarrassment.
I seldom respond to this list. I am usually disheartened by the fundamentalist christian slant of the correspondence. I am much more interested in nudism than in the theological bases which may or may not exist in favor of it.
But this really sets me off. Fundamentalist christianity has very little to do with Christ, and much more to do with repressing human conduct. Mohatma Gandi once said "The whole world would be Christian, but you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
If you believe in the tales of the Bible, then you can't see mixed bathing as a sin. If you don't, what difference does a book make?
The value of belief is not in the abilty to punish non-believers.
I guess I am not sure exactly what you are referring to when you talk about the "Fundamentalist Slant" but I have to agree with you on several things you stated.
As I spin on this earth, I am tending to drop "fundamentalist" from my vocabulary as sometimes those we label that way are far from just fundamental. Words that do come to mind are legalistic.
Now, to address a couple of other things...
You said tales of the Bible and I am not sure where you would go after that. If you mean tales as in stories, no problem... If you mean tails as in "fairy tales", I will stand on the other side of the line in belief from you.
I have been on a spiritual journey over the last few years wondering how much American or First world (america/europe) Christianity has strayed from what Christ would want. I personally have not yet found that answer.
I'm glad you finally posted on this forum, but to call us Fundamentalist as in "right wing" Christian, I doubt seriously we fall into that category.
But if you call us Fundamentalists as in, we feel the bible is written according to God's will and that we believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man, that what he said is not only true, but what he IS, is very true.
We try not to be legalistic in our thinking. However, I can only speak for myself.
don't put yourself out of the loop by being quiet. Being quiet and not saying anything is like agreeing with those you disagree with. By all means, speak up, but don't argue. Speak with reason and thought.
You quoted Ghandi, but do you know Christ enough to be like him yourself? Do you heed his words? Does Ghandi know what Christ is like? Or does Ghandi even know who Christ really is? If Ghandi thinks that Jesus is just another prophet like himself, then he doesn't know who Jesus the Christ is. He is not qualified to pass judgement. But if Ghandi does know who Jesus is, then he should have believed him and become what he passed judgment on us for not becoming. He will have the greater judgment on him on the day of judgement for not doing what he knew he should have done and for passing judgement on others for not doing.
It seems to me that finding the freedom in Christ to be socially nude is what made the difference. There are the traditions of men in "religion" that keep us away from truly experiencing the fullness of the freedoms we have in Christ.
I don't know if you have read Donald Miller's book, BLUE LIKE JAZZ, but he doesn't defend or stand behind "Christianity" and the industry behind it. Instead he speaks of Christian Spirituality - defined as living in the footsteps of Jesus (my definition). It may be splitting hairs, but it is hard to defend a lot of what is done in the name of "Christianity."
Thank you Boyd for clarifying what is perceived as "fundamentalist." I would never have defined myself as fundamentalist, esp. after acknowledging and experiencing the freedom to be nude socially. However, recently I was labeled as such in a discussion about the responsibility of spiritual leadership in the family. That event help me to see it the term more as a label to attack the opponent as irrational. It caused to me really look over my position scripturally and I came back feeling more strongly convinced of scripture than ever.
I was always kind of chubby when I was a kid, and I was extremly shy about my body. I remember never taking my shirt off when I would swim with other people. I would get grossed out when I would look at myself nude.
Now, since if have become a naturist, I have no shyness about my body what so ever. I love to swim with much less that a shirt ((wink, wink)), with or without other people around. I'm in better shape now than I was when I was a kid, but my body isn't perfect. I still have some extra pounds on me, but it doesn't matter anymore. I love looking at my nude body. I'm thankful to God for it. It's amazing, and definitly nothing to be ashamed of.
Naturism has made all the diffrence in the world for me.
I think it has for me. But it's not just "self confidence" but confidence in God that He made no mistakes in making you!
I had a picture in 10th grade I think, and my shoulders were slumped way down, and a stupid grin on my face. DORK!
I had to learn to raise my shoulders (almost to extreme) and find a more relaxed smile before I found a comfortable balance. I still have to work on my facial expressions, but that will work out.
But I do find that I am far more comfortable nude than embarassing my self wearing thongs or something weired like that! I would rather be caught being nude than what some people wear today.
Since I am not circumsized, I was self concious thinking that I was the strange one. But I got over that REAL Quick!
So yes, a lot of fears are Tossed Out the Window when you become a nudist. But that does not make you more self confident in everything. There are still old habits a lot of us needs to overcome.
Congratulations on your new found freedom, naturism and confidence!
Boyd Allen "May the Lord protect our nudity from the sight of those who will not benefit, and may he allow us to be seen by those who will."
