Created Naked
By R. M. Olson
Amazingly Similar
“What nudity does seem to unleash is a levelling up. Without the social markers clothes provide, everyone, whether a high flyer or one afflicted by low self-esteem, appears freed from the shackles of their everyday life and therefore better able to make friends.” ~ Antonia Hoyle, ANTONIA HOYLE: How Nudefest made me feel comfortable in my own skin
“With humble nakedness, there is no rich and no poor, there is no genius or simpleton, no powerful king or vassal. All become amazingly similar. All become like God really sees every human; as someone created in His own image.”—Paul M. Bowman, Nakedness and the Bible
Image Re-Set
“Bombarded by images of social-media perfection, I’ve often felt inadequate, but a nudist festival like nowhere else offers an antidote to that pressure to look good, a reminder of the power of the human body in all its forms.” —Antonia Hoyle, ANTONIA HOYLE: How Nudefest made me feel comfortable in my own skin
“When people actually try naturism who have poor body image, their body confidence increases hugely and their mental health also improves. We are so conditioned to seeing perfect Photoshopped models in magazine adverts which no one can measure up to. When people see real naked bodies of all shapes and sizes, they realise that we are all imperfectly beautiful.” —Gary & Noreen Kennedy, https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/naturism-ni-when-people-see-real-naked-bodies-of-all-shapes-and-sizes-they-realise-that-we-are-all-imperfectly-beautiful/a1801715998.html
Stigma or State of Being
“This stigma is precisely why many naturists feel the need to keep their lifestyle private, sharing it only with a select group of like-minded individuals. But I believe that staying quiet only reinforces the idea that naturism is something to hide. The more we cloak our lifestyle in secrecy, the more we allow misconceptions to thrive. And let’s face it: society will never change if we wait for it to accept naturism without nudists standing up and explaining why this lifestyle is both healthy and liberating. “—Marc, Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Stigma of Naturism in Everyday Life - Nude and Happy
“When approached with maturity and respect, nudity can offer society profound benefits. It promotes body positivity and self-acceptance, breaking down unrealistic beauty standards. Open nudity encourages honest conversations about bodies, health, and diversity, fostering a culture of empathy. It demystifies human anatomy, enhancing sexual education and reducing shame. —Colm, Chipping away at the norm, cloth by cloth. - Irish Naturist Association
“Consequently, conversations on nudity reflect what they are in real life and treat nakedness for what it is: a state of being.” —Kavya Racheeti, https://utdmercury.com/films-should-respect-naked-bodies-not-stigmatize-them/
Imago Dei
“Naturism paves the way for seeing yourself and others as God sees, and elevates the concept of Imago Dei to new and greater heights.” -Phillip Oak, Surprised into Freedom
“The Imago Dei is a profound truth that shapes our understanding of who we are and how we are to live. It elevates our view of the human body, seeing it as a sacred reflection of God’s image and a vessel for His glory. When approached with respect, humility, and a desire to honor God, nudity can be a way to embrace this truth and live in alignment with God’s original design.” —Justine Hudson, Why God Made Us Naked: A Journey of Faith into Embracing Our Physical, Naked Form as God Designed It
A Circular Effect
“Communal nudity—when it occurs in a safe space—has the potential to significantly improve body image. It makes people feel less anxious about how others view their bodies which, in turn, makes them appreciate their own appearance even more.” ~Justin L. Lehmiller, Ph.D.
“My nude hiking experience is limited, but I’ve never felt more connected to nature. It’s so primal! I feel like it’s instantly undoing the mental and spiritual “damage” caused by years of conforming to society’s norms.” ~RMNC Member, https://x.com/rmnaturist/status/1546841695295115264?s=46&t=fpiEy5CqbBOXR1N66BxSTw
A Superpower
“Being naked somehow felt like a superpower. I was deeply connected to the nature around me, the hot air wrapping its arms around my bare body. My naked skin, not divided by the barrier of a swimsuit, was cleansed and cooled down by the rush of the water. My feet felt the groove of the rocks and the sand pushed itself through each one of my toes. I was as connected to nature as humanly possible, totally enabled by lack of clothing.” —Ella Kopelman, https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/the-summer-i-discovered-nudity/#google_vignette
“The whole of nature is nude except man. And by your clothes you have become disconnected from nature”, —Bhagwan Shrew Rajneesh
They Hide Us
“Your clothes conceal much of your beauty, yet hide not the unbeautiful. Though you seek in garments the freedom of privacy, you may find them a harness and chain. Would that you could meet the sun and the wind with more of your body and less of your raiment.” —Khalil Gibran, The Prophet
“We have come into the world naked, and all the animals are naked, why should man hide his body behind clothes?” —Osho
“Textiles do not so much make us as hide us.” —Jeannette Cooperman https://commonreader.wustl.edu/c/naked-beneath-our-clothes/
Value
“All prejudices and expectations about the body just disappear in the sauna, there we can meet as people regardless of where we came from. As a person who is racialized in Sweden, there is a care for me in this place by people who might not have given it to me in other contexts.” —Cristian Quinteros Sotos, Nudism rise in Sweden; “This is an antidote,” « Euro Weekly News
“All humans are of equal inherent value, but clothing, probably more than anything else, conveys a false sense of hierarchy. When you are naked talking to a naked person, you are forced to relate to that person on more even terms. There are other false or artificial barriers someone may put up, but social nudity removes most economic and social restrictions that are not essential to a person’s character.” —Mark Storey, “Social Nudity and Freedom from Alienation,” Naturist Life International, No. 20, Autumn 1997, p. 29.
Shame is Worse
“Nudity is allowed for entertainment and voyeurism but not for comfort. People can handle nude art but why not normal naked bodies?” —Why are we taught shame about nudity and our bodies? — https://rfgjga1992.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/why-are-we-taught-shame-about-nudity-and-our-bodies/
“We had a sermon a while back from our pastor talking about how shaming someone is to go against everything Christian. Yet children are natural nudists. The only way to keep them dressed is to teach them shame. "Don't pull up your dress- someone will see your panties." "Don't go outside naked-- someone will see your penis." This occurs again and again until there is a wall of shame. Is nudity a dangerous path? I believe shame is far worse." -Jon, Naturist Life International
“Our genitals are neither vulgar or shameful, but the way we have been taught has made us subconsciously feel uneasy about the entire matter.” —Dennis Craig Smith, Naked Fear
Nude Socially, Why?
“Group nudity can be personally beneficial. Nudist camps are places where people can emerge from hiding behind their clothes and become more self-accepting, revealing and honest.” ~Abraham Maslow
“I slowly grew numb to all the naked bodies around me - the “judgement” chatter in my brain drifted away. I was in the moment and could now “see” people much more clearly. It was incredible!” ~RMNC Member, https://x.com/rmnaturist/status/1824274932106444949?s=46&t=fpiEy5CqbBOXR1N66BxSTw
“What's it like at a naturist complex? "It's fairly simple, When the weather's fine, everyone's usually undressed. When everyone's nude, no one stands out. Someone who's dressed then stands out." —Michaela Toepper—Taking a naturist holiday: 'When everyone's nude, no one stands out'
A Clean Mind
“Adam and Eve entered the world naked and unashamed—naked and pure-minded. And no descendant of theirs has ever entered it otherwise. All have entered it naked, unashamed, and clean in mind. They entered it modest. They had to acquire immodesty in the soiled mind, there was no other way to get it.” —Mark Twain
“Nudity is the purest expression of the beauty which is visible, perfect and manifest work of God.—Alexandre Najjar”
“In the "real" world, where everyone is wearing clothes, there is judgement about what people are wearing. When you take that away, you're just talking to a human being.” —Natalie Sanderson
FEEL
“It is no small thing to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.” —Marty Rubin
“The body seems to feel beauty when exposed to it as it feels the campfire or sunshine, entering not by the eyes alone, but equally through all one’s flesh like radiant heat, making a passionate ecstatic pleasure glow not explainable.” John Muir, founder of The Sierra Club
"Go into the water sometime without swimming trunks clinging to your body. Walk around in a gentle breeze sometime without having any clothes on. It's simply wonderful - a feeling hard to describe," —Wolfgang Weinreich. Taking a naturist holiday: 'When everyone's nude, no one stands out'
Weird About Nudity
“I just think that people are so weird about nudity and the human body. Sex is not bad, naked bodies are not bad, and naked bodies don't always have to be connected to sex.” —Emily Browning
“Social nudism/naturism is a transformational and healthy way to live. It involves accepting one’s own and others’ bodies, embracing nature without the influence of clothing, and celebrating one’s connection with the environment in a remarkable and unique way.” —William J. Schroer, https://www.planetnude.co/p/why-arent-more-americans-nudists
Conditioned
“When people actually try naturism who have poor body image, their body confidence increases hugely and their mental health also improves. We are so conditioned to seeing perfect Photoshopped models in magazine adverts which no one can measure up to. When people see real naked bodies of all shapes and sizes, they realise that we are all imperfectly beautiful.” —Gary & Noreen Kennedy, https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/naturism-ni-when-people-see-real-naked-bodies-of-all-shapes-and-sizes-they-realise-that-we-are-all-imperfectly-beautiful/a1801715998.html
“Naturism is liberation from the attitude that you have to have the perfect body. What you’ve got doesn’t matter because naturists see people for their spirit, for what they are.” —Micaela Stanford, quoted in https://disabilitynow.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/the-naked-truth/
“Do you want to know what a perfect body for naturism looks like? Stand in front of a mirror. Everyone has a body for naturism. Embrace your body because it is what makes you, you, and you are unlike anyone else. Own it!” —Linda Weber, @truebluenude on X.com #IAmtheFaceofNaturism, https://x.com/truebluenude/status/1680880072335720451?s=46&t=fpiEy5CqbBOXR1N66BxSTw
Genuinely Human
“Shame is really easily understood as the fear of disconnection. Is there something about me, that if other people know it or see it, that I won’t be worthy of connection?” —Brené Brown
“We believe that everyone is born a nudist. They are taught to be textiles using methods like shame and sexualization…” —@KimandJim1 on x.com
“—as where nudity is the natural heritage of a people in which all natural functions are regarded without shame or embarrassment in a life of unhurried simplicity— love, work, play, song, and dance are its natural accompaniments. Such was life among our ancient ancestors.” — Ashley Montegu
“Nudism facilitates being genuinely human.” —Hartman, Fithian, & Johnson 1970, 1991
Liberating Wonder & Joy
“Through nakedness we express our wonder and joy at being living, physical, organic beings ... Many gain greater self confidence and self esteem, improve their physical and mental health, and have deeper and more meaningful social interactions.” —Roger Coupe
"Have you seen a toddler running around when freed from a diaper? They always grin from ear to ear as they enjoy their newly found freedom. Well, that's pretty much what it feels like when you first step outside into the warmth wearing absolutely nothing at all. " ~ Chris Moore
"Sunbathing nude was a liberating experience. It felt unbelievably crazy to take off all my clothes and play in the sun. I've not had that much fun in so long." —Amy Grant
Modesty a Diseased Caprice
“The convention mis-called “modesty” has no standard, and cannot have one, because it is opposed to nature and reason and is therefore an artificiality and subject to anyone's whim—anyone's diseased caprice.” —Mark Twain
The whims of this “diseased caprice” are played out across cultures throughout the centuries of history. From the modern burka to the koteka or penis gourd, worn in New Guinea, the examples of what is “modest” are almost innumerable. Let us flee from these self imposed rules and return to a belief that our bodies were created very good. Throw off artificial modesty and begin to respect our natural selves.
Indictment, A Moral Crime
“The human body is the crown of God‘s creation, consummated by his declaration that it was good. That God’s people are unable to view the body without sinning is not an indictment of the body itself, but of the immaturity of the postmodern evangelical mind.” —Chad W. Thompson, That Famous Fig Leaf, https://a.co/d/9HNEh1g
“So it's being a follower and devotion to Christ first, then naturism is an aid given to me by God to help me walk in the Christian way, overcome the carnal lusts, cancel them out. Crucify the old man of sin as Paul puts it. ... But now I see how the very idea of thinking nudity is a moral crime, is a moral crime. Because it's a moral crime to blame God for creating live porn and tempting us to sin just by what He created” —Name Withheld
Truth, Trust, Lies about Nudity
“There are those who so dislike the nude that they find something indecent in the naked truth” – F H Bradley, Philosopher, 1846-1924
“What would our marriages, our friendships, our churches, and our communities look like if men and women were not afraid of connecting with each other in deep ways? What if men and women could really know each other without sex getting in the way? What if we did not have to be afraid of our own and others bodies that we cannot trust ourselves with them?” —Debra Hirch, Redeeming Sex
“Most people lie. Including when they think that nudity is something that is inappropriate and disgusting. Nudity in any condition always attracts attention, challenges and provokes curiosity. The problem is whether people want to admit that or not.” —Titon Rahmawan
Some Skinny Dip History
“we humans are 60% water and come into existence floating in amniotic fluid; so the urge to return can feel overwhelming and the requirement to wear a swimming costume nonsensical.” —Rowan Pelling, Inside the nudist renaissance - UnHerd
“Despite its puritan roots, the U.S. has a long history of skinny-dipping. Social nudity is celebrated in the writings of Walt Whitman and the landscape paintings of Thomas Eakins. Benjamin Franklin took a daily naked “air bath,” while presidents John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson enjoyed a refreshing nude dip. According to National Geographic Magazine, John Quincy Adams (1825-29), the sixth President, customarily took a nude early morning swim in the Potomac River.” —National Geographic
“I like to run down to the beach and have a little swim in the nude in the morning.” former US Defense Secretary Robert McNamara
Shedding the Urge to…
“I had to shrug off the urge to snigger when I first encountered a nudist beach (the long-established one at Brighton) because the sense that bare bodies were both absurd and embarrassing had been deeply imbued in me.” —Rowan Pelling, Inside the nudist renaissance - UnHerd
“The sheer act of disrobing can be symbolic of shedding societal expectations. By removing our physical coverings, we can also begin to peel away the layers of mental constructs that have been imposed on us.” —Gary Holden, AANR West - Embracing Naturism for Psychological Liberation, Breaking Mental Barriers
“What naturism does is disentangle nudity from sexuality and psychologically reconditions the brain not to respond sexually to the mere sight of a human being, no matter how attractive they may be.” —Evan Minton, cerebralfaith.net/the-case-for-christian-naturism/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0WWrQE36-NuTuD53Wuz17L1sf5_q2ZkOxhhHuCxT2-pH2J891FbYANX5E_aem_O61hMxq4UfOaZDX-5E0cfQ
Ed
Disconnection
“We’ve become so desensitized to everything, but the one thing that makes us human. We’ve come to accept almost every negative aspect of human nature, yet refuse to condone the most natural state a human being can be — the nude.” —Lauren Martin, www.elitedaily.com/life/scientific-reasons-just-always-naked/971796
“Social nudism/naturism is a transformational and healthy way to live. It involves accepting one’s own and others’ bodies, embracing nature without the influence of clothing, and celebrating one’s connection with the environment in a remarkable and unique way.” —William J. Schroer, www.planetnude.co/p/why-arent-more-americans-nudists
Orthodox Body Acceptance
“The enemy sought to split the body from the integrated whole of our being. As such, he could then use it through his lies (about nudity being sinful) to tear down the image of God to satisfy and elevate himself. “ —J.Ewing
“Scripture, tradition, reason, experience: all point to the value of body acceptance, not to the virtue of body shame. Some argue that church tradition doesn’t corroborate the experience of body acceptance. No, the modern church’s tradition certainly doesn’t. But the early church’s rejection of a Gnostic devaluation of the human body says otherwise. Its outdoor nude baptisms say so even louder! To return to the experiential, rational, Biblical, body-friendly viewpoint would indeed be against the modern church’s taboo of body shame, but in full accord with orthodox Christian theology.” — David L. Hatton, “Who Said You Were Naked?” "Who Said You Were Naked?": Reflections on Body Acceptance https://a.co/d/crkC2Xd
Great Diversity and Judge Less Harshly
Essential Wholesomeness
“We believe in the essential wholesomeness of the human body and regard it neither as an object of shame nor a subject for degrading exploitation. We believe that sunlight and air are vital to human life and well-being, and that exposure of the entire body to these elements is desirable at such time and at such places as are fitting and proper for the purpose. We believe that we are entitled to enjoy the benefits of such exposure, without interference as long as we do not cause injury to our fellow citizens. Nudism is potentially one of the steps to greater human acceptance and, therefore, human awareness and growth.
False modesty and artificial concepts of morality deny to people the meeting of each other without fear. True modesty can be achieved only when it is possible to totally accept oneself and others with unrestricted openness and honesty. Some of us have finally emerged from the fog that distorted our vision, and we have decided to experiment a little with human reactions to the disclosure of truth and God’s original plan of life.
The reward has been instantaneous and electrifying: spiritual release, physical improvement, moral stamina, social integrity, and human consideration immediately become dominant factors in this program of life. It is so impressive, that we look back with wonder at the stupidity that once victimized us, and is still victimizing others. Deliverance from this bondage is realized by simply believing in the decency and dignity of the human body that God designed, and in being practical about it.”
Swimming Free
[Being] naked out of doors and in the water [restores] my sense of blissful innocence. It takes me back to that place of my almost forgotten childhood, where I got to run around undressed without anyone telling me I had to cover up or be embarrassed.—Elizabeth Rosner
“O to bathe in the swimming-bath, or in a good place along the shore, To splash the water! to walk ankle-deep, or race naked along the shore. —Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
Healthy, Wholesome, & Gody
Relax in the Essential
“We find that relaxing with clothes off at Elysium Fields [Naturist Resort] is a great tension reliever, for ourselves and our kids, too.”- Actress Lynn Redgrave
“The concept of a body being ’summer ready’ is divisive and really quite disgusting…An important aspect of naturism is acceptance and in an environment where people aren’t wearing their clothes, you quickly learn that what you look like doesn’t matter – there is a whole variety of body shapes – including your own – and they are all ’summer ready’. Just relax and be yourself.” —Andrew Welch
Missing Out
“I am convinced that there is an intimacy that we are missing out on walking around in our clothes. It is an intimacy so deep that we don’t even miss it until you experience it. But it is there buried deep in our core waiting for us to come home…”-Aching for Eden Blog 2/13/21 (Aching for Eden – Longing to restore the innocence…)
Avoidance
“Anyway, because teenagers are the way they are, all we’re really doing by shielding them from nudity is allowing their entire education about the normal range of human anatomy to be dictated by the material they seek out on their own — which is to say, by porn. Needless to say, this is a bad way for kids to form a factually accurate understanding of what normal naked bodies look like, never mind what it teaches them about sex. But it also reinforces the notion that the two can’t ever be separated.” —Kat Rosenfield, unherd.com/2023/04/the-case-for-getting-naked/
Nothing Is Immodest?
The Human Body Is Not Obscene
“When people teach that the human body is dirty or obscene, it creates fertile ground for pornography. This is why porn addiction is so strong in our society, even among Christians. Our culture is inundated with a sexualized view of the body. I’m sorry to say that the church has been a key player in spreading that idea.” -David L. Hatton
“Our bodies were created “very good”, not dirty or obscene, even in a “naked and unashamed” state.” -Phillip Oak, Surprised into Freedom ( www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7T7WVGL?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share )
Problem & Solution
Wishing Freedom
“For those of you who will invariably lecture me on age and nudity, rest assured—it’s taken me 59 years to feel this confident and free of shame, and I wish the same for you.❤️” —Paulina Porizkova, www.prevention.com/life/a60510845/paulina-porizkova-birthday-suit-59th-birthday-instagram-photo/
Can We Change the Norms
Incarceration to Normality
“By baring it all, it makes it easier to see not just a body, but the individual. -Sylva Sternkopf
“ It was nudism that taught me to accept the normality of the human body in any form. Everyone is different, and that’s normal. People don’t exist to please other people’s eyes. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t feel something when you see another person. Whether it is appropriate to show them is a question of ethics. At the exact moment when you stop noticing that people are naked, you come to the idea that in some basic sense all people are the same, equal, regardless of age, constitution, or occupation.” — Naked Mike Writes, How I went to my first nudist’s beach and started loving my body
Less Self-Judgement
“Self Being: Being naked is being yourself. The way to switch off the fake outside world, with its assumptions of who you are, being judged on your clothes, hairdo, jewellery, and the fact you do or don't own the latest and most expensive / biggest / smallest smartphone (insert preferred make and brand of choice).
All of us, fans of the nude way of life, naturists, nudists, whatever you feel like calling it, know how that feels. The pressure is off when the clothes are off ” — Paul Z. Walker, zjuzdme.org/self-being.html
“Don’t let those who have body negative values define what is and what is not acceptable. Seize your freedom and restore your dignity!” – BodyFreedom.org
Return to What Was Lost
Celebrate with Us
It Is Good
“Because the unclad human body is a natural and sacred part of God‘s creation, it is logical and spiritual perversion for religious leaders, and lawmakers to insult the artistry of its holy designer by defining and treating the mere nakedness of its anatomy as something pornographic” —David L. Hatton, Who Said You Were Naked?": Reflections on Body Acceptance https://a.co/d/crkC2Xd
See Yourself
We Are What We Are
Avoid Mystery
“It is good for children to see each other and their parents naked whenever it so happens naturally. There will be a short period, probably at about three years old, when the child is interested in the differences between his father and his mother, and compares them with the differences between himself and his sister, but this period is soon over, and after this he takes no more interest in nudity than in clothes. So long as parents are unwilling to be seen naked by their children, the children will necessarily have a sense that there is a mystery, and having that sense they will become prurient and indecent. There is only one way to avoid indecency, and that is to avoid mystery.” —Bertrand Russell
Appreciation
Affects Mood
“He fervently desired equilibrium, if for no other reason, than to control his emotions, to moderate between the sunny elation he felt while nude, and the opaque depression that clouded around him when he had to get dressed, forced to enclose himself in textile Swalls buried alive, like an entourage in someone else’s idea of heaven.” —Will Forest, Coed Naked philosophy, page 110, www.amazon.com/dp/1466312750?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
“Naturism isn’t for everyone but I actually get down and depressed when I have to cover up. Wearing clothes really affects my mood and I feel restricted and confined when I’m wearing them.” —Jill Foster, uk.style.yahoo.com/being-naked-helps-with-my-mental-health-100422632.html
Losses and Gains
“For girls especially, there is so much pressure in our society to be a perfect size. As a result, there is a whole generation of people killing themselves to meet a standard that is impossible. Part of living a naturist lifestyle is accepting your body and regaining a normal body image.” —Nicky Hoffman
“What I gained by becoming a nudist: Freedom,confidence,acceptance,calmness,self-esteem, friendships, insight, body positivity, understanding, happiness, fearlessness, relaxation, trust, empathy, enjoyment, family. What I lost by becoming a nudist: The weight of other peoples opinions.” —Rick Dorociak
Joyous
“There’s something joyous about [naturism] and I urge everyone to try it ... If you can’t get your kicks in that incredibly innocent, joyful way, then the world is not a good place.” —Kate Humble
Learn, Transform, Understand
“By challenging societal norms, embracing authenticity, and fostering a culture of body positivity, individuals can unlock the transformative benefits of naturism, transcending the confines of shame and judgment to revel in the innate beauty of the human form.” —Marc, www.nudeandhappy.com/2024/04/21/the-power-of-desexualizing-nudity/
“Neither I nor anyone else can convince another person just by recounting the multiple benefits of naturism with words and stories. Having your own experience is the only way to fully know and understand what we try to communicate.” —Phillip Oak, Surprised into Freedom ( www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7T7WVGL? )
Slander and Offense
“Sure, some people might believe they are offended by nude bathers, but, if you never encounter anything that offends you in your community, you are not living in a free society.” – Corky Stanton – Founder ClothesFree International.
The best thing to do would be to designate everywhere as clothing optional, and we could leave little fenced in areas for the prudes to prance around in. Call them “Prudist Camps”. They could peer out of their fences and indulge in their offensive “I’m offended” behaviour whenever they saw a natural person walk by, without bothering the rest of us.” – Anonymous