Social Nudism (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

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	Social Nudism (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

What is the position of Orthodoxy on its followers practicing social nudism?

ANSWER:

While to my knowledge the Orthodox Church surely has never issued any kind of formal or official position on social nudism, it is my opinion that the Church would take a dim view on anything that might prove to be a temptation -- and surely nudism, social or otherwise, could indeed prove to be a temptation to many persons.

Certainly the Church does not see the human body, clothed or otherwise, as something evil in and of itself; however, the body, like all else given to us by God, is to be used for those things which are profitable for our souls and our salvation and for our edification and the edification of others and, as such, should not be used in any way that could lead one into temptation.

I am not sure that social nudism is necessarily spiritually profitable or edifying. Hence, it would be my opinion that the Church would not offer a blessing to such practices.

Published in January 2011.

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