nudist church
has anyone been to a nudist church, i was searching internet and typed in nudist church and a few popped up, i don't mean a chapel at a nudist resort but a actually church near main street usa or elsewhere in the world. one i read about in texas you enter the church and they have a area where you disrobe and than enter the chapel nude, it amazed me it was a good size baptist church. i wonder how i would feel being nude in a chapel and everyone including the pastor being nude. when i hike nude i always feel a religious connection. i think this would be inspiring. if they had one in my area i think i would be willing to visit.
I doubt it.
Constitutionally, in this country, it can't be "illegal" if it's a real tenet of an established religion, but I'm sure someone would claim "legally" that it's not a "real" religion, so.....
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
However, Congress has made many laws respecting religion and restricting or prohibiting the practice thereof, so the Constitution can't be counted on anyway.
I suppose Occult witchcraft would come closest of recognized religious beliefs, though I've heard rumors of Wiccan "sky clad" rituals.
I'm pretty sure some militant textile would find some way to bring it to court, after having everyone arrested, their children taken away, and so forth.
Cynical ? Me ?
On the other hand, I have attended a generic religious gathering at a resort, but that's a different thing.
Linda asked: I wonder if nudism would be considered legal in a church setting what with the supposed freedom of religion and all?
My reply: A church may make whatever rules it likes as long as they don't contravene local laws. It shouldn't be any different than for a resort, really. I don't know how it works in the U.S., but in Canada, the rule is that one is not supposed to be nude in a public place (whatever that may mean), nor in a private place exposed to public view.
Therefore, is the church a private place, even if anyone from the public may enter? Given that strip clubs and the like exist, and they allow any paying customer to enter, an argument could be made that the church is a private place, and if all the curtains are closed, no one inside should be exposed to public view.
It probably depends on how things work in different areas.
curt said: I doubt it. Constitutionally, in this country, it can't be "illegal" if it's a real tenet of an established religion, but I'm sure someone would claim "legally" that it's not a "real" religion, so..... "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" However, Congress has made many laws respecting religion and restricting or prohibiting the practice thereof, so the Constitution can't be counted on anyway. I suppose Occult witchcraft would come closest of recognized religious beliefs, though I've heard rumors of Wiccan "sky clad" rituals. I'm pretty sure some militant textile would find some way to bring it to court, after having everyone arrested, their children taken away, and so forth. Cynical ? Me ? On the other hand, I have attended a generic religious gathering at a resort, but that's a different thing.
My reply: I don't think the reference was to a "Church of Nudism," but a "Nudist Church." In other words, it could be a Nudist Christian Church, in which case there would be readings of Christian texts. In the U.S.A., where Christianity is as American as apple pie, they would have a leg to stand on.
Now, if a breakaway Muslim group decided to worship nude in a Mosque, they might risk more retribution from fellow Muslims than from the rest of us, if only because the mainstream Muslims have enough trouble being taken seriously anyway given the post-9/11 climate.
As for militant anti-nudists causing trouble, sure, it could happen, but you don't need a church for that!
I don't think the reference was to a "Church of Nudism," but a "Nudist Church." In other words, it could be a Nudist Christian Church, in which case there would be readings of Christian texts. In the U.S.A., where Christianity is as American as apple pie, they would have a leg to stand on.
You see, since nudism is not a tenet of Christianity, there might not be a leg. It could be argued that many ( most ? ) of the conventional Christian churches today, say nudism equates to sex, and is therefor a bad thing, so claiming a Christian standing could easily work against, rather than for.
With the whole "God hates genitals" attitude in some circles, I have my doubts.
It's an interesting question to ponder, though.
I wonder if nudism would be considered legal in a church setting what with the supposed freedom of religion and all?
The laws on nudity were not written to restrict religion I would think. It is further complicated by the fact that most laws limiting nudity are state laws not federal laws.
When I first saw this thread I did a search on nude churches and found one in Texas. I checked their website and by the way they say they do things it would not be against Texas law. If the church really exists, I don't know since I haven't been there.
Thomas
Wiccans do sometimes practice "skyclad" but are - at least in the US - not given a religious pass on the public nudity laws; they need to be somewhere out of view, in accordance with state law. In a church building or rented hall, all that's really needed is an usher at the door - clothed! - to cue people that there's a naked event inside, or - if there's an attendee list (as there would be at a private wedding - this isn't just a procedure for nudists) - simply that there's a private event inside. Voila - you're not publicly nude. Might be a different story in Europe where you can't exclude people from wandering into many churches considered to be cultural sites.
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