Nude beaches?

[kristin9488]

Hey everyone, I haven’t posted here before but I have been browsing around here regularly for a long time, so here goes!

I’m a college student and a Catholic. I have been best friends with this other Catholic girl since the first day freshman year and since then we have been planning a trip to the Caribbean to celebrate our graduation.

So the trip is this summer and we’ve booked our flights and hotel and everything. We’re planning for it, like what we’re gonna do and where we’re gonna go.

My friend has been there once before but I haven’t. She says when she was there a few years ago she went with her cousin to a private nude beach. Her cousin has a membership to it. She loved it and really wants to go back.

She brought it up with me when we were booking everything. I have never been to a nude beach before and my immediate reaction was absolutely not. But the more she’s been telling me about it, the more I really want to go.

She says she saw only a dozen or so people there since it’s a private/members only beach club with a secluded section of it reserved for the nude part, and they were all mostly couples on their honeymoons, so there isn’t much chance of dealing with men trying to hit on me.

I think it would be a ton of fun. Now I am a conservative girl (I wear a purity ring and swear to myself not to have any sexual contact in any way before marriage). My friend feels the exact same way, so I was surprised to find out she loves this beach so much. I am confident with my body and don’t mind being naked around other people. (In high school we all had to shower after gym, so I was naked around other naked girls all the time.) I think it would be great to do something different for a change and be able to relax and feel comfortable in my own skin.

Now I realize it’s probably pointless to be asking this here, because I know the answers will be “NO!”. I would normally agree with you completely. But I have done a lot of research on this place, and my friend has promised we will look around clothed when we get there before deciding to do it, so I think it wouldn’t be all that bad to at least consider it.

So here is my question: Are there any teachings on nude beaches, or any teachings that apply to them, that would still make it sinful even if this place does turn out to be sophisticated and decent like my friend says it is? Have any of you been to a nude beach, and if so, what was your experience?

I know you’ll probably say it’s a near occasion of sin. But neither of us has any intention of doing anything sexual, and if this place is not good we will not go, and if I feel uncomfortable or tempted even for a second I will cover up and leave.

What do you think?

P.S. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to tell the full story, because I need good answers!

 

[LittleOne1]

Hey Kristin,
I will try to put this in a positive light then the simple “NO you are absolutely wrong and will suffer enternal damnation for this.”
Your body is a temple; first and foremost a temple of the Holy Spirit. You also have to consider that if God does call you to marry, he made you for your husband and not for others who have no business looking at you (doctors and stuff excluded because that is for a noble purpose). These men on their honeymoons might not hit you up, but you offer another occasion of sin by being naked there because they lust with their eyes (and you will never know this), but you have a responsibility to be modest for them because you offer more temptation. Also how can you predict single men (or unfaithful married men for that matter) will not hit on you? Ultimately the positive I want to give you for avoiding this is that the beauty of your body is not meant for any man, but your husband if God calls you to marriage because this is a unique personal gift meant for him. Would you do this if you were married and how would it make your husband feel if you went with some friend to a nude beach? Most likely jealous. If you wouldn’t do this during your marriage (be naked at some nude beach for all types of men to see) why would it be should you do it before you are marriage. Save the beauty of your body from men who will lust after you in their hearts and instead for a real man who will love you as a person because the promise to love honor and respect you all the days of your life and your future children (God willing). Think of the positive idea of your body as a gift you can save for your future husband and not for other guys to oodle in their hearts over and use you in their minds.

 

[bpbasilphx]

There was a time when all swimming beaches were nude, but segregated by sex.

That’s why the bathing suit was invented: so swimmers of both sexes could mingle in what was considered comparative modesty. The “bathing machines” in Alice in Wonderland were movable dressing rooms, pulled by horses into the sea. The swimmer emerged, covered in yards of black wool. Not very practical vesture, I admit.

However, I would recomment not going. Just my opinion.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

You know what they say about intentions:

“The road to death is paved with good intentions.”

You may have the very best intentions to remain pure and chaste, but actions speak much louder. The nudist communities are, at least, an occasion to sin, which Jesus urges us to avoid at all costs. By voluntarily placing yourself in an occasion, you are saying that you think you are more strong than perhaps you really are.

Look at Our Lady as an example. She was born without the stain of original sin as handed down from Adam and Eve. She was stainless and pure, yet she did not walk around naked because God clothed Adam and Eve after their fall. Our Lady was humble and simple, following the norms of society in those days even if she was preserved from sin. Look to her as your example.

Pope John Paul II wrote the exhortation of the “Theology of the Body” because our common society has been lied to by satan and believes that if we do not plan to do anything wrong, there is no fault. However, just because you remain temptation free (highly unlikely, BTW), what about the others on that beach who will be exposed? The Church believes that our examples can lead others, so by participating, you are agreeing that nudism is O.K. If one of the men or women are led to sin by your actions on that beach, you will be held partly accountable. Are you ready for this?

We are weak human beings, and satan knows this. Attempting to “prove” yourself will only lead to other instances and you shouldn’t bend your conscience until it breaks.

Here is a website for you to look at:

catholicdoors.com/faq/qu48.htm#answer1

 

[tjm190]

The issue with modesty is that you may drag unsuspecting bystanders down into lust. This is a nude beach. People going there know what they are in for and it is their duty to be prepared, NOT yours. If you think you will be dragged into lust, that is another issue.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

The issue with modesty is that you may drag unsuspecting bystanders down into lust. This is a nude beach. People going there know what they are in for and it is their duty to be prepared, NOT yours. If you think you will be dragged into lust, that is another issue.

You are mistaken, I’m afraid. We are taught in the Bible to teach others by example:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.–1 Timothy 4:12

Anyone can believe they will be prepared to handle any temptations, but they are only truly prepared when they do the will of God and have His grace. We are not to tempt the Lord.

Also, if you look on the website I provided, modesty is necessary for Christians as we are temples of the Holy Spirit. We should not reveal to others what is meant for our spouse alone.

 

[tjm190]

You are mistaken, I’m afraid. We are taught in the Bible to teach others by example:

Anyone can believe they will be prepared to handle any temptations, but they are only truly prepared when they do the will of God and have His grace. We are not to tempt the Lord.

Also, if you look on the website I provided, modesty is necessary for Christians as we are temples of the Holy Spirit. We should not reveal to others what is meant for our spouse alone.

Modest with respect to who’s standard? And you always determine what temptations you can and can not handle- alcohol is an occasion of sin for everyone, yet some people think they can handle it and have some anyway. For others, that may be unwise.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

Modest with respect to who’s standard? And you always determine what temptations you can and can not handle- alcohol is an occasion of sin for everyone, yet some people think they can handle it and have some anyway. For others, that may be unwise.

I am not here to argue, but to present a point. I have already answered the topic of temptations in an earlier post.

 

[DaughterOfMary6]

Perhaps the OP should ask one of the Apologists on this forum to clear up any uncertainty.

 

[LittleOne1]

Modest with respect to who’s standard? And you always determine what temptations you can and can not handle- alcohol is an occasion of sin for everyone, yet some people think they can handle it and have some anyway. For others, that may be unwise.

Then there is no such thing as modesty and you can do whatever you want; the only fault is what others do in their hearts. This makes no sense in light that we all know we are fallen due to the state of original sin and we all know that the porn industry has lead many to sinful activities both in heart and in action. We have a duty to not lead our brothers and sisters into sin especially with uneccesary actions. Frequent these beaches only encourages their continued existence. Sure people still have free wills, but we still ask in the Our Father to not be lead into temptation; in the most important prayer Jesus tells us to ask the Father that we not be put into temptation; so why should we do that with our brothers and sisters? If we do something unnecessary that places temptations on others (whether they do sin or not) we our guilty. Remember what Jesus said about the person who causes one of the little ones to fall: “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Matthew 18:6).” So yes we are in huge trouble if we cause occasion of sin or others to fall away from Christ.

 

[I_Seek_2]

The more I look at it the more i think like this. Everything has temptation, every interaction, every thought. The likelihood of this temptation occurring in your mind ranges. Regardless there are dangers of sin everywhere. Where I’m confused is when people consider it wrong to do action A. but not action B. While the first may have a greater risk of temptation, why isn’t the other considered bad to? Someone who is an alcoholic it is hard for him not to sin. But some one who is not might find it easy to refrain. It seems like we have a issue with trust. We think we might not be able to handle action A. but can handle action B. another person thinks he can handle both, another thinks he can’t handle ether. Which is right? We trust ourselves on B but not on A, and think that everyone can’t make it through A because we can’t. I think that having a one size fits all about temptations doesn’t work. And if you do fall to temptation, you know what your limits are and what you need to pray on. Being afraid of temptations/mistakes is not a good or healthy way to live life.

 

[NP22]

I don’t think it’s a good idea. Even if there’s hardly anyone there, you still risk being there on the one day when the wrong kind of person is around. You never know who might pull out a camera when you’re not looking. And even if it’s just married couples, you would still tempt the husbands and maybe make the wives jealous.

That being said I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong to be naked on the beach. You would just have to find a time and a place when absolutely no one is around and then you could slip out of your swimsuit. But even then, keep your clothes nearby and be ready to cover up if someone comes.

 

[PrayHarder]

I remember an article in Wired magazine where someone made an insanely high-resolution camera and took a picture of the CA coastline because he wanted to make it a mural. When he developed and analyzed the photo later he noticed a section of rocky cliffs where he could make out men stationed with camera gear and very long lenses (like what pro photographers use). It turns out they were snapping pictures of people at a supposedly “private” nude beach. So, you never know who may be watching you. Keep that in mind.

On a more theological note, you have to think of your soul as a fortress constantly besieged by sin. In order to stay strong, you have to stay away from sin and temptation. A little breach could turn into something much worse. To put it another way, how many people fall into a life of serious sin because they took a little peak, or a little puff, or a little drink? I’m not saying that your life will fall apart because you go to a nude beach, but why expose yourself (pardon the pun) to sin so that you can expose a little more skin to some sunshine?

FYI, I had friends that tried to find a nude beach for much of the same reasons as you. When they got there they said it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be and was basically a waste of time.

 

[I_Seek_2]

On a more theological note, you have to think of your soul as a fortress constantly besieged by sin. In order to stay strong, you have to stay away from sin and temptation. A little breach could turn into something much worse. To put it another way, how many people fall into a life of serious sin because they took a little peak, or a little puff, or a little drink? I’m not saying that your life will fall apart because you go to a nude beach, but why expose yourself (pardon the pun) to sin so that you can expose a little more skin to some sunshine?

FYI, I had friends that tried to find a nude beach for much of the same reasons as you. When they got there they said it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be and was basically a waste of time.

Yes that is great analogy for a fortress. But we are not fortresses we are like soldiers. Soldiers need battle experience. Battle experience makes soldiers better. Unlike fortresses that get eroded away, our wounds heal and make us stronger. Like wise if we sit back and say the less we fight the stronger we will become. When a real fight comes we may think we are stronger but when we face the enemy we have no idea how to stand up to him.
Also which would be more like Jesus, sitting in you home locked up because your afraid of temptation, or going to that place of temptation being tested and saying.“though i shall walk thought the valley of shadow I shall not fear no evil”?

 

[Pons]

Is not public nudity in this context - self-display - wrong outright? It’s not as if you were modeling nude for an art class, which is permissible (how else would Michelangelo, etc. have developed skills to produce their work)?

 

[LittleOne1]

Yes that is great analogy for a fortress. But we are not fortresses we are like soldiers. Soldiers need battle experience. Battle experience makes soldiers better. Unlike fortresses that get eroded away, our wounds heal and make us stronger. Like wise if we sit back and say the less we fight the stronger we will become. When a real fight comes we may think we are stronger but when we face the enemy we have no idea how to stand up to him.
Also which would be more like Jesus, sitting in you home locked up because your afraid of temptation, or going to that place of temptation being tested and saying.“though i shall walk thought the valley of shadow I shall not fear no evil”?

So I guess Jesus was wrong when he told us in the Our Father to pray that we are not lead into temptation. This is flawed because we have the stain of original sin and concupiscence to fall. Temptation should only be faced if it cannot be avoided or in the process of doing good; ie someone in the healthcare industry seeing someone naked, but for the sake of doing some good. Christ knew we are weak and that is why he tells us to avoid temptation to sin. Should guys then go to strip clubs so they can “become hardened for the fight”? The way we become strong and avoid sin is through prayer, the sacraments, and being not lead into temptation in the first place (and then only if necessary when doing some good). You will not find an example of the saints (when leading a saintly life) rushing off to find temptation. Aquinas himself used a burning embers to keep back a harlot in a room he was locked in by his family to tempt him.

You will not find modern living saints in our midst at nude beaches, strip clubs, brothels, ect. You will find them going to mass, frequenting confession, in prayer, at adoration, fulfilling their duties to their spouse or kids or giving themselves totally to Christ as a priest or sister or brother ect. If you truly want to be the soldier you speak off you need to arm yourself with the sacraments and prayer and then go do things to show your faith like missionary work or prayer in front of an abortion mill or volunteer at your church to teach ccd ect. These and countless more are real examples of working with Christ and the angels to turn the tide against the evil one; not going to a nude beach yourself and being nude to be the cause of sin for others and this in no way helps you to put on the armor of Christ to avoid sin when tempted in the future; only grace (which God freely gives, not earned on our own) can do this which comes from the sacraments, and prayer, and performing good deeds.

 

[Irishmom2]

But the more she’s been telling me about it, the more I really want to go.

I think it would be a ton of fun. Now I am a conservative girl (I wear a purity ring and swear to myself not to have any sexual contact in any way before marriage).

(Okay, I will ask what no one else has yet…)

Why? Why would this be a ton of fun? I don’t get it. If you are concerned with remaining pure, why would this even be something you would want to experience? What is she telling you that makes this sound so interesting?

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

I think it would be a ton of fun. Now I am a conservative girl (I wear a purity ring and swear to myself not to have any sexual contact in any way before marriage). My friend feels the exact same way, so I was surprised to find out she loves this beach so much. I am confident with my body and don’t mind being naked around other people. (In high school we all had to shower after gym, so I was naked around other naked girls all the time.) I think it would be great to do something different for a change and be able to relax and feel comfortable in my own skin.

(Okay, I will ask what no one else has yet…)

Why? Why would this be a ton of fun? I don’t get it. If you are concerned with remaining pure, why would this even be something you would want to experience? What is she telling you that makes this sound so interesting?

This is exactly what came to my mind when I read the post. What is it about being naked in front of others that will be so much fun? It has already been mentioned, but since we are all created in the image and likeness of God we are to treat our bodies with the utmost respect and diginity. You are correct that it is the near occasion of sin and you could be leading others to sin, whether you realize it or not. We are called to bring others to Christ, not to lead them away.

One other point that I would make is that you mention that you wear a purity ring, it might be time to reevaluate why you wear that and what the true meaning of purity is.

So here is my question: Are there any teachings on nude beaches, or any teachings that apply to them, that would still make it sinful even if this place does turn out to be sophisticated and decent like my friend says it is? Have any of you been to a nude beach, and if so, what was your experience?

I know you’ll probably say it’s a near occasion of sin. But neither of us has any intention of doing anything sexual, and if this place is not good we will not go, and if I feel uncomfortable or tempted even for a second I will cover up and leave.

What do you think?

From the Catechism:

2529 The ninth commandment warns against lust or carnal concupiscence.

2530 The struggle against carnal lust involves purifying the heart and practicing temperance

2351 Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.

2534 The tenth commandment unfolds and completes the ninth, which is concerned with concupiscence of the flesh. It forbids coveting the goods of another, as the root of theft, robbery, and fraud, which the seventh commandment forbids. “Lust of the eyes” leads to the violence and injustice forbidden by the fifth commandment. Avarice, like fornication, originates in the idolatry prohibited by the first three prescriptions of the Law. The tenth commandment concerns the intentions of the heart; with the ninth, it summarizes all the precepts of the Law.

 

[OraLabora]

I wonder what any of you would say about some of the great art depicting the nude human body? Some can even be found in the Sistine Chapel, and some of it is even homoerotic…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelo-Ignudi.jpg

Nothing wrong with nudity in its proper context. I would agree with the other posters though, that a nude beach probably isn’t the proper context.

Incidentally you’ll find that there is very little real nudity in the health care industry, with surgical drapes or examining room gowns. Generally all that is revealed is what needs to be examined or repaired…

 

[camerong]

In addition great thoughts above, I would like to give another perspective. Even though women may be able to see people of the opposite sex nude and not have any lust problems, many (or most!) men cannot. Men store pictures of naked women in their minds like a Rolodex of lust. The more naked women a man sees, the harder it is for him to keep those images out of his mind. And even if this is not true for all men, it is certainly true for some.

Why does this concern you? You might unknowingly become one of those Rolodex pictures. And while it is not your fault that men think this way, it is within your power to increase, or decline to increase, these temptations.

Are you clearly sinning by doing this? Perhaps not. But are you acting devoutly? Certainly not.