Naturism as a Religion

To begin with, since few agree about exactly what a religion is, let us set up a simple working definition for our present needs. I believe that, over the course of time, you will find this definition will suit most ongoing purposes, and become workable for most of your needs—and that those times it will fail you will be for religious rather than practical reasons. It is, therefore, very utilitarian.

I have learned religion to be mankind's way of dealing with questions he is forced to face, but for which he has no *evidence, other than hearsay, to support any possible answers.

The system that gets built from any composite set of his best guesses becomes identifiable with a name and passed on to those with whom he associates (as instructions about how to deal with various problems and 'The Unknown') and passed on to future generations. Personal religions and organized religions meet this definition, which will become referred to as 'Our Test': "Can you prove it with verifiable data and fact?" If "No," then it's a religious idea.

If "Yes," then it becomes known as either practical experience or science (if convincing physical evidence can be shown). Let me say this about my definition before you condemn it out of hand: "Just because someone has relied upon a guess or hunch does not mean he or she erred. Many times, as we all know, our instincts are more accurate than all the testing we could conduct. Just the fact that humanity has survived for so long in the competitive pool of Nature ought to be sufficient demonstration of that."

All that now said, we need to pose the question, "Does Naturism meet and pass the test of applying that definition?" The answer is, "It depends upon the extant circumstances where the test is applied."

The philosophy expressed by many Naturists can be adequately demonstrated. Its truths, the notions inherent to it, all derive from direct application of practical experience and become notable also in the expressions of first-timers whose courage has overcome their reluctance to experiment with a practice which most of society has condemned. ¹Daring journalists have written of their trial visits to nudist locations, their glowing words not what most of the world would expect from someone as ready to vilify as to accept.

The elements of Naturism accessible to testing and practical experience cannot be said to be religious. They become accessible to anyone with the derring-do to take Naturists up on their constant challenge: "Come to camp with me, and let us show you what it is like."

The practices of Naturism, however, are limited by laws that restrict the circumstances in which they can be performed. Those laws which confine Naturism to time and/or place create a religious element by denying the right to test and demonstrate the rectitude of those unpracticed beliefs common to Naturists, that go beyond law's limitations. It is because those elements of Naturism remain untestable that Naturists have no way to achieve any accord about them; they linger as ideals for some and sins to others, and so they remain as part of the ongoing arguments within the Naturist camps.

Religion is inherent to mankind's yearnings to exceed—to go beyond and higher than—his current state of existence. Our inner drive to prove and validate our beliefs to others so that they can enjoy the benefits of their practice is a notable part of all active religions—and is the part that causes conflicts between them in those areas where they disagree. The yearning to freely practice nudism without limits does meet the test posed by our working definition, especially when it is noted that the elements with which it conflicts are acknowledged by most people to be religious, not statements based on science or practical experience, but upon decrees about morality made by religious pronouncements that have been made into matters of law.

Judicial practice, so far, has been to disagree with that. Judges will cite things like cultural prevalence in support of laws that deal with moral values, but overlook that cultural values are derived from whatever religion is prevalent in any area, and that minority religions must then closet the practices of many of their beliefs when they become decreed illegal. The making of morals laws creates criminals where before stood decent, hard-working, upright citizens practicing the rites of their own beliefs. As a result, the ³United States has six ⁴times the per-capita incarceration rate of most other countries, our jails holding half of the world's prison population.

Some sects (or denominations) of the same majority religion may suffer similar ill effects. I know that by coming from a family of Seventh Day Adventists, whose most noted deviation is to practice the Sabbath on Saturday. Their Branch Davidian, while disavowed by the main sect, made history when attacked by the United States government. It was claimed to be because of guns, but well known that they drew governmental interest because of rumors concerning sexual practices that have been performed by many religions in many places and during many periods of time, and that are common to many other mammals.

Naturism has not escaped from that, religion or not. That the creation of law has unwittingly created a closet religion out of practices and beliefs that formerly were not given any deep consideration, has made an act out of an inactivity (the not-wearing of clothing), does ²nothing more than stimulate fantasies, and incite an urge to practice them. Sexuality has become attached to nudity and caused it to be vilified, whereas nudity when left alone is nothing more than a potential state of dress—or undress— wherein a person may seek to maximize his or her level of comfort in a less than desirable climate.

Religions (personal or as developing new cults) come into existence as a response to other religions that seem disagreeable. Hardening religious edicts into laws does not change that fact of human nature, but only serves to increase the level of danger while hiding the fact of the state's involvement in religion while driving newly conceived religions into an underground status. I believe this not to be arguable, but a demonstrable fact most of us would rather avoid acknowledging.

Naturism's status as a state-spawned religion could only be nullified in the current sociological climate by allowing it to be put to the test in select, documentable circumstances under rigid scientific controls that would have to be specified by trained people far more knowledgeable than the most of us. A lot could be learned from such a project, and I feel certain there would be no lack of willing volunteers. Do you understand what I am saying here? The attempt to eliminate a set of practices is what made a religion of them. Like people who adhere to any religion's ideals, those who believe in Naturism would love a chance to prove the validity of their beliefs—a fact that seems to verify the value of our test.

It will likely be said by some that they fear how our test will allow all kinds of immoral ideas, and what are nowadays called 'lifestyles', to parade about as religions. That does not make it wrong. By its own application, it will be found that such reluctance is also religious fear. I recommend that you adopt our little test to use in your daily life. It will help you understand a lot of things that affect you, the nature of which you have been at a loss to determine. It will also help you to understand the nature of some things you believe, and to know how, like everyone else possessing any zest at all, you do have religion in your life and why that does not make it into something wrong. It just gives it simple relevance.

If you would like to learn more, I would refer you to my own books. Read Reality 101 (ISBN 0-595-21834-2) and The Complete Universe of Memes (ISBN 0-595-24429-7) and discover a more science-based version of good versus evil.

Including religious reasons. Get the NEW Version (PDF file)

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|FOOTNOTES:

1 If this link fails, click on the alternate link.   Alternate link   [BACK]

2 Click this link for a fine example of closet Naturism   [BACK]

3  Federal map of districts and sentences    [BACK]

4 A report prepared by the Australian government--Pdf file requires Acrobat. [BACK]

* Another definition, that religion is whatever one believes in spite of contrary evidence, is the proper definition for superstition.    [BACK]