I was watching the news while eating my dinner, and, a news article about a naturist club wanting permission to use a beach in the North East England came on the screen. With all the things that are included in the news this was nothing out of the ordinary. What struck me was when the interviewee (Mr John Thompson,The Three Rivers Outdoor Club) started to say that naturism, basically amounted to freedom. So what is the freedom he was talking about?

 Naturism: A way of living in greater fidelity to nature, with a norm of full nudity in social life, the genitals included, when possible and appropriate. We aim to enhance acceptance and respect for one’s self, other persons and the biosphere.
- The Naturist Society, 1997.

By the definition from the above statement, this freedom seems to be,

• A way of living.

• Greater fidelity to Nature.

• Enhanced acceptance/respect for yourself/other persons.

• Enhanced acceptance/respect of the Biosphere (ecosystem)!

 A way of Living

 For anyone watching the news broadcast (Look around Border news), it would seem harmless enough. The naturists are not out to harm anyone, they are not exhibitionists’, voyeurs etc.. They just want to be free in themselves, to be closer to nature (biosphere/ecosystem) or is it Mother Earth! They would see themselves as being totally free in nature and closer to nature.

Greater Fidelity

 By using the word ‘Greater’ before fidelity, would assume that we all have fidelity to nature to some degree, although not as ‘Great’ as being truly close to nature as the naturist. The nakedness, seems to bring fidelity to nature from the person, hence this must make them free? Doe’s this make you free, or doe’s it just free you from your clothes?

Enhancement

 This somewhat proposes the same idea, as for the word ‘Greater’ in the fact that, being a naturist, can, ‘enhance your relationships with yourself’, with other persons, and with nature (Biosphere/ecosystem). You get closer to your self and nature, you are being true to yourself.  Probably, the most important factor would be the enhancement of oneself.

 Although this all seems harmless and just good fun, ( it wouldn’t have been that long ago that I would have been looking for the sign up paper’s!) however, it really show’s the depraved minds of men, that we would swap the glory of God and seek the things of nature. To be free in ourselves is an allusion from the Satan himself. Sin holds us as slaves to destruction, we can only truly be free when God in His sovereignty sets us free from the evil grip of sin, through His Son, Christ Jesus.