Nudity in Movies (Discussion)
My Marriage Heat family,
I wanted to get a discussion started on something that I have been wondering about.
The basic issue is: How do you and your spouse handle it when there is nudity in a movie or TV show? A few examples of what I’m talking about are movies like “Titanic” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The scene were she is nude and you see her bare breasts a couple of times. Or “Love Actually” where they show a couple of different women’s breasts. Or the show “Orange is the New Black” where it routinely shows nude women and breasts in almost every episode.
Do you turn it off in protest?
Do you keep watching but secretly feel guilty? Or angry?
Do you keep watching and think nothing of it because it is “just a show?”
These are pretty much the basic responses most people would have. My wife usually gets angry and says it bothers her that her husband is seeing other women’s breasts. Then she says it also makes her angry because they ONLY show breasts. “Why don’t they ever show male nudity? Why do they not show penises? Why do they show so many boobs in all these things?” (She then says that it isn’t that she wants to see other penises, but that it’s because of the double standard.)
But her cousin (who told us about Orange is the New Black, but didn’t tell us about the nudity in it. Boy were we shocked when we watched the first episode. LOL!) says that it doesn’t bother her that her husband sees that. And they watch OITNB and other movies with nudity. They also watch “Game of Thrones” which I hear has a lot of nudity in it, though I haven’t seen any of those episodes. But her and her husband say that it’s “just a show” and they think nothing of it. It’s just a show and when it’s over they move on and it doesn’t bother either one of them.
At the same time, we do enjoy the movie “Love Actually” and have routinely watched it at Christmastime for several years. I guess we’ve just learned to look over those scenes. But I know it does still bother my wife that I see other women’s boobs. But since we are familiar with it she isn’t “as” bothered by it now. But if it’s a new movie/show she usually gets upset about it.
So I want to hear from you guys. Like I said, do you watch these movies and shows? Do you think it is right or wrong to watch them? (And of course I’m talking about when it’s just you and your spouse-the kids are in bed. I wouldn’t watch any of these with children in the room anyway.)
Ladies: Does it bother you that your husband is seeing other women’s boobs?
Does the double standard bother you like it does my wife that most nudity in movies is female nudity? And boobs?
Men: Do the scenes with boobs in them ever cause you to struggle with lust/porn/inappropriate thoughts, etc?
Mostly: Do you guys think it is right or wrong to watch movies and shows like this? Should we say “We’re all adults here and we know what body parts women have so it’s no big deal?” Or should we say that it isn’t appropriate and your wife’s boobs are the only ones we should see?
How do you handle it when a favorite movie/show of yours has nudity in it?
Let me hear from everyone about all this!
I’m probably not real helpful for this poll – because we frankly don’t watch many movies to begin with. And it is very rare that we see a movie like you described. I saw Schindler’s List and that nudity was not sexually enticing at all (of course). We’ve rarely seen movies where there is a quick flash of nudity in passing. On those occasions we were like “did they just show what we think they did”? I know sexual scenes with nudity would greatly affect me. Bottom line: We aren’t big movie watchers; and we choose not to go to movies with sexual nudity.
Good questions HH! God bless you. LH
Personally I have no problem with nudity in movies or television . I mean let’s face it, in today’s world most movies have at least some nudity in them. I am against ” pure porn” however. Like you said, we are all adults here. I don’t believe that we need to live our lives in a bubble, but each person must make the decision on what’s best for them. Do we resist going to an art gallery because we fear we may see nudity in paintings? As Christians I think we tend to take things to extreme in trying to be ” pure”. Nudity in itself is not bad. Like I said, I’m not talking about pure porn. Great post my friend, God bless ya and stay horny!
GG, I like what you said. Also I agree with you that everyone needs to decide what is best for them, there are some who may have issues with nudity in a tv show or movie and they shouldn’t watch them if that is the case.
HornyGG, I enjoyed your comment and it got me to thinking of something else. Would you be comfortable with going to a nude beach? If nudity is “just” nudity and it isn’t sexualized then would you think it would be okay to go nude around others? If the nudity on a nude beach is no different than an art gallery with nudity, then do you think it would be okay? And again, we’re all adults here so we all know what the opposite sex has. Just curious about your thoughts on this.
Yes, we are adults here. By being here at M.H. Of course we all know what body parts men and women have! We are all adults here unless someone had not told their thruthful age.
As far as films and cable shows show, yes there def is a double standard. Blame that on the Ratings Board. It has to be pretty close to an X rating to show a man’s penis.
By now most everyone has cable and there are choices. There is also a button or something to click on your remote to block out certain programs.
Shows on cable do add nudity to gain an audience. That’s a fact.
There are also shows and movies that either scare or shock you with scenes showing someone being killed or blown up or limbs torn off!
Personaly we’d rather see some nudity then that.
Lisa and Michael
I’m more on the same page as you two, Michael and Lisa.
“Shows on cable do add nudity to gain an audience. That’s a fact.” That may be a fact but that doesn’t mean that I have to go along with it or support their endeavors by viewing it 😉
If I would have the choice between a show that has excessive violent display or a show that has nudity in it, I’d honestly take option number 3 and turn off the TV, put on some music I like and have a good time with my jams or something else.
Definitely just sharing my personal opinion/preference here, even though they happen to come as a reply to your comment 🙂
To pick up what GG suggested, I do want to clarify that I am not afraid of seeing nudity (I once was but not anymore)… I just simply prefer not to see other people’s nudity. GG is right, nudity itself is not bad. Just like: MH in itself is not bad either but depending on how the individual viewer uses it, it can turn into something bad for that individual if used inappropriately by them, if it leads them astray, if it becomes a substitute or so… Lovinghusband has writing an amazing take touching on this: https://marriageheat.com/2013/11/02/translating-married-heat/
So, yes, nudity itself is not bad. But I personally don’t want to see another person’s nudity except my future husband’s – that’s my personal line on this, my choice, my point of view. And that doesn’t equal that I’m living in a bubble. I just personally take the responsibility I’m given by the Bible to exert seriously, the responsibility that I am to guard wisely what I allow to enter into the gates of my innermost being – my eyes, ears, heart, mind and soul. I have experienced going the wrong way by playing with the fire – by allowing a tiny bit of this and a tiny bit of that, a peek here or a little stretch there, and it always led to some kind of trouble in my walk… Reasonings like after all we are adults or this is the new normal nowadays may be true but they cannot be our compass. Our compass must be the Word of God and the personal leading of the Holy Spirit in each of us for what is ok for us personally – the Holy Spirit, so the Bible teaches us, is to function as our umpire (the Spirit says what’s in and what’s out, no matter what) and God is the same yesterday, today and forever… He certainly wouldn’t say something like:”This is the 21st century, TV shows and movies are practically forced to put nudity in their shows to attract an audience, it’s just the way it is today, so this is ok”. (This is not directed in any way towards dear Michael and Lisa, this is just to exemplify the point – Dear Michael and Lisa, I’m sure you didn’t mean it this way when you wrote it.)
This is not that much about trying to be ‘pure’, this is about taking heed of what the Word says and cautions us about. By God’s Grace, through the Blood of Christ alone, we have been made pure, cleansed and washed from unrighteousness. Through the Cross, only through what Jesus did, we have been given His righteousness. But just as much, we have also been given by God the duty and the privilege of (personal) responsibility – and we should not forget about that. 🙂 God bless you all!! <3
Well said, PFC! We are definitely kindred spirits concerning movies!
Good points PFC. Please understand, I was not directing my comment towards you. Like I said, I believe each person or couple must decide what is best for them. Like you and others already stated, there is always the off button. God bless you sweetheart and always stay horny.
Dearest GG, I didn’t receive your words in any wrong way, don’t you worry about that, my friend. The points you made inspired me to build upon them. 🙂
God bless you bunches, my dear!!
Ps: Take a look at your old post (“Self heat! My masturbation journey”). I’ve left you a comment on there the other day and there is a blessing in it for you 🙂 At least I hope it will be a blessing to you 😉 Much love!!
I purposely will not watch any movie or TV show in which I know beforehand (either through having heard about it or having caught it in the teasers to the shows or movies) that there will be nudity or the like.
I do not watch many movies from nowadays, especially not romances… because the standards portrayed have shifted quite a bit over the last decades, and I know ahead of time that they will most probably collide with what I believe. I’m a happy camper watching the movies “of old”, those I know already and love. I have watched Titanic and I am pretty good at sensing when a scene may lead to nudity. In that moment, I will not look at the screen. I will look purposely away. At least that’s what I’ve always done so far. I don’t intend to change that. (When there comes up a bed scene and the sound department is loud, I usually look away from the screen and start talking, so my voice will overshadow the sounds – another option would be to turn off the sound then – I flip between these 2 options).
Concerning the TV shows I like to watch, I have followed the same principle. The genres I like is usually crime or comedy, again mostly not new stuff such as Game of Thrones or the Orange thing or so – I don’t watch that kind of stuff – I don’t like relationship series either (like Grey’s Anatomy or so) because I know what will be portrayed will collide with my convictions. I am quite selective, I must say. I like series such as Criminal Intent, The Mentalist, Castle, Columbo, 24 and such. Now when nudity comes up in series I like to watch (it happened in 24, for example), I do as I’m used to do and look away from the first sign of a scene going into that direction.
So, all in all, I on purpose stay away from shows or movies that have a sexually loaded agenda or that play the nude card heavily or advertise their product through the nude, teasing with nude scenes. And when nudity happens here and there in what I do watch, I guard my eyes, and thereby my mind. This is how I handle it. 🙂
Terrific insight, PFC! Thanks! And i am right there with you concerning Castle and Columbo! Love em!! My husband only watches Castle for Ryan and Esposito but I like the whole gang! Well, everyone but Captain Gates; I’m still warming up to her! LOL
Haha!! Awesome! MH Columbo lovers unite! Old school quality entertainment 😀
Ryan and Esposito are the bomb! Haha, so funny, the buddies! I love how the writers have given more and more depth to the characters throughout the seasons so far without making them inauthentic. I had to warm up to Captain Gates too a bit (I had an advantage though… the actress was also in some seasons of 24… and she played a similar type of character – she’s good at portraying these 😉 – so I knew about her being a spicy fellow beforehand). Being Iron Gates, she needs to be a bit tougher but her heart is beating for the right things 😉 I must say she won me fully over when she went all out for Beckett in the finale where the latter got the upper hand on Bracken. And I love the play between Castle and Gates… ‘Cause Castle is so child-like in his manly, kind character… and I love how he always has the heart to be on good terms with Gates despite all the bricks he drops. Love the whole gang too!! Great chemistry and depth between them all. Looking forward to new episodes 😀 God bless you, CMLove!!
Cleearplay. Com it edits the crap out. ..you choose the level of editing.
Thanks for opening this discussion, HH! I personally, like PFC, love the classic romance movies! My hubby is ex-military and his favorites are war movies which i do watch with him. For him, because he is so visual, he would rather see the “blood” than the “boobs”. I can live with someone dying a bloody death in a war scene more than a bedroom scene with sexy naked bodies. And if that keeps my other half’s mind clean and holy as well, then we’re twice blessed! We both have a high standard for the movies that are more “modern” and stay away from full-on nudity. As for the quick “special appearance” of a naked body, we both voice our thoughts, like “Holy big boobs, Batman!” Or “Yes, walking in naked really keeps him focused on the sandwich.” Or “Run, Jen! Run! He’s only got one thing on his mind and it’s not the sandwich!” We have found that talking about it really takes away the temptation to keep looking and keep thinking about what we have just seen. Yes, we are all adults, but I do hope we remain mature adults who strive to follow the command of our King who said, “Be holy, as I am holy.”
Big Amen, my friend!! Like-minded hearts, we are 🙂 I love it! Blessings to your hubby especially as well – I wanna salute him for his well-guarded heart, his godly attitude in this!! He is certainly one special kind of man, who’s been blessed with a very precious woman! Much love to the both of you!!
Thanks, thoughtful writer, I found your comment very insightful! I wish there was more positive sexuality portrayed for marriages in movies and tv shows too!
Haven’t really thought about it to be honest. But if I had to choose between a movie with some nudity or violence. I think I would choose nudity. I have seen many that have both so… I agree each must choose what is right for them. Nudity bothers me a lot less than extreme violence. Just my opinion guys.
I agree with you, Alicia. Also, despite the fall, there were people in the Bible that disrobed themselves, such as David (who praised God naked) and Job, and God ordered Isaiah to preach naked. So in other words it’s maybe not shameful all the time.
I admit I saw some movies in my youth which I do not agree with now, but the Song of Solomon as we know describes the beauty of both the male and female body in a tasteful, poetic way.
I think we need to remember that Adam and eve were nude before the devil convinced eve to eat from the tree of knowledge, nudity itself is fine if tasteful, but it just depends if it is necessary to the story ……. The body is a beautiful creation…….
I agree with Lynda and Dave. We were naked in the garden and it was good. And if there were other people in the garden besides Adam and Eve, they would have seen each other naked all the time and they probably would have seen each other having sex too. So I don’t think nudity itself is the problem. And for me personally, I don’t really care if my husband sees other women naked. I know he’s more of a sucker for emotional intimacy than he is a sucker for a hot blonde, and he has the emotional intimacy with me, not her. So whatever. 🙂 And if seeing her makes him hot for me…well, that just sounds like fun night!
But, having said that, I do still have a problem with sex on tv. And it centers around the body image issue. Almost every single sex scene on tv is between two perfectly toned 20-30 something’s with perfect hair having a perfectly choreographed encounter. And I’m sorry, but sex in our bedroom just doesn’t look like that! And I’ll bet it doesn’t usually look like that for most other people either. I’ve got a flabby tummy from two pregnancies, and I almost always wash my makeup off before I go to bed, and Walls and I both have a horrible habit of drifting off to sleep when the other is in the mood. So sex at home doesn’t look like sex on tv and the people having sex at home don’t look like the people having sex on tv. So I think tv sex just raises some pretty unrealistic expectations for what sex actually is. It glorifies the physical but downplays the emotional connection that comes from years of a committed relationship. And I think that can be dangerous for both women and men. I think it puts a lot of pressure on people to have “perfect sex” and to feel that they have to look perfect while they are doing it. Which is hogwash. Sex is about intimacy. And intimacy is about being vulnerable with our insides, not about putting on a show on the outside. So tv sex misses the whole point and can make us feel inadequate and undesirable if we don’t think we measure up.
On the other hand….nude beach…. Now that’s an interesting question. I’ve never been to one. But a nude beach has real people with real bodies. It would certainly give you a realistic perspective on body image! I am not sure that I actually would have any desire to go to one, but I can’t really find a moral objection to it. Hmmmm something to think about…..
There is a Biblical reality that we all have to recognize – we have to play with the cards that are dealt to us. None of us living now are living in the garden of Eden without a sin nature. Adam and Eve had those cards dealt to them and the fall into son resulted. This, our card game is always played in light of the sin nature that is now part of the fabric of our being. To pretend that we live in the pre-fall era and that we see other adults nudity with pre-fall motives is a fantasy. It does not comport with the biblically revealed worldview that we are to be wise about.
In a similar way, we also don’t live under the ceremonial laws contained in the Mosaic law. To live like those are the cards we are currently playing with leads to not recognizing the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sins. But Christians recognize and trust in His sacrifice for their sins and don’t offer animal sacrifices because they recognize that Jesus ushered in the New Covenant age by His work on the cross, death,and resurrection.
So, to argue that the human body is beautiful is true. Yet,it doesn’t say enough. It is not enough to say what things were like at creation before sin came. The Scriptures are able to “equip us for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). Yet, if we don’t take in the fullness of the teaching of the New Testament – we will come up with faulty applications. It is not helpful to tell our kids or ourselves that to look at other people’s naked bodies is simply to be looking at something that is good and beautiful. It ignores the Bible’s teaching about the fall into sin. It acts as though it didn’t happen. Yet, we have to live in light of the cards we have been dealt.
More later on what living in light of this wisdom means for our viewing nudity. LH
Just a few more thoughts that I could not get to earlier. There is so much more to be said about this. How do we apply wisdom? First, recognizing the baseline – that God clothed Adam and Eve after the fall. We still live in light of that. Whatever was wrong in the account of Noah’s nakedness being exposed – it was not because it was no big deal. Thus, this issue of nakedness in a post-fall world is a big deal. We are not only to be clothed – there is to be modesty (1 Timothy 2). Good things have been written on MH in this regard already.
So, after recognizing that clothes are part of a post-fall world – what about nudity in art or film? As I said in my first post, there is nothing sexually titillating about the nudity in Schindler’s List. Does it have to be titillating in order to be wrong? Probably not. The issue about Noah’s nakedness being exposed was not about him being sexually titillating. Yet, the art of dramatizing a horrific event in history – without it being gratuitous seems to fit into a category that is not sinful. Just like a picture of a naked baby, etc. I think it is difficult to find the definitive answer in this regard. Yet, the safeguards of respecting that we live in a post-fall world (even in light of the cross) do serve us well to not treat nudity as if it were no big deal. Perhaps more later…LH
So, I’ve thought about the fact that God gave them clothing. But…here’s the thing. They covered themselves first. They hid with fig leaves BEFORE God took compassion on them and gave them clothes that would actually hold up. They experienced shame and God let them have their experience. But he didn’t force them to cover themselves. He didn’t tell them their bodies were shameful, they felt their bodies were shameful because of their sin.
And Jesus came to free us from our sin. And then he hung naked on a cross connecting heaven and earth to prove it.
So, while I get that it is really important that we guard ourselves against sin…I think I fundamentally disagree with you about what that sin is. I think our sin is not believing that we are who God says we are. Our sin is believing that we are less than perfect the way he made us. Our sin is believing that others are less than perfect the way God has made them. Our sin is choosing selfishness over love. But our sin isn’t our nakedness. Our sin isn’t our sexual desire. Our sin isn’t the sexual fantasy world that we create in our minds. We feel shame for our nakedness and desires and fantasies because of our sin. But they themselves are not the sins. They are just the way God made us. And certainly they can be tainted and misused because of our sin. But gradually I think as Christians we are learning how to disentangle our shame from our sin. I think this site is a good example of Christians learning to do just that.
And so I think we need to give ourselves permission to work on that detangling. I think we need to stop making categorical statements like “seeing someone naked is a sin” or “seeing someone engaged in a sexual act is a sin” or “tv sex is a sin”. I think we need to step back and detangle that. And I think we need to separate the shame from the sin. “seeing someone naked is a sin when it makes me critical of the body God gave me” or maybe “seeing someone engaged in a sexual act is a sin when it makes me jealous” or “tv sex is a sin when the industry it is a part of hurts people and objectifies women”
Because what we are finding here on this site is that something we all used to think was a sin “erotica is a sin” can actually be a really beautiful, loving, and life giving thing. So let’s give ourselves and each other the permission to explore other areas of shame. Maybe we’ll find some other life giving surprises along the way.
Eva,
I have been reading here for quite a while but have never posted or commented but am compelled to after reading this. I can tell that you have not developed this opinion over night or on a whim but that it is the result of much study and a lot of deep thinking and wrestling. I know that because I have been on that same journey as well. I understand your perspective and believe it applies to all areas of life, not just to nudity, sex, etc. Very refreshing! Thanks for sharing!
Viking- Wow! That’s quite the compliment…you commenting for the first time. I’m honored! And yes, you are right, this wrestling with the concepts of sin and shame have been quite an obsession in my life over the past several months. I wish you would share more about your journey on this subject! For me, I’ve mostly been thinking about it all in terms of sexuality, but would very much be interested in hearing how it can be applied to other ares as well. It seems logical that it should be….I just haven’t thought it through in other contexts. Thanks for commenting! I’m so glad you did!
Thank you Eva for your thoughtful response.
I want to interact with your thoughts. I don’t think you responded to some important things I mentioned earlier. But I’ll go in the order of what you said.
There is import to their covering themselves first – but I don’t think it makes your overall case. Their covering was insufficient – God’s covering (which came from an animal giving its life) was sufficient. Yet, God wanted their nakedness covered. Not for all circumstances of life – but they were no longer to be naked as the norm. It was never about their shameful bodies – agreed.
Yes, Jesus came and free us from the penalty of our sins for all who believe – yet, this does not mean that forgiven murderers continue to murder. Or forgiven thieves continue to steal. Or forgiven liars continue to lie as a practice of life. Jesus dying for our sins does not mean that we stop living according to what God says. I know you agree with that. I apply this to nudity – in that we are to look at the Bible’s teaching on this subject. The unbelieving worldview is to permit and root on nudity. Is that what we see in the Bible? After the fall into sin – things changed. That was my point earlier. Sin coming into the world changed when it was right to be naked. It changed Adam and Eve. They were not mistaken about their shame – it was a result of sin. If Christ’s sacrifice makes that all go away – then why does the NT call for modesty in clothing (1 Timothy 2:9)? If being forgiven makes us now fundamentally “untangled” then there would be no need to call us to have modest clothing. The truth is that Christ’s sacrifice has cleansed us from all sin (praise God!) – yet, we still live in a sinful world until the final judgment. We have to follow the dictates of Scripture in regards to clothing, etc. Sin still affects Christians. We can still feed the flesh if we are not focused on the ways of God by the power of the Spirit.
Eva, for the most part – the Bible depicts nudity as shameful and degrading. We see this in Noah’s case in Genesis 9:21. The priests had to be careful about their clothing so that their nakedness would not be exposed when the went up stairs (Exodus 20:26). Isaiah 47:3 says “Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen.” The point is that the state of being naked and being exposed is not seen in a positive light. Of course, that was and is never true in regards to a husband and wife being naked together. Look at how nakedness is depicted in Ezekiel 16:35-37. Same thing. In Luke 8:27, Jesus healed a demon-possessed man. God made the point that the demon-possessed man was naked. Yet, after Jesus exorcised the demon, Luke 8:35 says he was “clothed and in his right mind.” The demons led him to be naked in improper places and circumstances. Jesus’ freeing him led to him being clothed. Revelation 3:17 describes those not right with God as “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 16:15 describes a judgment warning this way, “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” This is the Word of God. I could quote more – but again, the tenor of Scripture about nakedness or nudity after the fall into sin is not that it is simply beautiful as it was right at the creation. The ignore the effects of sin is worse than just being naive.
So Eva, I believe who God says I am in Christ. I am a forgiven sinner saved by grace. I don’t yet live in the perfect world of final glory when there will be no more sin. I still live in a world that calls me to be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. I need to be wise and not unwise. I need to realize that nudity has its place – and it is very limited. I’m not saying you saying this, but those who pretend that our view is just to be that the naked body is a thing of beauty in and of itself – are not living in a world governed by Scripture. That is the world we Christians are to live in. I’m glad you believe it is important to guard ourselves against sin! I agree with you.
I don’t know if I totally understand what you meant by saying, “Our sin is believing that we are less than perfect the way he made us. Our sin is believing that others are less than perfect the way God has made them.” I agree with all you said after that in that paragraph. We have to differentiate between pre-fall and post-fall man. Of course, we don’t blame our sin on the Lord. And we need to be careful to make sure that we don’t say we do sinful things because that is just how the Lord made me. That isn’t true. So, I don’t understand what you are getting at in those two quotes at the start of that paragraph.
We do need to be disentangled from wrong views about sex. Marriage Heat is a light shining in the darkness! God is using it to help us all. Yet, we need to be clear that we have not been liberated in this age before the final judgment to be unclothed.
I grant you that there is room for more study and reflection on just how and when nudity can be righteously displayed in a public way. I’m not saying that it always wrong. I think in the main, it is wise to have our art and movie character clothed. I think there can be room for intimacy to be depicted in a real and effective way without it being “totally naked and REAL.”
I’m not the barometer or the expert, but I can tell you that when I see a naked woman in a sensuous context – I know that I’m seeing something that I’m only to see on my wife (of course, this is a general rule – doctors, emergency personnel, etc. need to see their patient’s bodies).
To wrap this up – we still are living and breathing in a world that has sin, sinful lust and sinful sexual practices. The innocence of the naked human body that existed in pre-fall Eden is not longer here. We need to remember that the world ignores what has come as a result of the fall. So, it is naive and potentially dangerous to pretend that kind of bodily innocence is still in force. The Bible differentiates being naked and being clothed in both the OT and NT. I admit there are still many difficult issues regarding this. I think there is room for tasteful nudity – but I think it is more rare than our world wants it to be. I think we need to be more careful than the world wants us to be. I love my wife’s naked body – and my own! I’m grateful that Hebrews 13:4 makes clear that the marriage bed is undefiled. We are free to be naked and go crazy!!
I think we do well to discuss this as a community of believers – so that we will pursue God’s best for our lives, marriages, families, and churches. I thank you Eva for bringing the aspects up that you did. I am convinced that we both want to please our Lord. I know from your other writings that we agree on so much more than we disagree. I hope we can be used of God to help sharpen each other. You have helped sharpen me. God bless you dear Eva! LH
Well said and well taken. ☺ I had forgotten about the animal sacrifice interpretation of the clothing, though I had heard that before. I will think on that.
You make a comparison between murder, theft and lies, and nudity that troubles me. And I’m not sure that if you thought about it, you would actually agree with it either. From my perspective, one of these things just doesn’t belong. Because nobody is saying that there is a situation where murder or theft or dishonesty is okay. These things weren’t okay in a pre-fallen world and they aren’t okay now.
Nudity is different. It was okay once. It is not usually okay now, but I would say that there are times it is okay now and that some of those times can exist outside of a church sanctioned marriage. This is where the detangling comes in. But no, being forgiven does not automatically make you detangled, I think you missed my meaning on that. The concept of detangling that I was talking about might be more synonymous with the word discerning. I think as Christians we need to discern if there are times that nudity can be helpful and/or appropriate. We need to detangle the concept of nudity from the sinful things that so often do surround it.
We all admit that nudity in marriage is just fine. But I want say that there are other times when nudity might be just as appropriate. You mentioned doctors. That’s another given. Or, there was a Methodist church some 20-30 years ago that made some videos of people engaging in sexual acts for the purpose freeing people from the fears and stigmas surrounding sexuality. Many people for a long time had their lives and marriages healed because of those videos. Some people would call those videos pornography. But they were not made as pornography or used as pornography. The people who made the videos made them as an act of love, and as I said, people experienced healing because of them.
I think part of what was missing for you from my comment was that you couldn’t figure out my criteria was for what nudity I would consider problematic and what nudity I would be okay with. And I think that was because I didn’t articulate my thoughts about what the sin in the garden was well enough. What I said was that we quit believing that we were who God said we were. But that didn’t make sense to you, and I can see why. What I should have said was that we quit believing we were the Very Good creations of God made in the Image of God.
Because at it’s core, that is the problem with nudity. 95% of the time, nudity in our culture is diminishing the Image of God in someone. It turns the girl into the busty blonde rather than a woman of valor. It changes the man into shallow sex hungry monster rather than a man of character. It makes tv sex about the physical attraction rather than about the relationship that grounds it.
And so when I say we have to detangle nudity, I’m not saying that all nudity can be detangled. That nudity that objectifies women and turns men into monsters is not worth detangling. And as a Christian watching that kind of nudity, I think we really need to be careful about what we are exposing ourselves to and how thoughtful we are about what we are seeing when it can’t be avoided…which it usually can’t be.
But some nudity can be detangled. Some nudity is life giving.
I’ve noticed one little nude trend in photography and advertising lately that I actually think is quite beautiful. There was the Target (I think) swimsuit spread that included women all of kinds of very real and “abundant” body types. There were the nude breast cancer survivor pictures. And then I saw another spread somewhere of nude pictures of people at various stages of aging. These pictures are bringing healing and hope to a lot of hurting people. And they were made by people who wanted to be a part of bringing hope and healing. They were pictures that demonstrated the Image of God in people…even if they weren’t made by Christians…because they elevated the individual and their experience over their worth as a sex object.
There’s also a relational component that I think sometimes makes nudity okay. And I am going to admit I am a little shakier on this one. I don’t think it’s as easy to detangle, but I am pretty sure it is there nonetheless. I’ll call it the skinny dipping phenomenon. It’s that thing that happens when all of the cousins and their friends who have spent the whole summer together are down by the pond on a hot summer evening and rip off their clothes and jump in. Or maybe it happens when the cross country team sneaks into the college pool in the middle of the night. It’s a bonding experience that happens when a group of people are united under a banner of friendship or shared experience or shared pain. And I don’t think it’s sexual so much as it’s spiritual. It’s this ritual that says, “We’re in this together. We know each other. We support each other. We are a team.” I think this might be where the nude beach thing that was discussed earlier might fit in too. It’s a bigger group of people, and they don’t all know each other, but I am guessing there is a sense of bonding that happens among people who do the nude beach scene. Kinda like Christians who meet someone for the first time and instantly click because they grew up in the same denomination.
So, I don’t know. Hopefully that clarifies what I was getting at. Thanks for making me think through this a little deeper. God bless!
Eva, I really,really,really liked what you said here! I think you are really on to something. I especially liked what you said at the end. Because yes many of us “used” to think certain things were sin: erotica, talking dirty, using vibrators, etc. But now we have explored these areas and with the help of this site found new freedoms. But there are many Christians who would condemn us all for posting on this site. They would say we are sharing too much detail about what should remain private. But for us who do share, this site has been a platform for us to experience a new freedom we wouldn’t otherwise have known. And I liked what you said about seeing nudity isn’t automatically sin, but only if it causes you to have sinful thoughts.
Furthermore, as I read it I thought of the fact that God gave Adam and Eve clothing not because of modesty but because of God’s compassion. He saw them naked before they ate from the tree. So God wasn’t ashamed of their nudity. But suddenly they now have shame so to show compassion on them to alleviate their shame (because God didn’t want them living in shame) he gave them clothing. So it wasn’t about modesty, but about the grace and kindness of God in that even though WE sin and bring shame upon us, he covers our shame and doesn’t want us to walk around with it. So maybe it wasn’t about nudity but about God not wanting us to carry shame from our mistakes.
Ahh!!! Yes! He COVERS OUR SHAME!! I love that. I hadn’t thought of that before! He covered our shame with clothing. He covered our shame with animal sacrifices. He covers our shame with the blood of Christ and washes it away completely! YES! Wow! Okay. That totally rocked my world.
Have you ever had a theological orgasm before? I think I just had one. Sorry about that. :O)
LOL! “Theological orgasm.” That’s my new favorite phrase. I’ve never heard it put that way before but that’s a good way to describe it. And looking at it that way, I can say that yes I’ve had lots of theological orgasm over the years. 🙂
Dear LH, I just wish to thank you for your comments on this! I do stand with you on this and wholeheartedly agree with you. God bless you!
One of the issues with nudity in movies and even near nudity as even many of the pictures accompanying these articles is they don’t reflect reality. Most people are not Jennifer Aniston or Chris Hemsworth. If they had regular people nude or nearly so it probably would be less of an issue.
This can and does create a desire for body perfection which can be hard on women and relationships
I don’t have a problem of seeing nudity. We kinda don’t care about it but I do think you did make a good point as far as these people aren’t married. I don’t know why waiting for marriage has been seen as so abnormal
Hmmmmm…. A very touchy subject. Looking at all these posts it is clear to me that everyone’s view is different on this. All have raised good points and here are my thoughts to add to the discussion.
First and foremost (as I am sure we all agree) is SIN. The real question shouldn’t be is it okay to see another person naked/exposed/whatever. Rather it should be: Does seeing that breast, or butt cause me to have sinful thoughts, or lead me down a path of sinful desires? And as a sidenote, does viewing such nudity lead one to be unable to fulfill desires righteously? Everyone has different things that are more or less sinful (so to speak). I am perfectly fine with having a glass of wine and it not being a problem, or sinful action, however for my alcoholic friend, that same glass of wine is a problem and leads to something sinful.
I would say that seeing a breast or butt (or penis or vagina) is not inherently sinful in and of itself. Nudity is a fact of life. However, if such nudity causes you to have sinful desires, then we are to flee from it like the Bible teaches us to flee from sin.
So a secondary thought from this is: Is nudity okay providing it stirs up desires for my spouse? This is a tough subject because if nudity is stirring up desires and you want to go have sex with your spouse I would hazard that one needs to think about why the desires are being stirred in the first place?
Now as for myself. I watch shows like Orange is the New Black and Game of Thrones. Some parts in these shows I am okay with, toher parts I am not. Where I draw the line is where nudity is shown for no reason than to stir up these sinful thoughts. I also have a problem with sex scenes where it depicts couples that are not married. Along similar lines, I don’t think nudity has to be shown in scenes with married couples either. Some of the best romance scenes are ones where there is no nudity and you see some bare legs entwined and such. (But again to some people, like those that like legs, this could be a problem).
I have had discussions with my wife about this sort of thing and she agrees with me on this as well. I (and my wife) is able to see a naked body, be able to appreciate their beauty/how God made them (They have nice breasts, or butt, or biceps, or whatever) but not have any desires for that person. It would be the same way with art. If you go to the art gallery and see a wonderfully painted nude and you are able to appreciate the art for what it is: art, and not think something like “I wonder what it would be like to sleep with that person, or I wonder how this body part would feel to the touch” then it is okay. As soon as it crosses the line (and there is definitely art out there that blatantly crosses the line) then the nudity in the art becomes a problem.
Again as I think it sums this topic up concisely and simply: Nudity in and of itself is not sinful, however if it causes one to have sinful thoughts or desires, then it is to be avoided. Some people can handle some stuff, while others can’t handle the same. Context/situation is also situational as well.
I liked your perspective here. And I like the way you compared it with alcohol. Some can and some can’t. I would also point out that the person that struggles with alcohol may have no problem with nudity, but the person who has no problem with alcohol may lust when he sees the slightest sight of skin. So we all struggle with something more than likely. And this could be applied to other things as well. Food, gambling, money, etc.
Hi all, I love what Eva, HornyHubby and Paul Hamilton have been saying here. Exciting!!! Thanks heaps. I think nudity comes into the category of ‘Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial’ (1 Corinthians 10:23-33, Romans 14 etc) – That is, this is a classic issue of Christian freedom (like eating food sacrificed to idols). We’re free here, as long as… and Paul is at pains to say… we use our freedom with love, to the glory of God, not causing anyone to stumble.
I know this will sound kind of counterproductive but I would like to recommend two sources for you look into. http://genesis2twenty5.com/ this website runs counter to all mainstream Christian teaching. When I first found it, I thought it was another extremist. But as I begin to read further, he supports his position so well from the Scriptures I was thoroughly intrigued. Finally, and I’d like some public opinion on this one, is the movie Ex Machina. It’s your typical mad scientist film to start, but then it becomes very very intriguing because the scientist has built this robot that is just like a real female human, and he’s putting the finishing touches on the human side of her. The very interesting part is she is made of wire mesh, because obviously she’s just a robot, so its functionality over beauty. But he had also been experimenting with synthetic skins, etc., and at the end of the movie, she goes and takes skin off of other discarded robot, and they show full frontal and rear nudes of the actor. It was not at all sexual earlier in the film when she was made of mesh. Once she/it had the skin and the clothes on, she just look like any other female. At what point does it cross the line from robot to sexual to human?
In terms of nudity in movies, it can be sexy at times, but sometimes it can be silly. I have sometimes watched old movies on the classic movie channel. In these old movies there is no nudity or sex openly depicted. However, the movies are still enjoyable and Hollywood actress of the time like Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn are still able to be attractive without walking around naked atleast in the movies.
Playboy is a different story though…..
I have to say that sometimes less can be more.
To be completely honest, I have seen scences of female masturbation/ couples making love in nonporn romantic movies which has made me horny and I have looked at porn in the past but mostly because I was curious about how women masturbate. I have always wanted a wife with a hairy pussy since I saw Basic Instinct with Sharon Stone on the late night movie channel as a teen. Two of my high school buddies saw that movie on the late night movie channel as well and they loved that famous scene as well. No panties and a hairy pussy. I hope both apply to my future wife.
I also loved Rachel McAdams in only complete romance movie I have ever seen The Notebook. She is such a cutie.
I never have watched Game Of The Thrones. I have heard that it is extremely violent and sexual. I don't mind some nudity, especially in romance movies, or in a movie like Basic Instinct where the nudity is present. but not the majority focus of the movie/ tv show and some violence in action/ historical war movies. But I think a show like Game of Thrones is taking things to far. It is just sex and violence for no reason. That gets boring and silly after a while.
Interesting that you decided GOT went too far without seeing it. If you watched it in hopes of seeing nudity, except for one episode, you would be very disappointed. And in that episode it was vital to the plot. You might have a bigger problem with some very negative representation of religion.
Additional thoughts on Game of Thrones brings up the incest theme that ran through the series and was not all that frowned upon. Seems more people accepted or were even turned on by that. I did close my eyes for some of the bloody violence (red wedding). All in all it was an amazing creation and in many ways very representative of our history. And if I had her body I might walk nude through a town for a movie. I think the Spartacus series that preceded it had more sex and nudity, including a scene where a husband and wife had their servants give them oral as their foreplay to sex with each other. That was likely the most extreme sexual scene I have seen in regular, non-porn entertainment.
I have not watched GOT but it sounds like it would make this very pregnant woman a little turned on. Doesn’t take much these days 🙂
This has been a really long pregnancy!? You okay?
I should not admit the scenes that turned me on.
I hope your pregnancy was not as long as the series.
In terms of nudity in movies, it can be sexy at times, but sometimes it can be silly. My mom is a big fan of old movies on the classic movies channel. I have watched some old movies myself. In the movies, there is no nudity or sex openly depicted. However, the movies are still enjoyable and Hollywood actress of the time like Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn are still able to be attractive without walking around naked atleast in the movies. It is very sexy seeing a woman, especially a really attractive woman naked. However, a woman can still be sexy all dressed up in a cute dress.
I have to say that sometimes less can be more.
Gratuitous nudity or sex is rare in movies and rare in good films. But people are nude in life and have sex in life so it has a place in movies.