came into existence because my wife and I wanted to do something a little different in the year 2000. We realized we didn’t have to go running off to a nudist event in the winter to enjoy socializing in the nude. We had a living room, a decent TV sound system, and nudist friends. I came up with an idea I dubbed "Saturday Nude at the Movies" (SNatM) and contacted our friends. On January 22nd, eight of us got some food together, gathered in our living room, and watched two movies. Things broke up about 8 PM, so everyone could get home relatively early and everyone agreed that a good time was had by all. It was as simple as that. Nothing fancy or expensive—just an opportunity to enjoy one of our favorite activities—social nudity.
We got together again on February 26th and combined SNatM with a swim night sponsored by a local nudist club. We weren’t able to organize SNatM in March but we were able to get together on April Fool’s Day (no fooling!), this time “on the road” at nearby nudist park. The weather turned out to be spectacular (in the ‘70s) and we were outdoors most of the day before movie time at approximately 5:00. Since then, TNTN has organized many more house socials, nude Superbowl events, Presidents Day events at a nudist resort, and "Erin Go Braless" St. Patty’s Day events.
It was at during that first nudist park event that the subject of a group name for our little group arose. The name I came up with incorporated our core beliefs into one name—"The Naked Truth Naturists." The folks in our group have two things in common: a desire to enjoy life lived without clothes and, because of our faith, the proviso that when we remove our clothes we don’t remove our morality. Though most of us profess a Christian faith, which informs our nudism, we’re in no way exclusive to Christians. We welcome anyone who has a sincere interest in chaste, non-sexual, social nudity. We’re not a swingers club, nor are we interested in pushing the envelope of public sexual behavior.
Realizing that all of us have different levels of commitment to our “naked walk,” we are happy to accommodate those who wish to join us. Our rules and by-laws are as simple as the previous paragraph of this article. We don’t have “official” meetings, or charge any dues. All activities are on a “cash as needed” basis and only as agreed on. Our activities may occur at a nudist park or beach, a remote public locale, or in someone’s home watching TV. The main “rule” is that, whatever we do, it should be relatively inexpensive.
We started the TNTN “NudesLetter” to provide a forum for our group of friends and to provide nudist information on an informal basis. It can be a teaching tool for those new to nudism, a means of asking questions and seeking answers, or a schedule of upcoming events.
Whether you are a newcomer to the nudist experience, a veteran nudist, or somewhere in between, you’ll find our group to be a friendly, comfortable place to shed your clothes and enjoy the adventure of nudist living. If geography prevents you from joining us physically, simply get naked where you are and join us in spirit!
“Social nudism promotes true propriety, morality and health.” – Motto of Rock Lodge Nudist Club, circa 1930s
Mission Statement of The Naked Truth Naturists
1. To practice true tolerance and diversity by allowing naturists* of all races, creeds, religious persuasions and sexual orientations to associate with us and share their views, spiritual or otherwise, – provided they understand that The Naked Truth Naturists is a Christian group and espouses Christian principles. For this reason, The Naked Truth Naturists will be non-denominational and will require no specific religious affiliation.
2. To promote simple, wholesome, family-oriented naturism without the taint of improper sexual behavior.
3. To encourage a natural, healthful way of life, to seek to return to the principles of “a healthy body, mind and spirit” that distinguished the naturist movement in its earliest days.
4. To develop a framework for parents to teach and practice naturism with their children, of any age, at home and in various social settings. Children are the future of naturism and must have nudist principles introduced and reinforced in their lives to ensure that naturism remains a vital societal option.
5. To demonstrate the effectiveness of naturism in promoting a positive body image, controlling sexual behavior, and overcoming self-identity issues.
6. To provide a safe framework for men and women new to the naturist lifestyle, so that they’ll feel free to try it for themselves and enjoy a positive naturist experience.
7. To encourage frugal naturism and to seek ways to incorporate naturism into everyday living, as much as is practical. It shouldn’t be necessary to spend large amounts of money to enjoy a naturist lifestyle.
8. To seek to expand the borders of the naturist lifestyle into the world around us. To support and encourage the honest efforts of organizations, groups and individuals that seek to bring naturism into the public eye.
9. To seek to educate and encourage non-naturists away from the negative and misconceived ideas promulgated about naturists, and to show naturists as normal, everyday people.
10. To bring the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to naturists of all walks of life. Because we are nude among naturists, we have a unique ministry to them that ninety-nine percent of church-going Christians aren’t providing.
* I prefer the term naturist used over nudist because I believe that naturism promotes and promulgates a larger, inclusive worldview and not just the idea of getting nude/naked recreationally.
The Naked Truth Naturists Statement of Faith
WE BELIEVE:
1. That there is one God, Creator of all things, and that He exists in three co-equal, co-eternal, persons – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and that He created the universe, earth and mankind in six days.
2. That the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the uniquely inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
3. That Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. Being without sin, He lived a perfect life and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins to redeem sinners from the penalty of sin according to the Scriptures. He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of God the Father, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
4. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.
5. That man was born in the image of God but comes into the world in a fallen, sinful and lost condition and is therefore separated from God. It is impossible for man to be made right before God by his own works and that only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be attained.
6. That the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe; that only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ are we born of the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God.
7. That water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church in obedience to Christ during the present age and are not to be regarded as a means of salvation.
8. That the one true Church is composed of all people who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit to become part of the Body of Christ and are secure in Christ for all eternity.
9. That Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church.
10. In the bodily resurrection of the dead – of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord – of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting, conscious punishment. That this “blessed hope” should affect the personal life and service of the believer, causing him or her to seek the rewards that Jesus promised to His faithful few on His return.
11. That the next prophetic event is the imminent return of Jesus Christ to call His Church to be with Him in God’s presence. Jesus will quell the forces of evil and reign as King during a literal millennial period. After this millennial reign, Satan will be released for a short period to be judged and consigned to eternal punishment with all other unbelievers. Finally, Jesus will deliver His kingdom to God the Father so that the triune God may be all in all.
Naturist Specific Statements (with Scripture references):
WE BELIEVE:
1. That the Scriptures do not condemn nudity – only improper and sinful behavior while nude. [Gen. 3: 9-11 NASB – Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you? And he said, I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (emphases intentional)]
2. That, aside from original sin brought about by the disobedience of our first parents – Adam and Eve – there is no inherent sin attached to any specific part of our bodies, including the genitalia. [Gen. 2: 25 NASB – And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.]
3. That, inasmuch as God has redeemed us, spirit, soul and body, and will ultimately present us with glorified bodies at our resurrection, that we are, as true Christians, clothed in Christ’s righteousness – even when nude. [Isaiah 61:10 NASB – I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (emphases intentional)]
4. That chaste, non-sexual, Christian, family-oriented naturism is not harmful in any way to the nurture of children; that, in fact, it is helpful in countering body image and self-esteem issues and teaches proper interaction with, and respect for, members of the opposite sex. [I Thes. 4:3-6a, 7 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter… For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. (emphases intentional)]
5. That naturism can promote a less sexually charged environment, in which to socially interact, unencumbered by the sexual signals generated by scanty and revealing clothing, or hidden by clothing. [1 Peter 3:3-5 (NASB) – And let not your adornment be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, and putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. (emphases intentional)]
6. That naturism can promote a unique openness and honesty with regard to our persona; that by presenting our total physical aspect to one another, we demonstrate that we harbor no physical secrets. [Hebrews 4:13 NASB – And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (emphases intentional)]
7. That to worship God in the nude, as were Adam and Eve, we can discover a deeply spiritual and uplifting experience. [I Cor. 6:18-20 NASB – Flee immorality. Every other sin that man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (emphases intentional)]
8. That Christian nudist/naturist “gymnosophy” must be inculcated in our young people and promulgated in the same manner as the Christian faith if it is to grow and take root in our society, for its betterment and improvement. [Luke 12: 22, 23, 27, 28 NASB – And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body than clothing. Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith!” (emphases intentional)]
“As Christian naturists, we may be naked, but we’re clothed in God’s grace.” – T. H. Pine