Created Naked

“What nudity does seem to unleash is a levelling up. Without the social markers clothes provide, everyone, whether a high flyer or one afflicted by low self-esteem, appears freed from the shackles of their everyday life and therefore better able to make friends.” ~ Antonia Hoyle, ANTONIA HOYLE: How Nudefest made me feel comfortable in my own skin “With humble nakedness, there is no rich and no poor, there is no genius or simpleton, no powerful king or vassal. All become amazingly similar. All become like God really sees every human; as someone created in His own image.”—Paul M. Bowman, Nakedness and the Bible

“Bombarded by images of social-media perfection, I’ve often felt inadequate, but a nudist festival like nowhere else offers an antidote to that pressure to look good, a reminder of the power of the human body in all its forms.” —Antonia Hoyle, ANTONIA HOYLE: How Nudefest made me feel comfortable in my own skin “When people actually try naturism who have poor body image, their body confidence increases hugely and their mental health also improves. We are so conditioned to seeing perfect Photoshopped models in magazine adverts which no one can measure up to. When people see real naked bodies of all shapes and sizes, they realise that we are all imperfectly beautiful.” —Gary & Noreen Kennedy, https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/naturism-ni-when-people-see-real-naked-bodies-of-all-shapes-and-sizes-they-realise-that-we-are-all-imperfectly-beautiful/a1801715998.html

“This stigma is precisely why many naturists feel the need to keep their lifestyle private, sharing it only with a select group of like-minded individuals. But I believe that staying quiet only reinforces the idea that naturism is something to hide. The more we cloak our lifestyle in secrecy, the more we allow misconceptions to thrive. And let’s face it: society will never change if we wait for it to accept naturism without nudists standing up and explaining why this lifestyle is both healthy and liberating. “—Marc, Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Stigma of Naturism in Everyday Life - Nude and Happy “When approached with maturity and respect, nudity can offer society profound benefits. It promotes body positivity and self-acceptance, breaking down unrealistic beauty standards. Open nudity encourages honest conversations about bodies, health, and diversity, fostering a culture of empathy. It demystifies human anatomy, enhancing sexual education and reducing shame. —Colm, Chipping away at the norm, cloth by cloth. - Irish Naturist Association “Consequently, conversations on nudity reflect what they are in real life and treat nakedness for what it is: a state of being.” —Kavya Racheeti, https://utdmercury.com/films-should-respect-naked-bodies-not-stigmatize-them/

“Naturism paves the way for seeing yourself and others as God sees, and elevates the concept of Imago Dei to new and greater heights.” -Phillip Oak, Surprised into Freedom “The Imago Dei is a profound truth that shapes our understanding of who we are and how we are to live. It elevates our view of the human body, seeing it as a sacred reflection of God’s image and a vessel for His glory. When approached with respect, humility, and a desire to honor God, nudity can be a way to embrace this truth and live in alignment with God’s original design.” —Justine Hudson, Why God Made Us Naked: A Journey of Faith into Embracing Our Physical, Naked Form as God Designed It 

“Communal nudity—when it occurs in a safe space—has the potential to significantly improve body image. It makes people feel less anxious about how others view their bodies which, in turn, makes them appreciate their own appearance even more.” ~Justin L. Lehmiller, Ph.D. “My nude hiking experience is limited, but I’ve never felt more connected to nature. It’s so primal! I feel like it’s instantly undoing the mental and spiritual “damage” caused by years of conforming to society’s norms.” ~RMNC Member, https://x.com/rmnaturist/status/1546841695295115264?s=46&t=fpiEy5CqbBOXR1N66BxSTw

“Being naked somehow felt like a superpower. I was deeply connected to the nature around me, the hot air wrapping its arms around my bare body. My naked skin, not divided by the barrier of a swimsuit, was cleansed and cooled down by the rush of the water. My feet felt the groove of the rocks and the sand pushed itself through each one of my toes. I was as connected to nature as humanly possible, totally enabled by lack of clothing.” —Ella Kopelman, https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/the-summer-i-discovered-nudity/#google_vignette “The whole of nature is nude except man. And by your clothes you have become disconnected from nature”, —Bhagwan Shrew Rajneesh

“Your clothes conceal much of your beauty, yet hide not the unbeautiful. Though you seek in garments the freedom of privacy, you may find them a harness and chain. Would that you could meet the sun and the wind with more of your body and less of your raiment.” —Khalil Gibran, The Prophet  “We have come into the world naked, and all the animals are naked, why should man hide his body behind clothes?” —Osho “Textiles do not so much make us as hide us.” —Jeannette Cooperman https://commonreader.wustl.edu/c/naked-beneath-our-clothes/

“All prejudices and expectations about the body just disappear in the sauna, there we can meet as people regardless of where we came from. As a person who is racialized in Sweden, there is a care for me in this place by people who might not have given it to me in other contexts.” —Cristian Quinteros Sotos, Nudism rise in Sweden; “This is an antidote,” « Euro Weekly News “All humans are of equal inherent value, but clothing, probably more than anything else, conveys a false sense of hierarchy. When you are naked talking to a naked person, you are forced to relate to that person on more even terms. There are other false or artificial barriers someone may put up, but social nudity removes most economic and social restrictions that are not essential to a person’s character.” —Mark Storey, “Social Nudity and Freedom from Alienation,” Naturist Life International, No. 20, Autumn 1997, p. 29.

“Nudity is allowed for entertainment and voyeurism but not for comfort.  People can handle nude art but why not normal naked bodies?” —Why are we taught shame about nudity and our bodies? — https://rfgjga1992.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/why-are-we-taught-shame-about-nudity-and-our-bodies/ “We had a sermon a while back from our pastor talking about how shaming someone is to go against everything Christian. Yet children are natural nudists. The only way to keep them dressed is to teach them shame. "Don't pull up your dress- someone will see your panties." "Don't go outside naked-- someone will see your penis." This occurs again and again until there is a wall of shame. Is nudity a dangerous path? I believe shame is far worse." -Jon, Naturist Life International  “Our genitals are neither vulgar or shameful, but the way we have been taught has made us subconsciously feel uneasy about the entire matter.” —Dennis Craig Smith, Naked Fear

“Group nudity can be personally beneficial. Nudist camps are places where people can emerge from hiding behind their clothes and become more self-accepting, revealing and honest.” ~Abraham Maslow “I slowly grew numb to all the naked bodies around me - the “judgement” chatter in my brain drifted away. I was in the moment and could now “see” people much more clearly. It was incredible!” ~RMNC Member, https://x.com/rmnaturist/status/1824274932106444949?s=46&t=fpiEy5CqbBOXR1N66BxSTw “What's it like at a naturist complex? "It's fairly simple, When the weather's fine, everyone's usually undressed. When everyone's nude, no one stands out. Someone who's dressed then stands out." —Michaela Toepper—Taking a naturist holiday: 'When everyone's nude, no one stands out'