What do you all think of this?


Dutch Christian naturists forced to cancel naked mass
A church service for Dutch Christian naturists has been cancelled this weekend after hostile reactions from other, more conventional, worshippers.


By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Last Updated: 3:03PM BST 29 Sep 2008

Naked celebrants abandoned plans to hold a second service after media coverage of their first mass, held in a nudist park during the summer, led to a flood of threatening phone calls and emails from more orthodox Christians.

"I don't understand what all the fuss is about," said a spokesman for the Gan Eden or Garden of Eden group.

"We are just a group of Christians and we want to hold a church service."

The Dutch naturist Christians, part of a global movement, held their first service in June, when a clothed priest presided over a nude congregation of 80 people in Zeewolde, a town in the Flevoland region of the Netherlands.

But such was the barrage of hostile public opinion, the second religious event was cancelled and Gan Eden's website shut down.

"Because of the negative publicity and the lurid curses in the guest book we have been obliged to close the site temporarily," says the group's website.

"It is a problem that this proves be necessary in a country which calls itself tolerant."

Christian naturists take the tale of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden as the model for their beliefs and ceremonies.

When God created man and woman, Adam and Eve were both naked and "felt no shame", according to the Bible.

The naturists believe that as humanity's first couple were blameless and as the Bible places no requirements to wear clothing then there is no reason for Christians to be ashamed of their naked bodies.

From a non christian viewpoint - who cares.

from a christian viewpoint - if that is what god really wanted i'm sure christ and the apostles would have made it known and they would have passed it on to the rest, HMMM??

they didn't!!

David danced naked for the lord, so i can only say that if you want to do this go ahead, but if it offends others then it is sin, so keep it to yourself or away from those who would look upon it as sin.

I don't like to do rituals outside naked because of insects and critters. Seriously. It can be a problem.

so does that mean you'd dance inside a church??

No, I guess I have a problem with naked in general, now that you mention it. But, each to his/her own!

I think it's a shame - literally. That those who feel shame at the thought of nudity want to impose their own feelings of shame on others.

Will I be needing Viagra for this?

The revival of innocence?

Hmmm?

Why not?

Sounds like the saintly thing do to.

Owl be right over.

most of the people I know I REALLY don't wanna see them nekkid (we're all old and flabby and gray)

I think I would feel that way at church too

I'd be more worried about the effect that the cold has on the human body!

The Netherlands is bloody freezing at the best of times and the nether-regions can get mighty insignificant unless warmed up!

But then that's the Dutch for you ...

Do you mean there would be Christian cause for concern as it relates to "significant shrinkage"? Its is such a chauvinist religion after all.

Ok, they're in a nudist park. Why does anybody care if they hold a service in the privacy of their own nudist camp? Perhaps you can only be a christian with your clothes on.

There is nothing wrong with nudity. The problem lies in what we have been taught about it!

Paul, was the one to come up with the term "christian" I prefer follower of Christ's teaching. God didn't kick Adam and Eve out of the garden. They walked out of their own free will or decision. Get me some food and I'll move the fig leaf. "the worlds oldest profession"?

no speak?

Pagans certainly had no problem with nudity and often performed rituals "skyclad".

Again, there is nothing wrong with nudity!

Im not sure that I accused you of anything? I merely mentioned that Pagans often perform ritual in the nude. Whats the problem here? Talk about preemptive strike.

OK