Nudity and Sin

[actiofidei]

What's your point, Jarrod? You posted a question that we assumed you were sincerely seeking opinions on, and you're already poking fun at the responses? If you don't really want any opinions, just say so, and I'll lock the thread and we can be done with it. 

Also, I'm trying to figure out how you can compare a nudist beach with ancient art at a Catholic church. That's like me comparing a baby's butt to Playboy magazine. Get real.

Goodness...

Still seems to me like he asked a sincere question, and made a decent rebuttal to the responses. There were many elements within the Vatican, if my memories from art history aren't entirely of doodling in my notebook, that were opposed to the "indecency" of such "art" as the Sistine Chapel ceiling (and many other works of art at the time).

It broadens this discussion to nudity in general, and may help to bring about understanding of the position held by people within the Church throughout the centuries on the issue, since clearly ideas of modesty and decency are constantly changing, not only in the world, but by prelates in the Church.

[MikeSearson]

Give me a break, Mike. Are you going to sit there and say with a straight face that only ugly, old or fat people go to nudist beaches? Please.

Not only, but definitely the overwhelming majority from my limited experience.

[actiofidei]

Is it sinful to view nudity for the sake of science? (whether that be for Art History or Anatomy course)

Fr Heribert Jone, in his text Moral Theology, will take you one further, offering this regarding the medical profession and inordinate sexual pleasure:

Physicians, surgeons, nurses, etc. are excused from sin even should their occupation be the cause of pollution. 223, III, 2

Pollution he defines as "complete sexual satisfaction." 228, II, 1.

[MikeSearson]

Let me ask a few follow up questions: 1) Is it sinful for a woman to breast feed her child in public? 2) Is it sinful to view nudity for the sake of science? (whether that be for Art History or Anatomy course)

Jarrod

I'll take a stab.

1.) No, provided she is modest about it and doesn't leave it hang-out in plain view for the womanizers and voyeurs of the world.

2.) Don't know about art history, but I would say not in the case of science, particularly if one is studying to be a nurse or doctor. 

That is, unless you have the maturity of a 10-year-old.

[actiofidei]

As I give my last post a moment's thought, I can't even imagine how that would be possible....

I guess it was, in the mind of Fr Jone. Who knows what these men hear in the confessional...

[spasiisochrani]

With this logic, going to the Sistine (Spelling?) chapel would be sinful. With all those naked people.

Jarrod

They let naked people into the Sistine Chapel? 

[spasiisochrani]

Actually I've heard a Bishop call the Sistine Chapel "pornography"...

Bishop Williamson?

[GrumpyTroll]

Still seems to me like he asked a sincere question, and made a decent rebuttal to the responses. There were many elements within the Vatican, if my memories from art history aren't entirely of doodling in my notebook, that were opposed to the "indecency" of such "art" as the Sistine Chapel ceiling (and many other works of art at the time).

It broadens this discussion to nudity in general, and may help to bring about understanding of the position held by people within the Church throughout the centuries on the issue, since clearly ideas of modesty and decency are constantly changing, not only in the world, but by prelates in the Church.

I indeed recall that fig leaves were placed over private parts in Vatican art at the Counter-Reformation and under Pope Clement XIII’s papacy (and probably under that of others).

[HMiS]

Already under Pope St. Pius V if I am correctly informed.

[JLeigh]

There were many elements within the Vatican, if my memories from art history aren't entirely of doodling in my notebook, that were opposed to the "indecency" of such "art" as the Sistine Chapel ceiling (and many other works of art at the time).

It broadens this discussion to nudity in general, and may help to bring about understanding of the position held by people within the Church throughout the centuries on the issue, since clearly ideas of modesty and decency are constantly changing, not only in the world, but by prelates in the Church.

Now that is a decent rebuttal.

This:

  With this logic, going to the Sistine (Spelling?) chapel would be sinful. With all those naked people.

is not. It's sarcastic. People took time to sincerely reply to what they thought was an honest question and they got sarcasm in response. As you can see, it rather upset me. :wink: