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To: Aliska
I am thinking about it. There are lots of passages in the old testament about uncovering someone's nakedness and how it was frowned upon.

Good; you're on the right track. Now think some more. Why is nudity frowned upon? Because after the Fall it's inextricably mixed up with mankind's dis-integrated condition, especially with respect to sexuality. Nakedness in the fallen world thus becomes a condition uniquely appropriate to marriage -- not just because it's more or less necessary, but because it images the trust that should exist between spouses. The fact that nudity's proper context has become nuptial is precisely why it's not inappropriate in a crucifix, so long (as I observed in the stupidly-deleted post that kicked off this sorry display) as both laity and clergy have had a wholesome spiritual formation. As this lamentable thread shows, that formation is rare in the extreme.

62 posted on 03/26/2004 10:15:20 PM PST by Romulus ("Behold, I make all things new")
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To: Romulus
I'll have to take this up again tomorrow, and I've probably been exposed to more casual nakedness than catholics, but even so, people of no religious beliefs maintain their modesty or go completely overboard the other way.

I agree with your point about nakedness and the fall, nakedness and marital intimacy, but the saints are depicted as wearing white garments and wedding garments in the bible, and I prefer my Jesus and saints clothed if it is all right with you. The nakedness of the cross was an anomaly, a gross humiliation of Jesus. To this day, a mark of humiliation (not the gracious kind of humility, the other kind) is to force captives to disrobe, and preferably parade them before the public where more often than not, scorn is heaped upon them solely because of their naked condition.

If people want Jesus naked, that is their choice.

69 posted on 03/26/2004 10:42:38 PM PST by Aliska
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To: Romulus
***Nakedness in the fallen world thus becomes a condition uniquely appropriate to marriage -- not just because it's more or less necessary, but because it images the trust that should exist between spouses.***

***The fact that nudity's proper context has become nuptial***

At the eternal wedding we have a nuptual context and one of complete trust.

What say we shed those garments to show Jesus we aren't ashamed?
102 posted on 03/27/2004 1:48:43 PM PST by drstevej (I don't think we are in Eden anymore, Toto.)
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