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Pro-Nudity Challenge No.2
Some other miscellaneous challenges to
the Bible being pro-nudity:
Exodus 28:42 - "And
you shall make for them linen breeches to cover their naked flesh; from
the loins to the thighs they shall reach;"
Exodus 28:42 - Response:
Again, read in context! Exodus chapter 28 is all about the priestly uniform of Aaron's sons when
(and only when) they officiate in Hebrew temple ceremonies. In
fact the very next verse specifically states that the linen breeches of
verse 42 "shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when
they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to
minister in the holy place". Thus verse 42 applies:
- Only to Aaronic priests, and
- Only when acting as priests.
The rest of the time, God gave no
prohibition to them in regard to going naked.
Verse 41 is in no way a prohibition of simple nudity for the common
people. In fact the context argues exactly the opposite. Why
would the Lord have to specify that Aaronic priests - only when
officiating! - should wear pants over their "naked flesh"
unless nudity was a common and unremarkable state of dress for ancient
Israelites?
If God was really anti-nudity, why didn't he command all the Israelites
to wear breeches over their naked flesh? In fact there is no such
commandment in the Bible, anywhere!
Leviticus 18:6 (and following verses) -
"None of you shall approach any one near of kin to
him to uncover nakedness."
Leviticus 18:6 - Response:
Leviticus 18:6 and following verses are obviously about sexual
nudity (Ervah) not simple nudity (Erom). Here the Lord is
specifying which relatives counted as incestuous sex when people had
sex. This is not about family skinny-dipping.
Genesis 9:22-23 - "And
Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his
two brothers outside. [23] Then Shem and Japheth took a garment,
laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the
nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not
see their father's nakedness."
Genesis 9:22-23 - Response:
Whatever Noah's "nakedness" was, it wasn't just about
sleeping in the nude in his very own tent, and then being seen by his
same-gender relatives.
If you as a Jew or Christian believe that is the case, do you believe
that God has forbidden same-gender sports locker rooms? If so then
why aren't you campaigning to shut down the local YMCA as a den of
iniquity? (Oops, I guess that is a Christian organization, right?)
Or has God forbidden you to sleep in the nude in your own bed in your
own room? Get real.
Whatever this is about, it is about some sexual scandal (Ervah)
not common nudity (Erom).
Habakkuk 2:15 (RSV) - "Woe
to him who makes his neighbors drink of the cup of his wrath, and makes
them drunk, to gaze on their shame!"
Habakkuk 2:15 (KJV) - "Woe
unto him that giventh his neighbour drink, that puttest they bottle to
him, and makes him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their
nakedness!"
Habakkuk 2:15 - Response:
It is interesting that the RSV doesn't even reference nakedness
at all, but simply some sort of shame.
Regardless: Ervah, not Erom.
This verse is about getting someone drunk and engaging in or viewing
some sexual activity.
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