Neo-Paganism - The body, sexuality and nakedness

Pagans also reject western views of sexuality. For them the body is sacred and pure. Public and ritual nakedness is affirmed by some, though probably not the majority. Tabloids and papers make much of the sexual perversion of witches, but pagans believe that society has a suspicious and dirty-- minded view of sex: it sensationalises and titillates. But sexuality is a part of life's cycle to be celebrated in an open and pure fashion. The intertwining of sex with religion lifts it above the perverse and shameful act that it has become in western society.

The conception of a child is the most honoured activity of humans. It is `to accept responsibility for another life ... that will offer love and the promise of your family's immortality through its blood line' (Kemp: 176). The overtones of stewardship and regard for human life here are unmistakable.

Many who attend ConFest celebrate nudity publicly. They are not simply making a statement but discovering their inner self. When writing his PhD thesis, Graham St John attended ConFest and found that `being naked in the presence of strangers was not as difficult as I had been conditioned to believe' (187). Nudity at ConFest is a matter of reclaiming nudity as natural, innocent and right.

A positive view of nudity is said to change one's self- esteem and respect for others (St John: 187). It helps to bring out the child, the carefree gaiety and uncontrolled fantasy that is the world of the child (St John: 180). Nudity is about breaking down the masks of western society, the masks of social and economic status. Public nudity is rare outside such events, but some Wiccans and Druids practise ritual nudity.

Pagans claim to have a very positive view of the body, unlike most westerners. The goddess in Wicca is seen to have three forms: maiden, mother and crone. All are seen as beautiful and have specific roles. Western beauty belongs only to the maiden. Adler suggests that many women have found in Wicca a spiritual framework for feminism[22] . But it would be a mistake to think that this is the driving force of paganism.

Neo-Paganism - Paganism as nature religion
Neo-Paganism - History of Neo-Paganism

Bookmark, Share, Print or Email This Page

More About...

Topic: A-Z Index, N

Comment

• Responses are currently closed, but you can comment on your own website, blog, or elsewhere (e.g. Google+, Facebook) and include a 'trackback' link to this page.
• Note: If the current entry includes a Table of Contents (top, right-hand corner), the comments section is located on the first page of the entry (and may indeed be open. Do check.) Also, on some entries, the comments section is located on a separate page. Again, see the topic's Table of Contents -- if included.

Subscribe to Apologetics Index updates via RSS news feed or email

Subscribe: Email   Twitter   RSS   Google+

About This Page

This page, Neo-Paganism - The body, sexuality and nakedness, was first posted: Jul. 31, 2006
The entry was last updated: Jul. 31, 2006

About Apologetics Index

How to use this site  •  Copyright and Linking Policy  •  About this website  •  Disclaimer

More Apologetics & Countercult Research?

• Select a topic from our A-Z Index
• See our home page for the latest updates and additions to the site
• Or use our Google-powered search engine: