Orient Beach/Clothing Optional and Religious Faith

Now, I'm not trying to start a theological debate here, but I am wondering how many forum members would consider themselves as a person of faith and use the nude beach at Club Orient?
Do you regularly attend church back home?
Maybe we should meet Sunday mornings for a nude service on the beach?

Good Morning! Yes, I am a person of strong faith and attend a Southern Baptist Church. I also enjoy the nude beach and stay at Club O. I dont see any hypocrisy in the two because as you know the situation at Club O is not immoral or sexual in nature. I have met many people of faith on that beach and have found that I am actually judged less by my St martin friends than I am by my church family. A nude service would be a wonderful idea

I just now returned home from church,as I do every Sunday, and had to jump in on this one. For those who understand what nudism and naturism is about there is no way to offer up a conflict between church goers and social nudity. Once sexual promiscuity is taken out of the equation then all that nudists are doing is enjoying God given joys. Hopefully someone who can wax more eloquent than I may offer a fuller explanation. I'll continue praying and going to church at the same time as remaining a nudist. No conflict at all.

Wayne <><

Amen!

I am not a regular nude beachgoer, nor am I a regular churchgoer, but enjoy each of them for what they provide;

A great experience with great people and a message of togetherness, all the while giving thanks to our creator.
How's that!

"Hopefully someone who can wax more eloquent than I "

double entendre? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />, sorry Carol,I had too

I haven't seen him in awhile, father Phil use to stay at Club O. I'm not a church goer but I have eight Catholic friends that attend mass each Saturday evening in Philipsburg.

Wife and I are Catholics and try to attend church every week and also on vacations. We never stayed at Club O but enjoy the beach sans clothing.
Looking forward to our 5th trip in June

We are southern Baptist and are naturists. We also enjoy wine...and dancing.I would not want my pastor to know we go to nude beaches...or drink or dance...strictly because of the embarrassment it might cause....

our family knows we go to nude beaches...none of them is particularly happy about it....but they also know to keep their mouths shut.

I don't tell them how to enjoy their vacation...they owe me the same courtesy.

Our enjoying nude sunbathing or wine or dancing has anything to do with our relationship with our God. It is strictly between God and us....and what others think means nothing.

The Catholic priest that married us said his best vacations included a cooler of Heineken and Orient beach

Genesis 2-25: "...and the Man and the Woman were naked, and they were not ashamed."

This was in eden before the serpent and the forbidden fruit and the subsequent punishment.

The only conclusion possible is that God's plan was for his created humans to live nude and that clothes are the work of the devil!

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

The good Lord sent us into the world without clothing so I don't think He is too concerned one way or the other.Clothing does not make the person; it is what lies within our hearts that really matters!

Absolutely agree Elizabeth!! The Lord is concerned with what is in our hearts not what we wear on our bodies.

I have to agree with quite a lot of the people that have posted on here which include Clemsongrr, WayneH, CathyG and Bill S. I too am a Southern Baptist Christian, and everyone knows Sothern Baptist are aginst everything. I was born without clothes on, and agree with what Bill S said when he quoted Genesis 2:25 that clothes have to be the work of the devil. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> We have met several Christians while on Orient Beach in the yellow chairs and continue to be friends with them. I also agree that the kind people on Orient Beach are the least judgmental people, and some of the well meaning Baptist friends are very judgmental. However it is all about how you treat people and the personal relationship that you have with Christ that makes the difference.

Thank you all for your responses. I wasn't sure where this topic would go when I started it.
My wife and I have been to St. Martin three times and will return next February...spending our days nude in front of Club O as usual.
We are Baptists and only a few family members know we go to a clothing optional beach. I think many of our friends and family just wouldn't understand.
We have met a lot of people on Orient that are just like us...we want to enjoy the beauty of the beach and sun that God gave us without our clothes.
I must agree with beachbum1313, life is all about how you treat others and your personal relationship with Christ.
As for me, I haven't shared my faith with any of my fellow beach goers. Maybe I'm scared of being judged.

We are not really religious people but we are regulars at Club O. We don't attend a church but we do our praying on the beach, for good weather and drinks at the Perch!

This was a very interesting topic - thanks for posting, and thanks for all of the members' responses. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> We attend our church weekly and Club Orient annually. We have been very active in church, and wish our vacations could occur more frequently.

Hey, even non-religious travelers enjoy Club Orient's lounge chairs and umbrellas !!! My husband and I are agnostic, and very much love the place. Of course, the WHOLE ISLAND is awesome, clothing optional or not.

Church going here and loving nude beaches, no conflict. As long as there is respect for each other all is good.

www.naturist-christians.org is a wonderful location for Christian Naturist to learn and grow in their faith.

We love nude beaches and I'm a very active Lutheran. No problems with it. When I'm on the island on Sundays, I often listen to "Sunday Worship" on BBC channel 4 on my computer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnds/episodes/player

Good words and thoughts, Toronto. And shouldn't this apply to all of us? Naturists and 'textiles' alike? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Okay, let me turn this thing back on track to the original theme before it gets locked. Nobody responding to this thread cares about the internecine fighting at Club Orient. Anyway, I initially mentioned church goers in general rather than Christians as I did not want to leave out other Faiths. This may be a good time to hear from our Jewish brethren in Faith. I do know quite a few who visit Orient Beach. I attend a church that is an Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The subject never comes up as to how I spend vacations. If it did, I would stand fast to what I believe in reference to naturism as much as I would stand fast for Him. BTW, what did a poster mean by 'double entendrè' vis a vis my posting? Guess I don't get out much. Be well, all.

Wayne <><

Hi Wayne,
You wrote;



I took the comment to be referring to the process involved with removal of body hair, something that is not more prevalent, but certainly more noticeable, at Club O.

Leave it to English language to have such diverse meanings associated to the same word.......

My wife and I have been to Club O from a cruise day trip twice now, and both times I have had a conversation of faith with the people sitting next to us. And it was not I that brought the subject up either time.

I think that is pretty symbolic of what I like about the people I have met at the nude beach. No pretensions. No BS. Here I am, and this is what I think. You can agree/disagree, like/not like and all is still going to be good.
I have always wondered if the dna that allows us to be comfortable nude is responsible for the other traits as well. But that would be a different thread......

I tried that waxing thing and it hurt; besides I didn't look any better <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Blush.gif" alt="" />

"wax more eloquent than I"

.....is able to expound more intelligently on the subject than I can......

Guess I really don't get out much. Wayne <><

My wife and I are both Christians and we stay at Club Orient and have met many people of faith at the beach

We are both Christians, and I have to say we would never go nude at Orient Beach..... it's too crowded. Happy Bay on the other hand was fantastic, and we stripped down right away.

I personally know three different US ministers / reverends who are often at the nude beach. (And a dermatologist, which was even more surprising.)

Jeff, I know at least one of whom you speak and I was hoping to hear from him. As you know, he has written extensively on the subject. Maybe he just doesn't monitor this forum anymore. That's our loss. It was he who took the picture in my profile!

Wayne <><

It never occurred to me for this to be a problem (catholic) since nude doesn't equal lewd. my 2nd trip to a nude beach (Jamaica) was a shock because it was the first time I'd encountered hard core republicans-they were certain Dan Quayle would be 'ready' when it was his time. THAT was freaky.

so you saw Dan Quayle naked?

heh.. NO.. the geriatric couple I was talking politics with were naked.

About ten years ago Time magazine did a feature article on naturism and it stated that the majority of people who belonged to landed clubs were conservative Republicans.

no generalizations in that 10 year old statement? landed club? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Landed clubs are ones that own their own facilities. As for political leanings, if jerber160's observations are typical than things haven't changer much in ten years.

sail2wind,

I didn't realize that not everyone knew what a landed club was. I used to go to one in NH called Cedar Waters Nudist Village. It was/is a lovely place but they are strict as to who visits. It is owned and operated by Born Again Christians. There is NO alcohol allowed on the premises. Only couples (male and female) may visit. No jewelry in 'you know where places'. Other than that it is a very enjoyable venue. No longer being married my visits are limited but I do drop in once in a while with a friend who may enjoy naturism. So, that is what a landed club is. Be well, all.

Wayne <><

I used to be in SXM quite a bit for Easter and there was a pastor, whom I won't name, who held Sunrise Services @ Club O. It was awesome! No judging here......;-) I'm sure there are some on this forum who attended his services. Feel free to pipe in....just keep his name to yourself, unless he joins in the discussion.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> Contessa

yes i do, and i am also a "vette" guy. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

We are regulars among the Club O congregation.
Every day at Club O is a service with opportunity to share in the wonder of God's natural beauty; in nature and humans alike.
Have faith... we shall return!
Amen