Pro-social nudity, pro-social freedom: Why children have the right to go naked

Many parents think that children should cover up, around the house and on the beach. Child nudity is considered a taboo subject in this country. For purposes of this article, "nudity" can refer to partial nudity, including revealing dress. Child nudity, in and of itself, meaning full nudity, is illegal under the secular laws when children are in a public place, in the United States (in countries such as Germany or Denmark, things are different). Why shame children for their choice of dress?

It says in 1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV:

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

The Greek root word translated πορνεία (Latin: porneia) and refers to anything "outside of proper channels", at its most literal meaning, as understood in context. This would not have, however, been seen as a prohibition on child nudity. Children went naked in biblical times, wherever they went. Children were naked as they played. 

Child nudity was sexualized among adult men in biblical times. They were seen as subjects of sexual attraction from afar, with many male fantasies being about their own children. Usually, this was expressed outwardly as extra motivation to nurture a child, such as taking their hand and taking them for a stroll through the neighborhood, or playing a game with them. All male interaction with children ultimately had to be approved by the mother. Fathers interacted with their children on formal grounds, with children inviting fathers to engage in casual interaction - but mothers ultimately could veto the interaction if it was deemed unsafe by her righteous judgment.

Children were not blamed for sex crimes committed against them. They were allowed to go naked because the belief of society, especially in the Early Church, was that anyone who sexualized the nudity of children in their speech or outward appearance was guilty of fornication, just because of that obscene self-expression. Mothers knew that men would notice, and maybe turn their head, but if they leered and offended the children sexually, or made lewd and lascivious comments, they were a fornicator. Fornicators were interrogated by being warned of their sin, and if they defended themselves and/or persisted in their course of conduct, were individually shunned by the parents. If enough parents shunned the pervert, the church elders orchestrated a church inquiry to excommunicate the sex offender.

Shaming children for their choice of dress is child abuse. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or abuse, namely child abuse in this context. Child abuse, as defined under biblical law, is the slightest of personal offense perceived by the child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech, coming from entitlement. The context is clear that this commandment prohibits punitive parenting of any kind, including all punishment and controlling demeanor towards children. Patrias potestas translates to "power to the father" or else "power to the parent", and refers to a legal defense under Greco-Roman law that allowed for fathers to use any force that they saw fit to police their homes. No analogous law existed under Judeo-Christian law. Punitive parents, in the Old Testament, were put to death if they punished their children enough times - and any body shaming was tacked right onto the charges.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakoiuo) and refers to secure rest in the love and grace of parents, meaning a secure parent-child bond with your child. It is healthy to allow for child nudity in the family home. Child nudity improves the parent-child bond by lowering the level of attachment in a parent to the level of full equality with children. The idea is to form a secure parent-child bond by way of skin-to-skin closeness and intimacy, and then you will be able to interact with your child as an equal. Eventually, the child will take charge of his/her own needs, and at that point you will be heavily inclined to follow their lead as to what they need.

However, when allowing for nudity, note that all child nudity must follow the law. See Romans 13:1-2 KJV:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist will receive to themselves damnation.

The Greek root word translated "subject" is υποτασσο (Latin: hupotasso) and refers, in the Hebraic context, to a reverent "stand by" loyalty (see also Col. 3:18). Christians are to be loyal to the secular authorities and their adjacent statutes and rulings, and keep the secular law. The Bible is perfect law from God, whereas the secular law and secular authorities were established by God in an imperfect manner. In Pennsylvania, the law does not allow for nudity anywhere where someone could be offended or affronted, meaning basically that nudity goes behind closed quarters. Though the Bible does not prohibit child nudity at all in context, we as Christians must also heed to the higher authorities, and keep our children clothed in public.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast in to the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!