INA membership

[Aaron Adams]

I am considering asking for an INA membership for Christmas. I am worried about the record of my memebership that would be created if someone used a credit card or check to pay for my membership. Is there a way for someone to get an INA membership without anyone but INA and the person getting the membership knowing about it. I know all this sounds kind of paranoid but I am kind of paranoid. I am in the field of education and I am afraid that If someone found out about my INA membership I would be unable to get a job as a teacher due to someone being afraid that I might molest kids. I am currently in college pursuing a degree in education. If I get a membership I plan to get the 49.95 membership. I also occasionaly suffer periods where I doubt the premise that nudity isn't bad. During these periods I am less likely to visit the INA site and if I became a member and this happened I don't want to waste the money spent on INA membership because I might not visit the sight due to my own personal issues. I know I have problems. Can anyone help me with the things I mentioned.

[Aaron Adams]

I am considering asking for an INA membership for Christmas. I am worried about the record of my memebership that would be created if someone used a credit card or check to pay for my membership. Is there a way for someone to get an INA membership without anyone but INA and the person getting the membership knowing about it. I know all this sounds kind of paranoid but I am kind of paranoid. I am in the field of education and I am afraid that If someone found out about my INA membership I would be unable to get a job as a teacher due to someone being afraid that I might molest kids. I am currently in college pursuing a degree in education. If I get a membership I plan to get the 49.95 membership. I also occasionaly suffer periods where I doubt the premise that nudity isn't bad. During these periods I am less likely to visit the INA site and if I became a member and this happened I don't want to waste the money spent on INA membership because I might not visit the sight due to my own personal issues. I know I have problems. Can anyone help me with the things I mentioned.

[florida-david]

hey man, why not just send cash? i'm sure the ina guys will take cash via snail mail? just ask for donations from your more open minded friends. don't be so paranoid, it would be really hard for someone to trace your personal check.

[Aaron Adams]

Thank you Florida-David for the reply. I am a rather paranoid person. I am also aware that I have my own personal issues related to nudity that factor in to things.

[rainy city mike]

Another option would be a money order. You could use a friends name in case the mail got lost and do as a gift membership that way. No ID required for money orders just cash.
I dont think you would have any problem with a check or a credit card. Was trying to find the statement on my membership but could not. Sorry,


take it easy

[Bob S.]

I am a preschool teacher and a member of the AANR (still considering the TNS as well). I have never had any problems. Most people who find out that someone is a nudist are merely amused. And even fewer will assume that just because you are a member of the INA (which very few people have even heard of) that you will abuse children. You should be proud that you are entering the teaching profession. I heard recently that the number of male teachers have been falling in the past decade. Now, only about 20% of teachers are male, with the percentage as low as 8% for elementary schools.

In terms of background checks, most checks will not get that in depth. They will focus on your your criminal background mainly.

Do you live in the Western part of the US and are going to be going to nudist parks? That is the other part of the membership, discounts at some nudist parks.

If you do want to become a member, credit cards are safe and are not checked in most background checks for employment. You may also send a personal check or, if you really want to, you can send a money order. To do that, you simply go to any location that gives out money orders (post offices do) and give them the cash in the amount that you want to send. They will give you a slip of paper with the amount that the MO is for (with verification) and you fill in the name of the recipient, not necessarily there.

Do not do as David suggested and send money through the mail. It is illegal in the US.

And if you want to discuss your problems, we're here and we'll listen and try to help you out.

Bob S.

[Trailscout]

Aaron,

There were some good ideas for how to pay, so I won't add to them.

I would like to say that having occasional doubts about the nudist life is just part of the process of resolving the issue of nudism once and for all. There is also the matter of deciding how practical the nudist lifestyle is, even if you see nothing wrong with it.

To me, the nudist life is not that different from the way a lot of people live; it's simply that some folks get all excited by the word, "NUDIST".

Fact is, a lot of people who have never heard of nudism have been nude quite a bit in one setting or another and there is no moral dilemma:

Same-sex nudity is pretty common. If you have ever gone skinny-dipping with some buddies on a campout, if you have taken a shower after gym class in school or church camp, you aren't alone. Millions have done this, including ministers, even the evangelist Billy Graham and the Gospel singer Amy Grant. It's no big deal.

Lots of families let their kids play naked in the back yard when they are fairly young. I remember taking baths with cousins of the opposite sex. Parents and doctors have to examine their kids' bodies when they are sick. It's the right thing to do. Sometimes kids see their parents naked around the house in the late evening. It's less common, but when it happens, it is a non-issue.

Some dating couples develop enough trust to see one another naked and yet it is not necessarily a sexual situation, just a private moment between two very close people.

Of course some people would say that no decent person would go naked in front of a bunch of other naked people, but if you go to a neighborhood swimming pool or a public beach, you see most of the people's bodies and sometimes the contours of the body show through the bathing suit. A day at the beach doesn't create a moral crisis for most people, yet a lot of people are very close to being naked. It's no big deal here either! It's not a sexual situation. You are with family and friends having fun and relaxing. If you took it one step further and went to a place where people wear a little bit less than at the beach, you would be at a nudist resort! It's no big deal, just a bit friendlier and a lot more comfortable when you are nude.

If you are struggling with sexual feelings, well being nude in a controlled non-sexual environment actually helps most people become less obsessed with sex. Attractive women never cease to be attractive to a man, but you retrain your mind to focus more on the personality and character and less on the body.

Fear of discovery? Well, there are some people who should not be trusted with any kind of private information, not just my opinion about the human body. There are other people who have earned my trust. They already know I don't like to wear clothes.

I am sure that there are some parents who would be angry if they learned that a nudist was their kid's schoolteacher. And yes, I can imagine a situation where you might lose a job over being a nudist schoolteacher. If you have kids in a few years, it is possible that one of them will accidentally tell a schoolmate that, "We don't wear clothes at home" or some such and this story could get back to the principal of the school where you teach.

You must be convinced that the benefit of raising your kids nude is worth the risk of being called out by the people who have power over your life.

[Aaron Adams]

Thanks to everyone for helping me with my questions. As I mentioned I issues relating to nudity. Part of it relates to how I feel about myself and part of it is religious. I am a Christain and as such find it easy to imagine the condemnation I might recieve if people knew about my interest in nudism. This makes it harder to feel good about nudity. When I read what the Bible says about nudity it is rather easy to focus on the parts of the Bible that are less than positive about nudity. As a Christian I want to base my beliefs on the Bible but its hard to convince myself from the Bible why I think nudity is good whatever the logical arguments in favor of nudity might be, and there are several.

[RIVERRAT]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Aaron Adams:
Thanks to everyone for helping me with my questions. As I mentioned I issues relating to nudity. Part of it relates to how I feel about myself and part of it is religious. I am a Christain and as such find it easy to imagine the condemnation I might recieve if people knew about my interest in nudism. This makes it harder to feel good about nudity. When I read what the Bible says about nudity it is rather easy to focus on the parts of the Bible that are less than positive about nudity. As a Christian I want to base my beliefs on the Bible but its hard to convince myself from the Bible why I think nudity is good whatever the logical arguments in favor of nudity might be, and there are several. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>There is nothing in the bible against nudity, david was nude, the profits when in the profetic state were nude, nudity was a main stay in the old testement, Jesus hung nude on the cross, being nude is not sinful, unless the person is lude or licvios, spelling problem, if you take the time to check you will see there is no mention of nudity being bad in the bible. we have many christian nudist sites. To start write the cheef, cheefs nudist naturist place, A great christian site, also yahoo groups, christian nudist

[Trailscout]

Aaron,

First let's talk about how you feel about body. One of the most helpful things nudists do is help people become comfortable with the body God gave us. If you have been brainwashed by society through the television or movies, you might say, "I am too fat, too thin, too pale, too freckled, too old and wrinkled, too hairy, too bald". Nudists are not perfect, but most of them are a lot more willing to accept you for who you are as a person, and not be so focused on outer beauty. In other words, if you are waiting to lose 10 pounds, grow a beard, get a tan or whatever before you visit a nude beach or resort, please don't! Most of us will be your friend just as you are. Sounds a lot like Christian values, doesn't it? Well, one of the pioneers of American nudism was a Baptist minister, Rev. Ilsey Boone! Many nudists are Christian. There are some awesome Christian nudist Web sites out there that might help answer some of your questions. I belong to a group of Christian nudists that is planning annual gatherings. We had our first weekend gathering last spring and hope to offer another in 2004.

What will others think?
It's easy to let your imagination run wild and go overboard thinking of the opposition you will receive. Nudism is rarely preached from pulpits, but there are more pastors than you might think who understand what nudism is all about and will not kick you out of their church for going natural in some discreet setting.

Space will not permit me to discuss what the Bible has to say about nudity verse by verse, but suffice to say that God started working with the Jews as they were, body shame and all. Some of the verses that seem to condemn nudity are actually condemning nudity for the purpose of adultery. Other passages speak negatively about nudity for economic reasons. Such dire poverty is unhead of in most of America, but there are still places in the world where people cannot afford to buy any clothes at all. That kind of nudity is not sinful, but is a source of embarassment to the poor man who must shiver through another winter. The climate of the Holy Land requires clothes at times.

There are also Bible verses where nudity was ordained by God. Before sin entered the world, mankind was created nude and at the wishes of God lived nude in a splendid garden. After Adam and Eve sinned, nudity was still not forbidden. God never taught that clothing could cover sin. Adam and Eve's desire for clothing was not a healthy need, but was evidence of their fallen nature.

This is but a brief overview of the subject. For more information, please visit: Boyd Allen Web page (http://www.geocities.com/boydallen/)

I have links to other Christian Nudist Web sites and can provide them on request.

[missouriboy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bob S.:
Do not ... send money through the mail. It is illegal in the US.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>It is? /infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif I didn't know that. I often send a bill as a donation to the Disabled American Veterans in a security envelope that they provide for the purpose. I thought the only problem was risk of loss through theft. But they've always acknowledged receipt so far...

[shãybare]

??Illegal?? I don't think so. Unwise? For sure. You have very little (slim to none) recourse if the mail is lost or destroyed or if the person on the other end pockets the money.

[luvnaturism]

It's not illegal to send cash through the mail. It's just not a good idea, because it's too easy for it disappear with no recourse. One can use registered mail, which will assure safety in transit and provide proof of delivery, but that's a bit expensive. Either credit card or check should give you all the privacy you want, unless someone else reads your statements. Then you could use cash to buy a money order or get a cashier's check from the bank.

[luvnaturism]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Aaron Adams:
Thanks to everyone for helping me with my questions. As I mentioned I issues relating to nudity. Part of it relates to how I feel about myself and part of it is religious. I am a Christain and as such find it easy to imagine the condemnation I might recieve if people knew about my interest in nudism. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>First, you are wise to be careful about revealing your interest in naturism to your church. The typical Christian today?and this includes many pastors, particularly if they haven't actually studied the topic?is about 3 inches wide and 1/8 of an inch deep. If you are in a church where the only verse that people know is interpreted literally, it can quickly become harmful.

Second, it's obvious from your comments that you have a lot of personal issues that need to be worked through before you can make a good decision as to whether social nudity is for you or not. It really isn't for everybody.

Getting an INA membership is fine, but my recommendation is that you seek out an opportunity to visit a naturist place?a club, beach, resort, whatever. Once isn't going to hurt you, and it's really the only way to understand what it's like.

[BareDebCNA]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Trailscout:
Aaron,

First let's talk about how you feel about body. One of the most helpful things nudists do is help people become comfortable with the body God gave us. If you have been brainwashed by society through the television or movies, you might say, "I am too fat, too thin, too pale, too freckled, too old and wrinkled, too hairy, too bald". Nudists are not perfect, but most of them are a lot more willing to accept you for who you are as a person, and not be so focused on outer beauty. In other words, if you are waiting to lose 10 pounds, grow a beard, get a tan or whatever before you visit a nude beach or resort, please don't! Most of us will be your friend just as you are. Sounds a lot like Christian values, doesn't it? Well, one of the pioneers of American nudism was a Baptist minister, Rev. Ilsey Boone! Many nudists are Christian. There are some awesome Christian nudist Web sites out there that might help answer some of your questions. I belong to a group of Christian nudists that is planning annual gatherings. We had our first weekend gathering last spring and hope to offer another in 2004.

What will others think?
It's easy to let your imagination run wild and go overboard thinking of the opposition you will receive. Nudism is rarely preached from pulpits, but there are more pastors than you might think who understand what nudism is all about and will not kick you out of their church for going natural in some discreet setting.

Space will not permit me to discuss what the Bible has to say about nudity verse by verse, but suffice to say that God started working with the Jews as they were, body shame and all. Some of the verses that seem to condemn nudity are actually condemning nudity for the purpose of adultery. Other passages speak negatively about nudity for economic reasons. Such dire poverty is unhead of in most of America, but there are still places in the world where people cannot afford to buy any clothes at all. That kind of nudity is not sinful, but is a source of embarassment to the poor man who must shiver through another winter. The climate of the Holy Land requires clothes at times.

There are also Bible verses where nudity was ordained by God. Before sin entered the world, mankind was created nude and at the wishes of God lived nude in a splendid garden. After Adam and Eve sinned, nudity was still not forbidden. God never taught that clothing could cover sin. Adam and Eve's desire for clothing was not a healthy need, but was evidence of their fallen nature.

This is but a brief overview of the subject. For more information, please visit: Boyd Allen Web page (http://www.geocities.com/boydallen/)

I have links to other Christian Nudist Web sites and can provide them on request. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Good website thre Trailscout! I only briefly scanned it and then bookmarked it for further reference (hopefully that was okay). Looks like there is going to be an opportunity for those of us where i live to get together sometime soon. Enough rambling on. Have a great nude day, Deb /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Aaron Adams]

Thanks again for the response to my questions I do have issues to work through related to nudity. I appreciate everyone's willingness to answer my questions and help me with my problems. You have all been a great help to me since I started this topic. My issues are mostly religious in nature. I am not particularly worried about my appearance or anything like that. The main issue with religion is not so much what the Bible says. I have read just about every verse in the Bible even remotely related to nudity. I basically figure that either nudity is a sin or its something that God is giving me to enjoy and to serve him with. The latter just seems to be harder to convince myself of. I do actually like being naked so there seems to be at least a chance that nudism is in fact for me. I hope no one minds my shring this stuff with everyone but you are all really helpful.

[Trailscout]

Aaron, I hope you don't mind my continuing to write about this subject. Let me know if it gets boring and I will let you alone.

Social nudity creates some religious issues for most Christians, no getting around that.

If you can see that the Bible does not condemn nudity in and of itself, and you can see that God's original plan was for humans to be nude, then we can put that discussion aside at this point. The Bible also teaches general principles, things that are not specifically described, but are covered by broader teachings. For instance: the Bible does not forbid smoking cigarettes, but it does teach us to take good care of our bodies for the sake of the Lord. From that principle, I conclude that it would be wise for a Christian not to take up smoking. So then we have to ask, is there some big moral principle in the Bible that would make social nudity a bad idea for Christians?

The answer is not an easy one. Particularly in America, there are people who are highly offended by innocent nudity, there are others who be tempted to lust by the sight of a nude person.
As Christians we do not want to offend people unnecessarily about a lot of things, but having taken steps to avoid controversy, there is only so much that we can reasonably do for others without curtailing the freedom we have in Christ. In other words, if you are on a campout and are skinnydipping in a remote lake where nudity is customary or at a place people are not likely to show up, then if someone does walk up, sees that you are nude, then the burden is on him to look the other way if he is offended. Though, some thoughtful folks take it a step further and step into deeper water or something similar to defuse the situation.
We also work through the court systems and local governments to create places set aside for nudist resorts and beaches for nude bathing.

So nudists usually don't go prancing stark naked down Main Street USA creating shock and awe as they strut along!

At a nudist resort or a nude beach, the social rules are very different.

The first time you see attractive nude young women, you may react with sexual excitement and then feel guilty about it. Don't worry! Eventually you will get used to seeing people in their natural condition. A pretty girl will still seem pretty, but you will retrain your mind not to think about sex simply because someone is nude. It didn't take me long to change. For many nudists, sexual feelings develop when you are in private with your wife (or girlfriend) and you two are getting romantic, kissing and cuddling. I have read some reports of men who gratefully describe how liberating it is to break most of the mental link between nudity and sex.

If we can agree that nudity is not wrong in the proper setting, can we take it a step further and say that God wants us to be nude when possible?

A lot of thoughtful Christians will argue that God does want us to live our lives in the nude and that it honors him when we do so. I'll stop for now, but the subject of nudity as a form of worship deserves more discussion in the future.

[Outlaw]

Hi!-- Big Mac here-

I have a hobby of making up little slogans now and then. Some cute, some funny, and some serious. One that I have seems to fit in this discussion: "To be naked in all ways is to adhere to God's plan."

Works for me!