It Isn't a Sin for Christians to Read Erotica or Watch Films With Nudity
by John Solomon

DO YOU FEEL GUILTY WHEN LOOKING AT NUDITY?
Many Christians believe that looking at images of nudity is sinful. They argue that images of naked women are harmful because they tempt men to commit the sin of lust. Using Biblical principles, John Solomon argues that Christians can look at images of nudity in photos and films and not be guilty of any sin.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LOOKING AT NUDITY IS A SIN?
Supported with references from the Bible, John Solomon presents solid arguments why it isn't a sin to look at images of nudity in films. This book doesn't advocate hardcore porn, or sexually-explicit pornography, but rather photos and films with tasteful displays of non-sexual nudity.

Introduction.
The Pitfall of Puritan Morality.
Erotic Poetry Isn’t Always Trash.
Nudity in the Garden of Eden.
Is it Sinful to go to a Nude Beach?
Nudity in the Bible.
What is Natural Nudity?
A Proper Definition of Lust.
Is it a Sin to Masturbate?
A Proper Definition of Pornography.
Why it isn’t a Sin to Look at Nudity.
Good Nudity, Bad Nudity, Gray Nudity.
Familiarity with Nudity.
What about Tempting Yourself to Lust?
King David’s Major Mistake.
Be Content With Your Wife.
Answers to Arguments Against Nudity.
What would Paul say about Nudity?
Is it a Sin for a Woman to Pose Nude?
Summary of Key Concepts.
Final Thoughts about Non-Sexual Nudity.
A Proper Definition of Marriage.
A Proper Definition of Pre-Marital Sex.
What About Sex Scenes in Hollywood Films?
Are Hard-core or Soft-core Films OK to Watch?

I have written this book to argue why it isn’t a sin to watch films with tasteful displays of nudity. Specifically, I hope to free men from needless guilt in looking at images of non-sexual nudity, and to establish proper parameters for such viewing. I will also answer common arguments Christians have against looking at nudity. Please note that I do not endorse watching hard-core (sexually explicit) XXX films.
>>When I became a Christian I didn’t watch films with nudity. I was afraid that I would be guilty of the sin of lust. If you abstain from looking at nudity because you believe it is sinful, I respect the boundaries you have placed in your life. I do not believe it is a sin for you to do so, but this may not be the right time in your life to exercise this freedom. We all have certain weaknesses, and if you believe that looking at nudity will have a negative effect on you, then you would be wise to maintain those boundaries so you don’t fall into sexual sin.
>>In discussing the morality of looking at images of nudity, I will first answer the objections of Christians who believe that it is sinful to read, write, or publish erotic poetry. If you aren’t persuaded by what I have to say about nudity, I hope you will be convinced that you are free before God to read and write erotic poems, assuming they are written within proper moral boundaries.
>>To my knowledge, there is no Christian book on the market that argues in favour of watching films with tasteful displays of non-sexual nudity. Many non-Christians will feel that this book is too conservative. Many Bible-believing Christians will feel I am too liberal, despite the fact that my arguments are based upon Biblical principles from Genesis and the Song of Solomon.
>>For those Christians who believe that I am too liberal, I hope you will keep an open mind, and still be able to affirm the chapters of this book that you do agree with. It is my hope that anyone who reads this book, whether Christian or non-Christian, will learn something new that will add to their understanding about nudity.
>>Although this book is written from a man’s perspective, the principles I present about nudity can be equally applied to women.

In writing this book, it is my greatest hope to change men and women’s minds not only about nudity, but also Puritan morality. When I became a Christian, I was indoctrinated with Puritan beliefs about sin.
>>Historically, Puritans were a Protestant sect in England during the 17th century. They dressed in black clothing and declared many cultural activities to be sinful including dancing, playing sports on Sunday, attending court masques, and watching stage plays. They believed that stained glass windows and statues of Mary in churches were evil and should be destroyed. As an official religious denomination they no longer exist today. However, the Puritan practice of forming rigid beliefs about morality is still common in 21st century Christendom.
>>A Puritan is someone who believes something to be a sin that was never a sin in the Bible. In an effort to please God, Puritans cut off anything from their lives that they believe is sinful or a waste of time. This may include dancing in night clubs, listening to secular music, drinking alcohol, or watching films with nudity or violence in them. Puritans abstain from these things with sincerity and integrity, believing that God will be pleased with them and bless them if they do. In fact, many Puritans believe they will experience more of God’s power and blessings if they cut off these so-called “unholy things” from their lives.
>>Puritan morality is often promoted by Christian pastors today. Sunday sermons are filled with exhortations to live with purity, righteousness, and holiness. As a result, Christians become afraid of doing the slightest thing that might be sinful or displeasing to God, and needlessly cut off every gray area from their lives. However, Puritan morality is rooted in an unhealthy fear of God, or out of fear of committing a sin, rather than a true understanding of what right and wrong really are.
>>Purity, righteousness, and holiness are Biblical words, and I agree that Christians should strive not to sin, but these terms can be wrongly interpreted, and used to put a heavy yoke of rigid morality upon people. It is one thing to choose for yourself not to drink beer or wine, watch certain movies, or listen to secular music, but to exhort (and even force) other Christians to follow this man-made morality is wrong. Those who do so are acting like the Pharisees.
>>Like the Pharisees, Puritans are very concerned with outward appearances. True righteousness isn’t about outward things; e.g. what you eat, drink, listen to, or watch on TV, but rather about loving God, and loving people, not only with your words, but also by your actions.
>>Puritans suffer from what the Bible refers to as a weak conscience. 1 Corinthians 8:10; “for if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the CONSCIENCE of him who is WEAK be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?” A Christian with a weak conscience feels guilty about things he shouldn’t. He believes many things are sinful (like food sacrificed to idols) when in reality they are not. Their feelings of guilt do not come from God, but rather from a weak conscience that has been indoctrinated by Puritan sermons about sin.