One reason our society teaches us to wear clothes is so that we do not offend others. Do you ever stop to think about that much? Do you ever wonder why simple nudity would offend another? How does it offend them, and why? Why does it offend them? More importantly, should it offend them?
I guess the answers to these questions vary. In general though, maybe such a person believes the other various lies that the majority (our society) continually spouts. Continually associating nudity with sex, perversity, hedonism, etc. -- anything except health. Continually accepting others based more on appearance than character. Continually promoting the idea of "the perfect body" -- that everyone should have one, and if you do not, then others will not accept you as much or at all. No wonder many people feel they need to "fix" their (perceived) flaws, even with plastic surgery. No wonder some suffer from bulimia, anorexia, and other eating disorders. No wonder people *fear* nudity, and no wonder nudity offends people.
As it is, the perceived flaws generally come because people compare themselves with what they think is better. In my opinion, when you learn to accept others and yourself, in spite of appearances, you are better off. In fact, I believe this would even help eliminate such things as bulimia, anorexia, etc. and help lessen the need for face lifts, boob jobs, tummy tucks, etc.
The truth is, when you go nude regularly with others, you realize many good things. You realize how good it is to accept "normal" bodies, and you realize how good it is to accept others based more on character than appearance. As you step into nudism, or a nudist environment, you quickly realize the human body comes in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and conditions. You realize no one is exactly like another; you realize our uniqueness, and individuality. You realize how diverse, interesting and fun life is. If you associate nudity mostly with sex, then you quickly realize another relationship. That is, you realize simple nudity is not sexual. Best of all, you realize just how important all of this is, because, as Jesus said, "When you know the truth, it sets you free."
As an aside, one reason nudity offends people is their fear of genitals getting special attention. While this may occur initially or for those who do not usually see genitals, the the irony of nudism/naturism is, when you get used to seeing the whole body nude, you will pay less attention to those parts, and notice whole bodies more instead. You just begin to realize each part as "normal" and acceptable, and you realize no part deserves any more attention than any other part.
So what does all this really mean anyway? When a nude body offends you, to me, you are showing your attitude about it. Is it the right attitude? Should you be offended? Lets say you see someone mowing their lawn in the nude, or watching TV nude, or reading a book in the nude, or swimming nude, or engaging in any other non-sexual activity in the nude, should it offend you? If so, why? Why not rather allow such freedom? Do you think nude bodies offend the Lord, or nature? As it is, when a nude body offends someone, that person is, in affect, judging God's creation as offensive, unacceptable, and possibly perverted or only sexual. Maybe such a person is ashamed of their body. Does any of this honor the Lord? Does any of this honor your body, or the bodies of others, God's gifts to us? More importantly, who should be offended? That is, do you think your attitude might offend the Lord? (See Isaiah 5:20, Matthew 6:25-30, Luke 12:22-28.) How about those who go nude?
I admit, this attitude does in deed offend many nudists, including myself. What is more offensive is that those who hold such attitudes force everyone else to agree with them -- by forcing everyone to wear clothes unnecessarily. Now, instead of clothing yourself for the right reasons (e.g. when you are cold), everyone learns to clothe themselves for all the wrong reasons, e.g. fear, shame, sexualizing of the body, and even because it offends others. In the end, nudists may in deed clothe themselves so as not to offend another, but it is definitely not because they agree. In addition, in my opinion, if anyone should be offended, it should be nudists, because they are the ones being wrongly judged and forced to comply with everyone else.
So, instead of allowing another's nude body to offend you, how about accepting their nudity as "normal," and even good? How about allowing such freedom without judgment? More importantly, how about you agree with the Lord? As we read in Genesis 1:31, "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good," and in 1 Timothy 4:4, "Everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving..." (NIV). At the very least, consider this... When something offends you, you judge not only the thing that offends you, but also yourself...because you're stating how you feel or what you believe. So, the next time nudity offends you, ask yourself why. Ask, why does it offend me? More importantly, should it? What does it say about you?