[FITZ]

Americans are theological fools when it comes to nudity.

Like it or not this country was influenced from the very beginning by the Puritans and early Protestants --- we got their kind of morality, their work ethic, their attitudes toward cleanliness, sexual restraint etc --- and we became the strongest country in the entire world ---- way out ahead of all the others with their looser morals, and more decadent ways.

[rwfromkansas]

Actually, the Puritans were not near as restrained as we think they were; in fact, one man was excommunicated from his church in Boston for refusing to have sex with his wife. Heck, the Pilgrims criticized the Puritans because of their flashy clothes. They did not wear drab black and white like we think. It was only the Pilgrims who wore such austere clothing.

Many houses only had one big room, so kids often would hear their parents having sex etc. The parents would explain to the kids that sex was for adults who were married; the topic of sex was not ignored. It is unfortunate that the true Puritan is only now being realized by scholars, and today's kids are still being taught the old myths of these repressed bunch of fanatics.

And though things like sodomy and adultery were capitol crimes, rarely did they actually result in such a severe punishment. The Puritans were of the mindset that if one confessed and repented, they should have a lesser sentence. Suggest that today and one would be branded a lefty!

[rwfromkansas]

But, getting back to the discussion at hand, the Puritans believed in enjoying sex within Biblical confines.

Exposing a boob in public and loose dancing would definitely not qualify.