# Nude Praying. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975 "2019-11-04T02:56:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/21 "2019-11-04T15:10:42Z")
Jesus prayed while on the cross (“Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit”) and He was naked while being crucified, so there is some kind of precedent. I am not aware of any Scriptural reference of anybody praying while on the toilet. Jesus is depicted with a loincloth during His crucifixion because people don’t like to think of the shame of being executed while naked. I heard from one source that men sometimes developed an erection while being crucified (I am at work and can’t search for a cite) from the blood collecting in the lower half of the body. Being naked was part of the humiliation of crucifixion, especially for first-century Jews. But IMHO I don’t think God cares what you are wearing. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says “pray constantly” or “pray without ceasing”, which AFAICT means “stick to it” rather than “pray every waking moment”, so I suppose praying while on the toilet would be included. I mean, why not? God is perfectly well aware that you poop. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/22 "2019-11-04T15:18:13Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Jesus is depicted with a loincloth during His crucifixion because people don’t like to think of the shame of being executed while naked. It’s not unique to Jesus: all martyrs are depicted with at least a loincloth (if female, also a breastband). God is everywhere. That includes among the pots and kettles, and also in the shower and on the porcelain throne. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/23 "2019-11-04T15:21:17Z")
It’s not that you were naked on the pot that God was concerned about … it was the fact that you may have been eliminating waste material. He wouldn’t want to compete with that. About praying naked … under the covers on a cold morning is a nice way to pray … How else would the Holy Spirit get all of your attention. You know why church choirs wear choir robes, right? So they don’t take the Holy Spirit home with them … ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/24 "2019-11-04T15:22:28Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > if you believe in an all knowing, all powerful god, it knows what you look like naked and can see you naked any time it wants to. It’s not about your nakedness, the big guy knows how you feel about it, so if you’re uncomfortable with your nakedness and you wouldn’t talk to other people while you were naked then you are dissing your god when you talk to her naked. If you were a nudist normally not wearing clothes, and grateful for the natural body you believe the higher power gave you then you’d be disrespectful if you put clothes on when you beg the backward dog for favors. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/25 "2019-11-04T15:25:01Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > Certainly not an odd question from a traditional Jewish point of view, where one is not supposed to speak or read or even think about anything Torah-related while using the toilet. There’s a prayer you’re supposed to say if you accidentally did something like that. Covers farting while praying too. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/26 "2019-11-04T15:38:48Z")
The question is one in terms of respect of God and usually by man’s standards. I’ve heard preachers say one should be properly or at least appropriately attired when one comes to God. Thus some may have issues while praying and on the bowl at the same time. But with all things of God, it’s a matter of the heart, And as such all that serves to do is nothing. Actually we do learn something by such instructions. While such instructions are really meaningless to God, they are instructive to us - they are ‘training wheels’, or perhaps a better terms is a training bra that really does nothing except prepares us for something to come. They teach us to come before God in an appropriate manner in our hearts. That’s hard for us to understand - and many don’t, especially here. God knows this but also knows we can understand to dress appropriately when coming to Him, so by doing one, when one understands the ‘heart’, they can transfer that learning and come appropatly before God in their heart. This is what the Apostle Paul talks about that all food is clean, but if if eating that food will cause a fellow believer trouble, abstain from eating it while that brother is present as not to cause him to stumble. You can pray naked but if that causes trouble for another believer, one should not pray ina . way to cause that person to stumble, as they need those guidelines for their faith at this time. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/27 "2019-11-04T16:12:21Z")
I agree with _Beckdawrek_. God created you nekkid, so He knows what you look like. It’s all the same to Him. If you’re sincere in your heart, that’s all that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/28 "2019-11-04T16:30:40Z")
[Pray Naked](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r9CNE49054) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/29 "2019-11-04T16:32:59Z")
Jesus didn’t have a choice. The point of wearing a hat, or dressing in any way, is to be respectful to God. Not that God doesn’t know what your naked body looks like. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/30 "2019-11-04T16:36:47Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > It’s not that you were naked on the pot that God was concerned about … it was the fact that you may have been eliminating waste material. He wouldn’t want to compete with that… Yep–ol’ YHVH [has a real thing about seeing poo](https://robertcargill.com/2013/05/02/still-one-of-the-oddest-biblical-commands-cover-your-poo-because-god-might-step-in-it/). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/31 "2019-11-04T16:45:35Z")
What if you’re using a men’s room toilet, just happen to pick up a picture of Jesus off the floor, and then realize there’s no toilet paper on the roll. [Kinky Friedman](https://genius.com/Kinky-friedman-mens-room-la-lyrics) has it covered. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/32 "2019-11-04T16:48:53Z")
LOL ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/33 "2019-11-04T16:58:49Z")
> [@Job 1:21](#): > > And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Seems to about cover it. So to speak. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/34 "2019-11-04T17:07:39Z")
Exodus 20:26 > [@](#): > > And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it. As I understand it, the ancient Israelites wore kilts. They did not wear underwear. It was considered bad manners to flash the altar when you were worshiping. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/35 "2019-11-04T17:53:00Z")
I think, hope, and even pray that it still is considered bad manners to flash the altar when you are worshiping. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/36 "2019-11-04T19:12:17Z")
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV) [16] Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Even if you take the “pray without ceasing” to mean “never give up on praying,” you still need to give thanks in all circumstances, which might include times when you were naked. So I can’t see how it is possible to be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/37 "2019-11-04T21:24:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s not about your nakedness, the big guy knows how you feel about it, so if you’re uncomfortable with your nakedness and you wouldn’t talk to other people while you were naked then you are dissing your god when you talk to her naked. If you were a nudist normally not wearing clothes, and grateful for the natural body you believe the higher power gave you then you’d be disrespectful if you put clothes on when you beg the backward dog for favors. I’m perfectly comfortable with my nakedness, but my wife excepted, I put on clothes when talking with other people because by and large, _they_’d be uncomfortable if I didn’t. The Lord, OTOH, sees and knows everything about me, yet loves me totally and unreservedly. It doesn’t matter to him whether I’m clothed or naked, or even on the john, when I’m making room in my heart for his presence. The important thing is that I do that. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/38 "2019-11-04T23:59:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Look at how much trouble Ham got into for seeing his father’s penis. Now just imagine what would happen to all of us if we saw God’s penis. “Saw his father’s nakedness” doesn’t literally mean Ham saw his father naked; it’s likely a euphemism for incest that Ham either committed with one of Noah’s wives (his stepmother) or Noah himself. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/39 "2019-11-05T01:00:03Z")
I’m sure that when I was a teenager I prayed for some female company when I was nekkid. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975/40 "2019-11-05T01:08:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > There’s a prayer you’re supposed to say if you accidentally did something like that. Covers farting while praying too. That is not entirely accurate. There is a prayer said after using (and leaving) the bathroom, but it’s unrelated to studying Torah or praying in the bathroom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nude-praying/842975.md?page=3)