Ritual Nudity in History and Religion - Ronald Hutton

This lecture looks at the role played by nudity in European religion and magic from ancient times to the present, with some reference to a global context.
It reveals the unexpected pattern and explains why it has been marginal to religion, except in initiation ceremonies, but very important in magical practices.
This lecture was recorded by Ronald Hutton on 6th March 2024 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London
Ronald is Gresham Professor of Divinity.
He is also Professor of History at the University of Bristol.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/r...
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[@khaledadams4329]

Nothing gets my attention like a lesson on the weirdness of our past with Professor Hutton.

[@sugarpuddin]

He speaks with authority yet has no experience. Like a professor of business who never built or run an actual business.

[@lizb2637]

Yeah why isn’t he 1000 years old or have a Time Machine, then he could have experience with the past cultures he speaks with such authority about! Lol

[@kp6215]

Me Too 😁

[@khaledadams4329]

@St.Buddha_Brahman-Sun_of_Light Very true. :)

[@unclemontypython]

Ronald is one of the hardest-working men in his field, and to be gifted with a fresh hour of him talking is always a pure delight. National treasure.

[@HLBear]

International treasure. 😊❤

[@unclemontypython]

@@HLBear You are quite correct!

[@inregionecaecorum]

As I have said before, never a dull moment in his lectures.

[@missbornlucky6676]

listening to Professor Hutton's lecture has always been and will always be a delight for me

[@louisemay974]

Thank you Gresham College. Another marvellous Professor Hutton talk, the man is indeed a national treasure - just wonderful.

[@sosukelele]

Unfortunately I am obligated to watch all of Professor Hutton's lectures to see if he ever misses. Yet to witness it

[@reversefulfillment9189]

We have a large nude beach in Vancouver. I always loved going there and being amongst a thousand people just enjoying the sun and being free. The kind of people that show up there are a unique breed, 👌

[@josephturner7569]

Granny Weatherwax had very definite views on this kind of thing.

[@paganbaby7777]

With quite a few remarks concerning the weather, nettles and the occasional hedgehog

[@aprilcalhoun8984]

I do miss Granny

[@josephturner7569]

@@paganbaby7777 And you know what they say about hedgehogs.

[@josephturner7569]

@@aprilcalhoun8984 And her alter ego 😞. But, you know. The Creators final message. (No. Not that one 🙄).

[@logiclust]

it's amazing how prudish people have become

[@minui8758]

Ok the bit on the initiation of ritual for early Xian Baptism is beyond fascinating!

[@NathanDudani]

XPian

[@minui8758]

@@NathanDudani I guess if we were being very pedantic it’d be ☧ian. But given the chi rho isn’t on most keyboards and everyone knows the meaning Xian is the standard abbreviation

[@GavinM161]

Truly interesting lecture on something I had no particular interest in. Bravo Professor Hutton.

[@jamiegallier2106]

Always an interesting discussion with Professor Hutton.

[@gunkwretch3697]

One tradition he missed, from ancient Greece, see "The Liturgy of Love" translated by Dr John Opsopaus, referring to the teachings of Philotes, daughter of Aphrodite... but then Greeks had other orgiastic traditions with Dionysus too... This is like Greek Tantra in some ways.

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

Very interesting lecture. Thank you.

[@user-fh6ov3wl4h]

This is such a great sociological analysis

[@frankshifreen]

great lecture

[@thishandleistacken]

In the tradition I was in for many years (one which pre-dates Wicca but greatly inspired it and which Gardener was familiar with, the O.T.O.) a particular initiation involves going nude then being given the robe of the Order (which is handmade by the initiate before attending the ceremony).

[@alexzicker]

more people should go on holiday to the Brazilian beaches

[@deadsteve2180]

Love is the Law! Love under Will.

[@myparceltape1169]

A woman seen broadcasting seed for the next year is described as a witch. The witness must have wanted some of that crop.

[@sarahlynn7807]

Very interesting!

[@JCResDoc94]

gr8 questions tonite. gr8 lecture. _JC

[@16252]

great thanks

[@tracyrupp4882]

Aversion to nudity is a societal construct which has not served us well, creating an unnecessary barrier between two-legged beings and the natural world. The book "A Brief History of Nakedness" is a lovely visual jaunt for those who value the sky-clad state. (Poor Conan - a lot to give up for his chosen discipline).

[@djquinn11]

Not if you live in a northern climate like I do.

[@user-gl5dq2dg1j]

Conan actually wore clothes and armor in most of the stories. It was rare he didn't and it usually revolved around being shipwrecked or other disaster that destroyed his clothes.

[@DeathRayGraphics]

Was there ever a more click-baity piece of art than "Magical Nudity"?

[@cmcg9035]

Thank you for the lecture. I don't know what went on in Louisiana in the 1872, but Voodoo today does not contain magical nudity during services. There isn't the parallel with Wicca there.

[@kp6215]

I was invited to a nudist camp in 1977 had no embarrassment of no clothes but the men couldn't stop staring at me that I thought was reason why the men started these places for men's benefit never allow women power still in 2024.

[@MendocinoMotorenWerk]

I clickbaited myself by reading royal nudity instead of ritual nudity :-) when glancing across the subscriptions page

[@caitgems1]

"You dirty old man" ~Harold Steptoe

[@theseustoo]

Hmmm... the original 'Olympic Games' were all performed nude... and were offered as a sacrifice to Zeus. So I suppose this can be seen as a form of ritual nudity, offered as worship.

[@alistairmackintosh9412]

Originally dedicated to Hera.

[@theseustoo]

Lol! "Conan the Bashful!" I'd love to see a movie by a young Arnold Schwartzenegger playing the lead role... And maybe Sophia Loren playing the female lead... Or Raquel Welch... Or Ursula Andress... or Elke Sommer... or... or... well... the list of candidates is very long. There were a lot of beautiful women around at that time. I'd have loved to be the casting director for such a movie! 😉

[@jeffgrove1389]

The experience of nudity in nature and even more so at night takes you out of the “human” and gives you a closer approximation of an appreciation of each and everyone’s animality. In discarding the encoding inbuilt in the clothes you are wearing are laid aside. On another note - weren’t the original Olympic Games actually contested nude? Wasn’t this offering of your effort a religious offering.

[@ScooterFXRS]

As a male I absolutely believe in magical nudity and when one finds it in mutual attraction, affection, and state of being in love.

[@Mario-zn2fg]

😊

[@michaelbasher]

😊2

[@dshe8637]

How ridiculous

[@Smoug]

@@dshe8637 silence normie

[@jarrettperdue3328]

Next lecture: "How Ronald Got His Groove Back"?

[@eldraque4556]

and it just so happened we had the key!

[@hanbeihood3202]

Wonder what word(s) the Greeks of antiquity used for worship/religious rites

[@theseustoo]

I hope the professor has recovered from the cold he seems to be suffering from... one cannot help but wonder how he caught it... personal research, perhaps? 🤔

[@VJacquette]

What about sky-clad Jains? It's not ritualistic, but the men are supposed to be nude for religious/spiritual purposes.

[@migranthawker2952]

For "Ritual" swap "we don't really know"!!!!

[@Mai-Gninwod]

I know this man's mouth sounds more than my own mother's voice

[@HeerHalewijn]

Why start with ahistorical Wiccan practices?

[@gradyratliff2034]

Ordo...templi....oriensis...😊

[@maxsonthonax1020]

What's the deal with Magical Nudity!

[@erickent4248]

I guess there is not much evidence historically, but it felt like this speech was 90% conjecture.

[@wolfa5151]

Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool. ( Mark Twain)

[@carlosgaspar8447]

quotes were invented when the first tossed stone became the first tool.

[@hermitthefrog8951]

More likely they're just a bit randy.....

[@dieterschonefeld7428]

You are always serious and of interest, however on this one You are "out biking" so to speak.

[@life42theuniverse]

A ritual of spring fertility now Easter.

[@HLBear]

Oestara, aka spring equinox.

[@hansleijonmarck9768]

"Engineering is as close you can come to Magic." Elon Musk

[@dogglebird4430]

Nudity has its place. In fact, it has two places - 1. in the bath; and 2. in the shower. Let's keep it that way.

[@ValeriePoynter]

The Victorians would shutter and pass out.

[@roughout]

There is nothing wholesome about public nudity. Public and common nudity robes the sanctity reserved for husband and wife private relationships. We see increasing acceptance and it represents our degrading society.

[@HLBear]

Thank you for sharing your own religious mores. Now, please listen and learn about history, and other religions' beliefs. He discusses the place of nudity in early Christianity, so it may be worth your while to listen.

[@dogglebird4430]

@@HLBear I am an atheist and I agree with him.

[@rhwinner]

I am against nudity of all kinds.

[@thesmallerhalf1968]

Do you know why?

[@keithklassen5320]

That explains the smell, lol.

[@gordonbartlett1921]

You must have seen yourself in the mirror.

[@ValeriePoynter]

​@@gordonbartlett1921😂

[@fburton8]

How many kinds of nudity are there??

[@dshe8637]

This kind of nonsense brings ridicule on the reputation of Gresham College.

[@peterkiedron8949]

Nonsense

[@HLBear]

Lots of other things to watch if history of human activity isn't your thing. :)

[@dshe8637]

This is presented as history, but it is really a niche and personal opinion based in superstition and occult nonsense

[@Smoug]

@@dshe8637braindead take