This is of particular interest to me as I live in the USA
and turn 21 next month!!!I need to know who I may be potentially offending.
Thanks!
Alcohol: Yes or No?
Moderator: Moderators
Alcohol: Yes or No?
Post #1This is something I've always wondered...some Christians say they do not drink alcohol because it is against their religion, and some Christians can drink my atheist friends under the table! For my reference, is there an official stance on alcohol in Christianity?
This is of particular interest to me as I live in the USA and turn 21 next month!!!
I need to know who I may be potentially offending.
Thanks!
This is of particular interest to me as I live in the USA
and turn 21 next month!!!I need to know who I may be potentially offending.
Thanks!
-
Divine Insight
- Savant
- Posts: 18070
- Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:59 pm
- Location: Here & Now
- Been thanked: 19 times
Post #2
According to the Gospels Jesus turned water into wine.
How could any Christian claim that drinking alcohol is a sin?
They would be demanding that Jesus himself was a sinner.
How could any Christian claim that drinking alcohol is a sin?
They would be demanding that Jesus himself was a sinner.
[center]
Spiritual Growth - A person's continual assessment
of how well they believe they are doing
relative to what they believe a personal God expects of them.
[/center]
Spiritual Growth - A person's continual assessment
of how well they believe they are doing
relative to what they believe a personal God expects of them.
[/center]
-
Goat
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 24999
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:09 pm
- Has thanked: 25 times
- Been thanked: 207 times
Re: Alcohol: Yes or No?
Post #3Sntrose wrote: This is something I've always wondered...some Christians say they do not drink alcohol because it is against their religion, and some Christians can drink my atheist friends under the table! For my reference, is there an official stance on alcohol in Christianity?
This is of particular interest to me as I live in the USA
I need to know who I may be potentially offending.
Thanks!
It seems to me that what is warned against is drinking in excess. Now, that is a good bit of advice.. excessive intoxication is not healthy, and can cause problems if you are with people who don't have good sense, or are not as ethical as you thought they were.
“What do you think science is? There is nothing magical about science. It is simply a systematic way for carefully and thoroughly observing nature and using consistent logic to evaluate results. So which part of that exactly do you disagree with? Do you disagree with being thorough? Using careful observation? Being systematic? Or using consistent logic?�
Steven Novella
Steven Novella
Post #4
[Replying to Divine Insight]
According to those I know that abstain, it's like playing with fire. In other words, so many bad things happen when people are drunk...is it worth it to even tempt yourself? They also say that in those times, water wasn't safe to drink, so that makes it okay.
I'm not sure they call it a sin...but it does seem like most churches frown upon alcohol in any form/amount. I'd just like to confirm this theory.
In an aside - I personally find it interesting that we can go back and look at Jesus changing water into wine, and say that since times have changed, it may no longer be applicable. I think it's a great first step for some people to realize that perhaps the Bible needs to be read within context, and you cannot take it word-for-word. But that leads to another discussion altogether...which would need to be posted another place, correct?
According to those I know that abstain, it's like playing with fire. In other words, so many bad things happen when people are drunk...is it worth it to even tempt yourself? They also say that in those times, water wasn't safe to drink, so that makes it okay.
I'm not sure they call it a sin...but it does seem like most churches frown upon alcohol in any form/amount. I'd just like to confirm this theory.
In an aside - I personally find it interesting that we can go back and look at Jesus changing water into wine, and say that since times have changed, it may no longer be applicable. I think it's a great first step for some people to realize that perhaps the Bible needs to be read within context, and you cannot take it word-for-word. But that leads to another discussion altogether...which would need to be posted another place, correct?
-
Goat
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 24999
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:09 pm
- Has thanked: 25 times
- Been thanked: 207 times
Post #5
Sntrose wrote: [Replying to Divine Insight]
According to those I know that abstain, it's like playing with fire. In other words, so many bad things happen when people are drunk...is it worth it to even tempt yourself? They also say that in those times, water wasn't safe to drink, so that makes it okay.
I'm not sure they call it a sin...but it does seem like most churches frown upon alcohol in any form/amount. I'd just like to confirm this theory.
In an aside - I personally find it interesting that we can go back and look at Jesus changing water into wine, and say that since times have changed, it may no longer be applicable. I think it's a great first step for some people to realize that perhaps the Bible needs to be read within context, and you cannot take it word-for-word. But that leads to another discussion altogether...which would need to be posted another place, correct?
Hum. If you look at the sacrament in the RCC, part of it is using drinking just a tiny bit of wine.
I personally think some people just like to take all the fun out of life.
“What do you think science is? There is nothing magical about science. It is simply a systematic way for carefully and thoroughly observing nature and using consistent logic to evaluate results. So which part of that exactly do you disagree with? Do you disagree with being thorough? Using careful observation? Being systematic? Or using consistent logic?�
Steven Novella
Steven Novella
Post #6
.
[youtube][/youtube]
I would hate to miss all that fun...Goat wrote: I personally think some people just like to take all the fun out of life.
[youtube][/youtube]
"I believe in no religion. There is absolutely no proof for any of them, and from a philosophical standpoint Christianity is not even the best. All religions, that is, all mythologies to give them their proper name, are merely man’s own invention..."
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
Post #7
[Replying to post 5 by Goat]
Agreed...
Also, sad that some people think that you must be kept in a rigid box or you'll go flying out of control. I'm pretty sure the only people I've seen go absolutely crazy with just a little alcohol are those who have never had it. Because they weren't allowed to.
I think that most people are capable of finding a good balance.
Agreed...
Also, sad that some people think that you must be kept in a rigid box or you'll go flying out of control. I'm pretty sure the only people I've seen go absolutely crazy with just a little alcohol are those who have never had it. Because they weren't allowed to.
I think that most people are capable of finding a good balance.
Post #8
[Replying to post 6 by olavisjo]
They were probably having fun at the time! It's just the next day that's so bad.....
Hence the need for discernment on whether or not it's worth the next day. Takes practice, right?
They were probably having fun at the time! It's just the next day that's so bad.....
Hence the need for discernment on whether or not it's worth the next day. Takes practice, right?
Post #9
.
No one sets out to be an alcoholic or drug addict, it just happens when you least expect it. Main ingredient is "it can't happen to me because I do it responsibly".Sntrose wrote: Hence the need for discernment on whether or not it's worth the next day. Takes practice, right?
"I believe in no religion. There is absolutely no proof for any of them, and from a philosophical standpoint Christianity is not even the best. All religions, that is, all mythologies to give them their proper name, are merely man’s own invention..."
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis
Post #10
[Replying to post 9 by olavisjo]
This is true. But I do not think that people become addicts just because of alcohol itself. That would be based on surrounding factors. Does drinking a little alcohol (such as a glass of wine with dinner, or a drink or two with friends on the weekend) really make you more prone to being an alcoholic?
I think alcoholism, and similar addictions, occur only when life becomes difficult, and the person decides not to face the issues head on, but to hide. No one plans on having problems. They just happen. The way we respond to them defines us. But, I do not think that if you have Bob who drinks no alcohol, and Jerry who loves alcohol put in the same situation, that Jerry would necessarily be more prone to become addicted to alcohol than Bob would be.
This is true. But I do not think that people become addicts just because of alcohol itself. That would be based on surrounding factors. Does drinking a little alcohol (such as a glass of wine with dinner, or a drink or two with friends on the weekend) really make you more prone to being an alcoholic?
I think alcoholism, and similar addictions, occur only when life becomes difficult, and the person decides not to face the issues head on, but to hide. No one plans on having problems. They just happen. The way we respond to them defines us. But, I do not think that if you have Bob who drinks no alcohol, and Jerry who loves alcohol put in the same situation, that Jerry would necessarily be more prone to become addicted to alcohol than Bob would be.
