Wednesday, May 2, 2007

God and cocktails

For Islam, consumption of alcohol is strictly forbidden. The Koran explains (5:91) that intoxication leads to fighting and would make persons forget their prayers. Buddhism discourages alcohol for the reason that salvation depends on a focused and clear mind (the fifth precept). Mormons don't drink either (following a health code called the Word of Wisdom written by Joseph Smith in 1833). In Christianity alcohol is forbidden by many sects (Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses) but allowed by others. And alcohol consumption is not forbidden in the Bible. (Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine not grape juice - John 2.) Many Christian churches in the United States originally allied with the temperance movement (Baptists, Methodists) have relaxed their rules following the failure of Prohibition in the 1920s. Judaism also allows drinking (and practically requires it on Purim where the instruction is to drink until you can no longer tell the difference between "Cursed is Haman and Blessed is Mordechai") but there are specific Kosher regulations concerning the production of wine.

God wants us to be joyful and to make life joyful for others. Mild intoxication, whether from alcohol or many other substances can lead in the direction of happiness and socialability. Although drunkeness can lead to dangers, drinking doesn't always lead to fighting and forgetting our prayers. If a person can enjoy alcohol without harming himself or others I see no religious reason to forbid it.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

WHAT?! Who have you been listening too?!

Jehovah's Witnesses are allowed to drink alcohol if they choose; its a personal choice and not forbidden! Now you know drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom, so that's where we draw the line...

A practicing unrepentant Alcoholic we have no room for.... A NON - practicer who recognizes they have a problem and they are working on it (or is abstaining) is another story and can be assisted to behave! Why we just had the Memorial of Christ's Death (Nisan 14 or April 2) and wine was used...

So we agree; alcohol can be used without harming oneself or others. Balance is the key ;^)

Rick Hoyt-McDaniels said...

i stand corrected.

Here's a link to an article from the official Jehovah's Witnesses website about alcohol use and abuse. I completely agree with their position.