Are pie eating contests ok?

[jimmy]

First of all there is no joy in a pie eating contest because it is participation in a sin of Gluttony. There is joy in eating a piece of pie and thanking god for his blessing, but not stuffing your face with as much pie as possible, nor is there joy in the consequences of such a sin (such as an upset stomach that comes from eating to much to fast and having too much sugar).

Because you find no joy in it doesn’t mean others find no joy in it. It’s a contest, and it can be fun to be in a contest, and yes, there can be a certain joy in it.

Second, what makes it gluttony? I think you are stretching the definition of gluttony; a pie eating contest is a game, it is a contest. It isn’t about a form of greed for food. Simply because it involves eating a lot doesn’t make it gluttony.

Do you believe the Saints where filled with joy? I see that you are Maronite, do you think St Sharbel was full of joy as a hermit? Joy is not found in worldliness but in the peace of Christ and the joy of serving him.

I would certainly say they were full of joy, but they didn’t reduce life to a series of laws. They chose a certain lifestyle, not because every other lifestyle is sinful, but because that is the life they were called to and that is what led them to God. It isn’t necessary that you live in chains (literally) like St. Sharbel. Or on a pillar like the stylites. Or to even fast like Gregory the Great.

People need to be able to stop and just enjoy life as it is. Enjoy a baseball game, or a good meal, or time with friends. It isn’t necessary to have some other motive in mind other than the baseball game, or the meal, or your love of friends.

Maronites have no qualms about enjoying themselves in simple situations of life. Food is a large part of the Lebanese culture, and Maronites have no problem enjoying it. They are generally very lighthearted people in a lot of ways.

Right recreation (such as ball games) are fine in moderation but where we spend our time is a moral issue. If you have the time perhaps you can listen to this short homily on redeeming the time (it is about 5 minutes) and I see if you agree with it.

Sure, everything must be done in moderation. Life can’t be about recreation, but it also isn’t about law. They both play their necessary roles, but they aren’t the end.

I will listen to it.

Perhaps we agree closer than it appears we do right now?

Perhaps.

 

[jimmy]

The person who questioned the action of Magdalene was Judas - the betrayer. Christ accepted it because it was a direct act of love for Him, not to mention it was a prophetic act foreshadowing his burial. Can you say the same for those engaged in a pie eating contest?

The OP wasn’t asking if enjoying some pie was wrong, but if it was okay for a person to shovel pie into their face like an unthinking brute in a contest.

He didn’t accept it specifically because it was prophetic.

Sure it was Judas, but how does that change it? My point is that it can be construed as an act of excess on Mary’s part. Judas certainly had a point that it could be sold and given to the poor.

I don’t think the contest is about the pie, but more about the contest. It is a challenge and a competition. I wouldn’t say that Joey Chestnut or Kobayashi are sinners because they ate 60 some hotdogs in a contest.

In order to say it is a sin, or immoral you would have to establish some line at which it becomes sinful. Simply saying it is excessive doesn’t work, because that is a subjective answer. What we in America or Europe eat (even those of us who don’t eat that much) would be considered excessive by many cultures. Maybe 8 hotdogs is the cutoff, or 12?

 

[domNoah]

He didn’t accept it specifically because it was prophetic.

Sure it was Judas, but how does that change it? My point is that it can be construed as an act of excess on Mary’s part. Judas certainly had a point that it could be sold and given to the poor.

I don’t think the contest is about the pie, but more about the contest. It is a challenge and a competition. I wouldn’t say that Joey Chestnut or Kobayashi are sinners because they ate 60 some hotdogs in a contest.

In order to say it is a sin, or immoral you would have to establish some line at which it becomes sinful. Simply saying it is excessive doesn’t work, because that is a subjective answer. What we in America or Europe eat (even those of us who don’t eat that much) would be considered excessive by many cultures. Maybe 8 hotdogs is the cutoff, or 12?

In the article I posted a link to earlier newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2010/05/thomas-aquinas-and-5-ways-of-gluttony.html

It mentions the 5 sins of Gluttony
Too soon, too expensively, too much, too eagerly, too daintily.

The sin of Gluttony is not necessarily in the quantity but in the speed at which the food is taken. The article is very good, and I agree with the points it makes.

 

[domNoah]

Sure it was Judas, but how does that change it? My point is that it can be construed as an act of excess on Mary’s part. Judas certainly had a point that it could be sold and given to the poor.

Because Christ new St Magdalene’s heart, because it was done as an act of Love, and he even rebuked Judas for his condemnation of her act of love.

 

[meltzerboy]

Aquinas details five ways to commit gluttony in his Summa Theologica, while in Judaism gluttony is limited to excessive eating and drinking according to the commandment of Torah (Leviticus, Deuteronomy), expounded by Maimonides. I think this example would be a matter of what Catholics call prudential judgment. If the pie-eating contest is for charity, then it may be appropriate. OTOH, excessive food-eating when others are starving is a matter of concern. However, Judaism forbids asceticism and requires joyful appreciation and thanks, by means of blessings both before and after eating, for G-d’s bounty.

 

[jimmy]

Aquinas details five ways to commit gluttony in his Summa Theologica, while in Judaism gluttony is limited to excessive eating and drinking according to the commandment of Torah (Leviticus, Deuteronomy), expounded by Maimonides. I think this example would be a matter of what Catholics call prudential judgment. If the pie-eating contest is for charity, then it may be appropriate. OTOH, excessive food-eating when others are starving is a matter of concern. However, Judaism forbids asceticism and requires joyful appreciation and thanks, by means of blessings both before and after eating, for G-d’s bounty.

I find myself agreeing with the Jewish spirit in a lot of ways on many of these threads. I wouldn’t necessarily say that asceticism is bad, but I would say it must be oriented toward the feast. It is never an end in itself, but is always oriented toward a joyful celebration. So lent is always oriented toward the Easter feast. You fast, and then you feast. Joy is part of it.