Are pie eating contests ok?

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Christ_Conquers

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Are pie eating contests ok? could they be considered gluttonous?

Thanks!
 
Just my opinion here but…

They may be seen as ‘fun’ to us here in the western world where food is aplenty but to a large part of the planet people are starving to death.Even in America there are mnay many poor people.

Do we think Jesus would be happy with us for having pie eating contests? Do we think Jesus would think us greedy selfish and uncaring?
Or do we think Jesus would think its harmless fun?

For me they encourage an attitude that is of greed and perhaps we could think more about feeding those who do not have enough.

We all have free will and we make those choices in our lives as we see fit.
 
What kind of pie? 😃

I think that gluttony is a vice rather than a one time occurrence. I don’t believe that a friendly contest is sinful.
 
Christ_Conquers said:
Are pie eating contests ok? could they be considered gluttonous?

Thanks!
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I don’t think we can make a blanket judgment, but there is certainly a need for prudence. As the poster above me pointed out, there are uncomfortable moral issues about gorging oneself (even for fun) when hunger is a serious problem in the world.

However, if we stopped to consider this for everything we did, we’d soon find ourselves seriously strapped for leisure. (Playing video games when some folks don’t own a PC? Wrong! Playing Scrabble when some children can’t get an education or use a dictionary? Evil!) 😃

An occasional pie-eating contest - and I do mean occasional - is certainly not gluttony in a mortal sense; at best, it’s a venial offence, and it depends a lot on the contestants. Some of us (guilty as charged!) can stuff ourselves quite well even when a contest is not involved. 😃

If it makes you feel better, spend an equal amount on a charity that feeds the poor as you would on the contest, or organize the contest with a charitable aim. But don’t give yourself a guilt trip over it; pie contests are nowhere on the same plane as abortion, murder, rape or anti-Catholicism. 😉
 
👍
RPRPsych said:
I don’t think we can make a blanket judgment, but there is certainly a need for prudence. As the poster above me pointed out, there are uncomfortable moral issues about gorging oneself (even for fun) when hunger is a serious problem in the world.

However, if we stopped to consider this for everything we did, we’d soon find ourselves seriously strapped for leisure. (Playing video games when some folks don’t own a PC? Wrong! Playing Scrabble when some children can’t get an education or use a dictionary? Evil!)

An occasional pie-eating contest - and I do mean occasional - is certainly not gluttony in a mortal sense; at best, it’s a venial offence, and it depends a lot on the contestants. Some of us (guilty as charged!) can stuff ourselves quite well even when a contest is not involved. 😃

If it makes you feel better, spend an equal amount on a charity that feeds the poor as you would on the contest, or organize the contest with a charitable aim. But don’t give yourself a guilt trip over it; pie contests are nowhere on the same plane as abortion, murder, rape or anti-Catholicism. 😉
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👍 Balance, dear OP, balance
 
Not quite pies, but my sorority used to do (maybe they still do, but I graduated a while ago ;)) a hot wing eating contest to raise money for our chosen charity in college. It was a really successful fundraiser - you raised money to have a team, and then other people could support your team by donating to make your wings less spicy or another team’s wings more spicy, etc. It was a lot of fun!

(Because we had the letter Pi in our names, we were not allowed to do pie-eating contests. 😛 Although we did sell pies on Pi Day (3/14) with the Math club! :D)
 
Why is it that this thread reminds me of “Man vs. Food”?
 
Gluttony = not OK.

The question needs to be asked, IF the contest is a fundraiser for charity, it it a case of Gluttony.
 
Christ_Conquers said:
Are pie eating contests ok? could they be considered gluttonous?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Gluttony is taking too much pleasure from food. I don’t think forcefeeding onself is pleasurable. The pleasure is in the winning, not the food itself. Pride may be the sin involved. But the fame is fleeting. Who remembers the name of the winner three days later, unless he was already a friend before his mighty feat?

In any event, if one gets too puritanical about it, any contest is sinful. Should we cancel NASCAR as a waste of fuel, when so many poor people can’t afford gas? What about college sports? Aren’t they a waste of resources when so many people in the world are illiterate?
 
Richard320 said:
Gluttony is taking too much pleasure from food. I don’t think forcefeeding onself is pleasurable. The pleasure is in the winning, not the food itself. Pride may be the sin involved. But the fame is fleeting. Who remembers the name of the winner three days later, unless he was already a friend before his mighty feat?

In any event, if one gets too puritanical about it, any contest is sinful. Should we cancel NASCAR as a waste of fuel, when so many poor people can’t afford gas? What about college sports? Aren’t they a waste of resources when so many people in the world are illiterate?
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How about “Man vs. Food”?
 
I’m just curious here: were the attendees of the wedding at Cana eating and drinking “in moderation”? Based on the text, it does not sound like it.

To clarify, I take from that: that occasional over or under eating is not at all sinful. It is when it becomes a mindset, a way of life… that would be sinful.
 
When I first glanced through the thread titles I saw “Are ppl eating contests ok”? I had to laugh.

That aside. Not everything breaks down to a moral dilemma. Some things are simply a part of culture, and morality doesn’t play a role. We could extend this to everything. Is it immoral to go to a baseball game? You could be spending that time and money doing something better. Is it immoral to go to a movie? Same response. Is it immoral to play baseball or to be an actor? They are both useless pursuits in the grand scheme of things. Is it immoral to eat steak? That is an expensive meal, and people in foriegn countries don’t have money for rice let alone steak. Is it immoral to play Texas Holdem? It involves deception and possibly lying(bluffing). Is it immoral to drink coke? All that sugar can cause diabetes or other health problems. Is it immoral to watch tv? Is it immoral to read fiction books? Is it immoral to write fiction books? Is it immoral to play video games, watch tv, or play a musical instrument? Is it immoral to talk to a pretty girl because she is pretty? Is it immoral to kiss a girl? Is it immoral to rub your belly because it feels good? And considering how I read the title of this thread - is it immoral to eat people during a people eating contest?:rolleyes:
 
Just a word of advice. You are young, don’t fall into the trap of questioning the morality of everything. It will lead to anxiety. It won’t help you to grow more holy or closer to God. Allow yourself to be guided by the commandments, but that doesn’t mean that everything is a moral question. Enjoy something simple for what it is. A pie eating contest is simply a chance to enjoy life. If you never stop to have fun, you will never truely grow. Joy is part of life, and it is part of holiness.
 
jimmy said:
Just a word of advice. You are young, don’t fall into the trap of questioning the morality of everything. It will lead to anxiety. It won’t help you to grow more holy or closer to God. Allow yourself to be guided by the commandments, but that doesn’t mean that everything is a moral question. Enjoy something simple for what it is. A pie eating contest is simply a chance to enjoy life. If you never stop to have fun, you will never truely grow. Joy is part of life, and it is part of holiness.
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My Friend,
Can you tell me what this part of the bible means to you.
“But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.” Matt 12:36
 
domNoah said:
My Friend,
Can you tell me what this part of the bible means to you.
“But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.” Matt 12:36
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Probably not what you think it means. I don’t claim to have every verse of the scriptures interpreted in my mind, but I do know the effects of over moralizing life. If it’s gonna destroy a person, then it is of the devil. If you are going to encourage someone to make a moral issue out of watching a baseball game, writing a fiction novel, and talking to a pretty girl; I am tempted to say you are straight from hell. You are doing nothing but destroying souls by making an issue of everything in life. You fill them with anxiety, fear, and ultimately hate and despair.

Without joy, a man will end up not only hating himself, but hating everyone else as well. Joy is essential to a holy life. Joy and beauty are the essence of life, and without them there is no point in any of it. In fact, without them, a man will become an atheist because law isn’t strong enough to hold a man’s faith. That requires love, and love requires beauty and joy. Law will break a man, and turn him into its enemy. He will fight it at every turn.

The verse isn’t meant to say that every point in life is a moral encounter. If that were the case you would have to question Jesus’ behavior when he allowed Mary to anoint him with oil and to dry his feet with her hair. As the people said, that oil could have been sold and helped the poor. There are several instances in the gospels (particularly Luke’s) where Jesus is depicted as enjoying himself with a meal.

I hope your not offended by my words above. They aren’t meant to offend you, but simply to make a point.
 
jimmy said:
Probably not what you think it means. I don’t claim to have every verse of the scriptures interpreted in my mind, but I do know the effects of over moralizing life. If it’s gonna destroy a person, then it is of the devil. If you are going to encourage someone to make a moral issue out of watching a baseball game, writing a fiction novel, and talking to a pretty girl; I am tempted to say you are straight from hell. You are doing nothing but destroying souls by making an issue of everything in life. You fill them with anxiety, fear, and ultimately hate and despair.

Without joy, a man will end up not only hating himself, but hating everyone else as well. Joy is essential to a holy life. Joy and beauty are the essence of life, and without them there is no point in any of it. In fact, without them, a man will become an atheist because law isn’t strong enough to hold a man’s faith. That requires love, and love requires beauty and joy. Law will break a man, and turn him into its enemy. He will fight it at every turn.

The verse isn’t meant to say that every point in life is a moral encounter. If that were the case you would have to question Jesus’ behavior when he allowed Mary to anoint him with oil and to dry his feet with her hair. As the people said, that oil could have been sold and helped the poor. There are several instances in the gospels (particularly Luke’s) where Jesus is depicted as enjoying himself with a meal.

I hope your not offended by my words above. They aren’t meant to offend you, but simply to make a point.
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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).

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.

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.

Perhaps we agree closer than it appears we do right now?
 
I’m all for have fun doing activities that are harmless and also meaningless. However, even if my spiritual beliefs did not inform my world view (as they do), I would still find eating contests to be highly distasteful. (that wasn’t actually meant as a pun 🙂)
 
jimmy said:
If that were the case you would have to question Jesus’ behavior when he allowed Mary to anoint him with oil and to dry his feet with her hair. As the people said, that oil could have been sold and helped the poor. There are several instances in the gospels (particularly Luke’s) where Jesus is depicted as enjoying himself with a meal.

I hope your not offended by my words above. They aren’t meant to offend you, but simply to make a point.
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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.
 
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