What about a glass of tequila/vodka/whiskey? Or why not absinthe?I don’t know - it seems like smoking 1 joint of marijuana has more of an effect on the body than drinking a glass of wine.
I was with you up until your concluding statements. Alcoholics not only harm themselves but also others, both strangers due to driving under the influence, for example, and family members who suffer living with an alcoholic, as well as society as a result of loss of economic productivity and increase in health expenditures. Yet I agree that a total ban would be detrimental for religious, as well as possible medicinal, reasons. The curtailment of the manufacture and sale of alcohol would be preferable, but that, as you pointed out, is not too practical and will no doubt not work.fabio rocha said : "Today I watched a podcast made by a brazilian priest, and he was talking about the legalization of marijuana.
He pointed out that this shouldn’t happen because the use of it causes loss of conscious, diminishing the human dignity.
This made me think: alcohol also does this.
So my question is: should alcohol be forbidden?"
Well, First, if all alcohol was Banned, the Catholic Church would have to “Modify” the Sacrament of Communion.
I imagine that we would have to count on Grape Juice, for God to turn into the Blood of Christ.
So, I think that an ALL-OUT Ban on Alcohol is unlikely (in the foreseeable Future).
Second, in the United States, around 1920, we changed our Constitution to Ban the production of alcohol.
It did NOT go very well.
It DID, however, create Organized Crime.
If people want to drink it, THEN they WILL be able to drink it.
If it costs MORE (because of Organized Crime charging a lot), well, that does NOT matter.
This is the SAME concept with Marijuana (and “Hard” Drugs, like Heroin and Cocaine).
There are a BUNCH of people who want to “Medicate” themselves with one of these Drugs.
They are ALREADY very Illegal … but people STILL smoke Pot.
I (personally) do not Drink or Smoke, but I understand that Life is difficult, and that one way to COPE with Stress is to “Take a Vacation” from Reality for a little while.
Everything in Moderation.
Most people who drink liquor can “Handle” it well.
And, most people are NOT Alcoholics.
Unfortunately, SOME people become “Addicted” to alcohol, and lead a less-Productive Life because of it.
So, an Alcohol Ban would be punishing the 80% of Social Drinkers, just to “MAKE SURE” that the other 20% don’t do something that will “hurt” them in the End.
I’ll have to check up on your claims of the potency of marajuana. I have a feeling that the Church will define its stance on weed more in the future.You cannot consume marijuana in moderation.
You can consume alcohol in moderation.
“smoke half a joint”… actually, in previous debates on this subject, it has been said, that for some people, just one “hit” of a blunt will make them pass out. That is not moderation, therefore it is sin.
Will anyone pass out with a sip of wine or beer? No.
That is the Church’s position. Drugs cannot be consumed in moderation, and therefore they are sinful.
The analogy does not sound quite right to me. The purpose of cars, glue, paint, gasoline, computer cleaners, etc. is not harmful although they can all be abused. The purpose of alcohol in most cases is to ingest a drug that has the potential of doing harm by lowering one’s inhibitions due to altering brain chemistry both as a depressant and an excitatory agent, as well as encouraging dependency in those with a genetic predisposition. I think there is a significant difference.Phalanx
If we were going to forbid everything someone can possibly abuse, we’d end up with more to ban than just alcohol.
People huff all kinds of things. Glue, paint, gasoline, canned air for cleaning computers etc… We could ban all of those items because people misuse them.
Alcohol is like anything else. If someone wants to abuse something, they will.
Banning alcohol because some people are drunks is like banning cars because some people are poor drivers.
Me? Im not for baning alcohol mate, I was just pointing out that you can’t compare a joint to a glass of wine when it comes to damage to the body. They are not at the same level of potency. A glass of tequila would be more fair.Phalanx
If we were going to forbid everything someone can possibly abuse, we’d end up with more to ban than just alcohol.
People huff all kinds of things. Glue, paint, gasoline, canned air for cleaning computers etc… We could ban all of those items because people misuse them.
Alcohol is like anything else. If someone wants to abuse something, they will.
Banning alcohol because some people are drunks is like banning cars because some people are poor drivers.
“Joint” is a broad term, there are lots of variations. How packed it is, whats the tobacco vs marijuana ratio, how wide is the paper. I can’t believe that people can’t grasp this. Its perfectly logical.You cannot consume marijuana in moderation.
“smoke half a joint”… actually, in previous debates on this subject, it has been said, that for some people, just one “hit” of a blunt will make them pass out. That is not moderation, therefore it is sin.
I think this is key. The Church is always re-defining its stance based on shifting factors, such as medical research, especially in the field of bioethics. Even if marijuana is deemed sinful, it is still a debatable question if the money and human suffering legalization would cost would be less or more than the suffering and monetary cost to its being illegal.I’ll have to check up on your claims of the potency of marajuana. I have a feeling that the Church will define its stance on weed more in the future.
It is like banning food because some become Obese.Phalanx
If we were going to forbid everything someone can possibly abuse, we’d end up with more to ban than just alcohol.
People huff all kinds of things. Glue, paint, gasoline, canned air for cleaning computers etc… We could ban all of those items because people misuse them.
Alcohol is like anything else. If someone wants to abuse something, they will.
Banning alcohol because some people are drunks is like banning cars because some people are poor drivers.
The sole purpose of drugs like marijuana is intoxication which is a sin, moderate use of alcohol does not result in intoxication.Today I watched a podcast made by a brazilian priest and he was talking about the legalization of marijuana. He pointed out that this shouldnt happen because the use of it causes loss of conscious, diminishing the human dignity. This made me think: alcohol also does this. So my question is: should alcohol be forbidden?
ANY drug can be used in moderation…I know quite a few people who use Heroin in moderation, they get up, use a small amount, then go to work/school, and are fully able to maintain their days and lives with no problems. The key word is moderation.The sole purpose of drugs like marijuana is intoxication which is a sin, moderate use of alcohol does not result in intoxication.