ErieShores
Well-Known Member
Non practicing Catholic here.
Didn't Jesus turn water into wine? Follow in his footsteps
Didn't Jesus turn water into wine? Follow in his footsteps
Who is calling it anything it isn't? I think everyone here that has either done a beer & bible study, or has entertained the thought, has been very up-front about the meaning and intent. Yeah, if you say you're going to do a bible study, but in reality just sit at the bar, or in your basement and drink beer, then call it what it is.
But if you've got someone who is willing to put the effort into making sure it is well structured (or, even a team), there is no reason not to do so. Okay, so every time you've tried it, it's turned into a brewing/drinking party. It doesn't work for you and/or your social circles - that's fine. It works for other people.
And if the ability to spend an hour or so every now and then enjoying a beer with friends/associates is the ice-breaker that brings someone new into a bible study, I'm all for it.
Married to a Lutheran pastor, hosting a beer and cheese tasting at the church in April, three other members of the board of my homebrew club are active members of congregations too.
Our congregation also hosts 12-Step group meetings five nights a week, which I personally champion within our congregation when old farts complain about the groups using our facilities.
Putting on my moderator hat: Please keep the conversation on-topic, i.e. about your experience as a homebrewer as a part of a faith community. Do not make this a debate, do not proselytize, do not bash others with different opinions.
^ Gotta agree with ya there. Like my 9th grade math teacher's slogan above the chalk board, " Do your own thing, but don't stop me from doing mine". And on that note, is it a Christian thing to do to teach my son to make his own beer? He grows ghost chilies, scorpion peppers & the like & wants to make a chili beer. I told him to check us out here. I also told him I have plenty of fermenters & equipment he can use to brew it up. I think it's a good thing to pass on life skills to one's children, also being Roman Catholic. What say you?
I'd like to hear people's take on this situation. I'm a Christian myself, and a good portion of my family would be considered Evangelical, so I'm used to the 'drinking is evil' attitude. I avoid drinking in situations where it would upset my relatives.
I know a guy who is an Evangelical Christian. He belongs to a non-denominational evangelical church that is pretty hard-core. Women only wear dresses - no pants allowed; Kids are home-schooled; yada yada....
He's been a very vocal anti-alcohol guy for years. I've had to listen to him preach about it. He's a nice guy, but it used to annoy the hell out of me. He's in a position where his preaching kind of impacts me a little in some situations. Personally, I don't care if you don't drink, but I don't want to get a lecture, or a comment when I'm drinking.
Recently, he's somehow been turned on to craft beer. I asked him how he can justify this after all the years of preaching about the evils of alcohol. His response is that it's OK to drink as long as he doesn't get a buzz. He only has 1 glass of beer. He likes Belgians, so I can't imagine 1 glass of a Quad isn't going to get you drunk, but whatever. Live and let live.
So 2 things have been bothering me:
Comments?
- I personally call bull**** on his whole argument. If your religious sect doesn't allow alcohol, then you shouldn't be drinking. Especially after all the years of preaching. If you want to drink a beer, just drink a beer. I don't needs an hour of justification and trying to make the rules fit your new lifestyle. Just say, I was wrong and move on with your life. Essentially, he's saying he's a good person because he only has 1 beer and I'm a bad person because I have more. Kinda pisses me off.
- More annoying than the above is that he's started giving me beer advice, and has even critiqued some of my beer. I'm happy to give him a taste, and I appreciate the input, but don't get all 'Beer-Advocate' on me after you've been drinking for 15 minutes. He told me my year-old Belgian Quad needed to age a little longer. Although he did say the color and head were dead-on. That really pissed me off!
I think I understand where you are coming from. Perhaps when he starts talking about his 1 beer rule you can find a way to politely thank him for catching up to modern Christian understanding. When he critiques beer then I would just smile and say "that is an interesting OPINION." This is my usual go to for people who are trying too hard to come off as beer experts. Some people like religion because it makes them feel better and some like it because they get to feel better than others. Just my .02.
1 beer, huh?I'd like to hear people's take on this situation. I'm a Christian myself, and a good portion of my family would be considered Evangelical, so I'm used to the 'drinking is evil' attitude. I avoid drinking in situations where it would upset my relatives.
I know a guy who is an Evangelical Christian. He belongs to a non-denominational evangelical church that is pretty hard-core. Women only wear dresses - no pants allowed; Kids are home-schooled; yada yada....
He's been a very vocal anti-alcohol guy for years. I've had to listen to him preach about it. He's a nice guy, but it used to annoy the hell out of me. He's in a position where his preaching kind of impacts me a little in some situations. Personally, I don't care if you don't drink, but I don't want to get a lecture, or a comment when I'm drinking.
Recently, he's somehow been turned on to craft beer. I asked him how he can justify this after all the years of preaching about the evils of alcohol. His response is that it's OK to drink as long as he doesn't get a buzz. He only has 1 glass of beer. He likes Belgians, so I can't imagine 1 glass of a Quad isn't going to get you drunk, but whatever. Live and let live.
So 2 things have been bothering me:
Comments?
- I personally call bull**** on his whole argument. If your religious sect doesn't allow alcohol, then you shouldn't be drinking. Especially after all the years of preaching. If you want to drink a beer, just drink a beer. I don't needs an hour of justification and trying to make the rules fit your new lifestyle. Just say, I was wrong and move on with your life. Essentially, he's saying he's a good person because he only has 1 beer and I'm a bad person because I have more. Kinda pisses me off.
- More annoying, but funny, is that he's started giving me beer advice. He's even critiqued some of my beer. He told me my year-old Belgian Quad needed to age a little longer (Although he did say the color and head were dead-on ). I'm happy to give him a taste, and I appreciate the input, but don't get all 'Beer-Advocate' on me after you've been drinking for 15 minutes. That really pissed me off!
I'd like to hear people's take on this situation. I'm a Christian myself, and a good portion of my family would be considered Evangelical, so I'm used to the 'drinking is evil' attitude. I avoid drinking in situations where it would upset my relatives.
I know a guy who is an Evangelical Christian. He belongs to a non-denominational evangelical church that is pretty hard-core. Women only wear dresses - no pants allowed; Kids are home-schooled; yada yada....
He's been a very vocal anti-alcohol guy for years. I've had to listen to him preach about it. He's a nice guy, but it used to annoy the hell out of me. He's in a position where his preaching kind of impacts me a little in some situations. Personally, I don't care if you don't drink, but I don't want to get a lecture, or a comment when I'm drinking.
Recently, he's somehow been turned on to craft beer. I asked him how he can justify this after all the years of preaching about the evils of alcohol. His response is that it's OK to drink as long as he doesn't get a buzz. He only has 1 glass of beer. He likes Belgians, so I can't imagine 1 glass of a Quad isn't going to get you drunk, but whatever. Live and let live.
So 2 things have been bothering me:
Comments?
- I personally call bull**** on his whole argument. If your religious sect doesn't allow alcohol, then you shouldn't be drinking. Especially after all the years of preaching. If you want to drink a beer, just drink a beer. I don't needs an hour of justification and trying to make the rules fit your new lifestyle. Just say, I was wrong and move on with your life. Essentially, he's saying he's a good person because he only has 1 beer and I'm a bad person because I have more. Kinda pisses me off.
- More annoying, but funny, is that he's started giving me beer advice. He's even critiqued some of my beer. He told me my year-old Belgian Quad needed to age a little longer (Although he did say the color and head were dead-on ). I'm happy to give him a taste, and I appreciate the input, but don't get all 'Beer-Advocate' on me after you've been drinking for 15 minutes. That really pissed me off!
He's probably in a position where he is struggling with the difference between what he knows and what he believes. The way you describe the situation I wouldnt be surprised if he has been a closet drinker for years but feels pressure not to admit it......I say that with no negativity toward him , but that is a common thing.
I would just focus on what you have in common with him , the enjoyment of brewing and beer in general.
Just remember the "Golden Malt" rule:
"Brew unto others as you would have them brew unto you."
I understand his position.
What's annoying is the fact that we're both drinking a beer, but since I'm on my 2nd beer I'm somehow less moral than he is. The fact that he actually says it is kind of hypocritical and insulting. I'm sure he has no idea he comes off this way.
One of the things that history tells us is water supplies were not so good and many people died because of it. were talking way back to the beginning, all the way trough Christianity and early 1900's
In fact, alcohol was a normal part of life. In Colonial America, the Puritans expected Christians to drink. In the 1700s, a Baptist created the formula for bourbon whiskey. During the 1800s, many Southern ministers operated stills, and sold alcohol. Parishioners who owned stills would tithe their alcohol; and preachers' salaries often included whiskey.
although it did get out of hand at times the main reason for alcohol was it was a sanitary drink
I'd like to hear people's take on this situation. I'm a Christian myself, and a good portion of my family would be considered Evangelical, so I'm used to the 'drinking is evil' attitude. I avoid drinking in situations where it would upset my relatives.
I know a guy who is an Evangelical Christian. He belongs to a non-denominational evangelical church that is pretty hard-core. Women only wear dresses - no pants allowed; Kids are home-schooled; yada yada....
He's been a very vocal anti-alcohol guy for years. I've had to listen to him preach about it. He's a nice guy, but it used to annoy the hell out of me. He's in a position where his preaching kind of impacts me a little in some situations. Personally, I don't care if you don't drink, but I don't want to get a lecture, or a comment when I'm drinking.
Recently, he's somehow been turned on to craft beer. I asked him how he can justify this after all the years of preaching about the evils of alcohol. His response is that it's OK to drink as long as he doesn't get a buzz. He only has 1 glass of beer. He likes Belgians, so I can't imagine 1 glass of a Quad isn't going to get you drunk, but whatever. Live and let live.
So 2 things have been bothering me:
- I personally call bull**** on his whole argument. If your religious sect doesn't allow alcohol, then you shouldn't be drinking. Especially after all the years of preaching. If you want to drink a beer, just drink a beer. I don't needs an hour of justification and trying to make the rules fit your new lifestyle. Just say, I was wrong and move on with your life. Essentially, he's saying he's a good person because he only has 1 beer and I'm a bad person because I have more. Kinda pisses me off.
- More annoying, but funny, is that he's started giving me beer advice. He's even critiqued some of my beer. He told me my year-old Belgian Quad needed to age a little longer (Although he did say the color and head were dead-on ). I'm happy to give him a taste, and I appreciate the input, but don't get all 'Beer-Advocate' on me after you've been drinking for 15 minutes. That really pissed me off!
Comments?
...and Egyptians used it as a form of currency, and Jewish and Muslim dietary laws were based on common sense for a world without refrigeration or an understanding of microbes. Of course today these common sense maxims are used to further divide and isolate us from one another, so whatever happened to the sense?One of the things that history tells us is water supplies were not so good and many people died because of it. were talking way back to the beginning, all the way trough Christianity and early 1900's
In fact, alcohol was a normal part of life. In Colonial America, the Puritans expected Christians to drink. In the 1700s, a Baptist created the formula for bourbon whiskey. During the 1800s, many Southern ministers operated stills, and sold alcohol. Parishioners who owned stills would tithe their alcohol; and preachers' salaries often included whiskey.
although it did get out of hand at times the main reason for alcohol was it was a sanitary drink
One of the things that history tells us is water supplies were not so good and many people died because of it. were talking way back to the beginning, all the way trough Christianity and early 1900's
In fact, alcohol was a normal part of life. In Colonial America, the Puritans expected Christians to drink. In the 1700s, a Baptist created the formula for bourbon whiskey. During the 1800s, many Southern ministers operated stills, and sold alcohol. Parishioners who owned stills would tithe their alcohol; and preachers' salaries often included whiskey.
although it did get out of hand at times the main reason for alcohol was it was a sanitary drink
It is interesting that the bible not only says not to be "drunk" but it also talks about gluttony , overeating , and eating food that is not good for us. Yet churches and religious groups love to have their potluck dinners where many eat until they can barely move , and many church goers are overweight. I think they skip over the main lesson to be learned from scripture and that is all things " in moderation" , not that food or alcohol is wrong.
Gluttony and drunkedness can be found just about anywhere. Munich comes to mind...a place where the Hofbrauhaus goes year round. Certainly, there are degrees of drunkedness and gluttony. When you begin to feel the first effects of alcohol, after one drink, do you self identify as "drunk"? Am I a glutton if I eat one doughnut? Two? Six? It all seems a bit subjective. But there ARE people who are genetically prone to both higher weight and alcoholism. Sure, many can bring it upon themselves, some can be predisposed and still manage to control the condition somewhat, and some will fail despite all efforts to the contrary. It's not an excuse. For some, it is just a fact. BUT, if your extreme weight or alcoholism is caused by uncontrolled gluttony or a willful choice to drink alcohol non-stop, then you are basically committing a slow suicide.Gluttony is rampant in some countries, particularly USA and England. I've seen a lot of it in Greece, too, which is a very religious country. But people say that they have funny genes and big bones and thyroid disease and this and that. Some of the big ones even claim that they hardly eat a thing but are just big anyway.
God knows the truth.
I believe Jesus wants me to brew beer. No factual basis for this, just a gut feeling
History seems to be showing that beer was a far more common table drink than wine, which was more expensive even then.
Especially with the Egyptians, who paid the monument workers in beer.
This thread is a tremendous testament to this online community. Having read the first 3 pages, a couple in the middle and a few at the end I can't imagine I have many new ideas to expand the conversation, particularly enough to justify 'resurrecting', pun intended, this thread.
However being a preacher I often find it hard to keep my mouth shut. I'm a minister in the United Methodist denomination. Historically we're very close to the Episcopal/Church of England. John Wesley and his brother Charles the founders of the Methodist movement within the Church of England, and by extension founders of the Methodist church lived in a time of tremendous social upheaval in Britain and were contemporaries of fellow Protestant but Calvinist George Whitfield. Their society was in such a whirlwind of chance centered around the early effects of industrialization that many historians credit John Wesley & George Whitfield and the spiritual awakening they lead via their widespread ministry to the poor and impoverished with saving Britain from a bloody civil war not dissimilar to what France and the U.S. had just endured.
I write all of that to add the context that times were brutally hard as masses of people were leaving centuries old countryside farms to work in mines and factories in urban centers that were nothing more than crude violent shanty towns. As such during this time there was one gin shop in London for every 7 individuals including children. Got that, 1 distilled spirits proprietor for every 7 people. Thus in England the seeds of temperance were first sewn in the face of a society being ripped apart via change and self-medicating at staggering levels. It was basically an epidemic of squalor accompanied by an epidemic of drunkenness to mask the pain of wretched existence.
As people of faith, Christians especially, we tend to understand that we're created and meant for something more; we're intended for not just for mundane safety and prosperity but for challenge and passion and lives of meaning. When those possibilities are stripped away desperate people do desperate things. This lead to epidemics of drunkenness which lead to desperation within clergy looking to do the most good, most quickly.
As such John Wesley's relationship with alcohol was framed thusly by a friend, "John Wesley required the early Methodists to refrain from consuming distilled (strong) liquors. He did not ban fermented beverages such as beer and wine. He himself consumed fermented beverages especially wine throughout his life in moderation, though there were periods of time when he abstained from wine and meat for religious purposes. In fact he tells us in his journal that he consumed 8 ounces of wine every evening before bedtime (the last 20 years of his life). He also speaks in his journal about a time when he was traveling and stopped at a farmhouse for refreshment and was offered hard cider. He drank it cheerfully and was refreshed. He insinuated that he got a bit rare from it. Finally when Wesley preached at St Patricks in Ireland a young Arthur Guinness was in the congregation and was so impressed by Wesleys message that he became a part of the Methodist movement in Ireland and was a leader in founding Sunday schools throughout Ireland. Guinness also became a great giver to the needs of the poor. He also continued to brew and sell his now famous Guinness Porter and Stout. Wesley never voiced any disapproval of his trade."
Okay, proof that I'm a lying preacher .... I had something new to add. Just trying to add context to how previously alcohol friendly Christianity morphed into staunch opposition. Like so many boondogles it was well intentioned. Yet like most all forms of control it denies the divine gift of freewill and self-governance granted to each individual. Peace and His grace be with you.
Historically when socio-economic upheaval comes to the fore, there are two industries that always seem to benefit.....
blah blah blah blah blah
We've clearly crossed the line from posting about people's experiences as a homebrewer in a faith community to theological/philosophical musings and beliefs in the last two pages of posts. That stuff belongs in the debate forum only - whatever your beliefs or thoughts about religion, many of the members here are going to disagree with you. And no one cares about what you believe or think about religion, pro or con, in the 'general beer discussion' forum. If you feel compelled to share your opinions about religion and faith, go to the debate forum.
Last chance to post about your experiences as a home brewer in a faith community. No more posting about what you think about religion or faith or your theology (this is how i read the bible etc.) Maybe this thread has run its course, we'll see.
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