Christianity
Many Christian denominations disapprove of the use of most illicit drugs. There are some suggestions that the Bible may refer to it. Dr. Sara Benetowa (1903–1982), a Polish anthropologist, asserted that the Hebrew word kaneh-bosm actually referred to cannabis. In 1980, Israel’s Hebrew University, in Jerusalem, confirmed it as a possible valid interpretation. The holy anointing oil, used for anointment during rites, may have contained cannabis extracts. Hemp is listed as an incense tree in the Old Testament. Many Rastafari who use cannabis as a sacrement, identify as Oriental Orthodox Christians.
Many Christian denominations permit the moderate use of socially and legally acceptable drugs like alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. Some Christian denominations permit smoking tobacco, while others disapprove of it. Many denominations do not have any official stance on drug use, some more-recent Christian denominations (e.g. Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses) discourage or prohibit the use of any of these substances.
Because Jesus and many Biblical figures drank wine, most Christian denominations do not require teetotalism. In the Eucharist wine represents (or among Christians who believe in some form of Real Presence, like the Catholic and Orthodox churches, actually is) the blood of Christ. On the other hand, some Christian denominations, notably Methodists associated with the temperance movement, use grape juice instead.
The best known Western prohibition against alcohol happened in the United States in the 1920s, where concerned prohibitionists were worried about its dangerous side effects. However, the demand for alcohol remained and criminals stepped in and created the supply. The consequences of organized crime and the popular demand for alcohol, led to alcohol being legalized again.
Read more about this topic: Religion And Drugs
Famous quotes containing the word christianity:
“There are many definite methods, honest and dishonest, which make people rich; the only “instinct” I know of which does it is that instinct which theological Christianity crudely describes as “the sin of avarice.””
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)
“In great cities men are brought together by the desire of gain. They are not in a state of co-operation, but of isolation, as to the making of fortunes; and for all the rest they are careless of neighbours. Christianity teaches us to love our neighbour as ourself; modern society acknowledges no neighbour.”
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)
“Wherever there are walls I shall inscribe this eternal accusation against Christianity upon them—I can write in letters which make even the blind see ... I call Christianity the one great curse, the one great intrinsic depravity, the one great instinct for revenge for which no expedient is sufficiently poisonous, secret, subterranean, petty—I call it the one immortal blemish of mankind....”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)