Hazel-rah

If anyone can tell me where I heard this quote, I'd be grateful:

"There are two kinds of Methodists: Methodists who drink too much and Methodists who don't drink enough."

In my experience, it applies far more broadly than just Methodists, but pithy nonetheless.

Lanakila

That is because Christian's really have no more willpower than anyone else, its all based on them. There is no Holy Spirit. They have no special power to behave, or even to obey their book. Some are just brainwashed better than others, or better at brainwashing themselves.

I was good at brainwashing myself.

brighid

I agree, but it simply proves that going to Church or being Christian does not make a person any more moral then her Catholic, Buddhist, Atheist, or Wiccan neighbor. It's about individual choice and an individual can chose, with religion or without it, to live a moral life. There is no hocus-pocus, magic formula, or miraculous occurence going on. It's simply human choice, nothing more and nothing less and therefore man can chose to be moral without any help from above.

Brighid

ccolinh

I think someone who would say this probably has no idea WHY she believes but is only spewing what she heard someone else say - just a guess

Shake

Oh no, they do! Their particular flavor of theism dictates how they deal with it. For example, the Catholics go to confession, many others will simply feel guilty about it until they go to church again and hear that they are forgiven, or until they pray for forgiveness, which they usually assume is immediately granted, etc.Yeah, very interesting, that. There was recently a story on the news (ABC World News, IIRC) about the incredible profitability of the porn industry. They're raking in billions a year, with no signs of slowing down. It was a very interesting report, especially since some major companies are heavily invested in the porn industry, like hotel chains. They talked to one hotel manager (might have been an exec in the company, but whatever) who said that their adult movie selections, available in each room, was their most profitable aspect of the business!

There was some talk about some companies associated with the porn industry going (already being?) public on the stock markets! I remember thinking that it's just gotta be a good investment, since the industry is booming.

I found that report very informative, even surprising a bit. I'm sure it got a bunch of fundies all riled up, too!

lville88

I lived in the Bahamas for 2 years. It's a very religious place from the perspective that everyone goes to church on Sundays, says things like, "lord willing'" all the time and the radio has nothing but religious crap on all Sunday morning. The other 6 days of the week are spent stealing, drinking, conning tourists and, of course, working at casinos. Many of these people lie and say they don't drink because they're god-fearing people. The casino industry is the sole reason most of the people are employed there. I always found this place to be the most hypocritical of any place I've been.

So in regards to the OP, it guards against it in public but behind closed doors...break out the whiskey.

theoscholar

Jews don't acknowledge the inspiration of New Testament Scripture.

Muslims don't acknowledge the inerrancy of the Bible.

Baptists don't acknowledge other Baptists at Hooters.

Yahzi

As I recall, I read that hotels that sell adult movies to rooms noticed a significant increase in those sales when the hotel was booked for fundamental, conservative conventions.

So yes, Xians, who make up 80% or so of our society, drink, gamble and contribute to the 6 billion dollar porn industry (Hollywood is only 5 billion a year!).


And, as a general comment, the Catholics have "altar" boys. Twice now I've seen them called "alter" boys, and really, as bad as the priests are, they aren't doing transgender surgery on kids!

Ennazus

I wonder why so much theist talk against porn, liquor and other "sinful" activities? Why not just indulge, ask for forgiveness on Sunday and skip the badmouthing?

Why speak out against porn and booze, then stop for an X-rated rental and beer on the way home from work? I don't understand. Very strange.

cybergeek

I remember once being a member of a methodist singles group.
We actually did go to nightclubs and did some drinking and dancing.

I admit this was a very liberal group of christians I was with.
So I had no real problems with them, and as far as I knew there
wasn't much discussion about faith or belief.
As for actual consumption of alcohol not all christians share the
same attitude or reservations about it.
What most of them seem to agree on is not to overdo it to the
point of drunkeness.

I remember reading about martin luther himself drinking beer
every so often.
Obviously he had no problem with liquor or alcohol.