by minimus 38 Replies latest jw friends
In my research of Jehovah's Witnesses, I always assumed that alcohol was taboo, just like smoking, etc. I was SO surprised to learn that it is permitted! EVERYTHING else under the sun is off-limits to JWs.....I just thought this was too.
So, little children's birthday parties, with cake & ice cream are evil.......but get-togethers with drunkeness abounding is OKAY. All righty then!
In reality, though, drinking to excess is a df'ing offense. I think if they really want to "get" somebody for drinking, since it's on the books, they'll go after you. Kinda like a cop busting you for a broken taillight.
One caveat when it comes to successful JW heavy drinking.
Make sure no one can keep track of how much you've had.
I sat on a JC once where the just-turned-21 brother went to a sporting event and was being observed by an eagle-eye teetotaler. The teetotaler's ratimony was that Bro. Bacchus made 3 separate trips to get a beer and that each beer was 32 ounces (I think. Could be wrong about the 32 ounces.)
Anyway the JC consisted of me (no stranger to the fruits of the vine), another fairly heavy boozer and a guy who prided himself on having "just one" and making sure everyone else knew how holy he was.
Needless to say, I was feeling pretty damn hypocritical about the whole thing. Then Bacchus saved me from my ethical dilemma by also confessing to some pre-marital "pickle tickle" so I didn't feel quite so bad. Back then. Now I feel like an idiot for having any part in the whole charade. At least I don't sit on JCs anymore.
OM
Thank God we're not making hypocritical judgments on any else.
If they put a ban on booze, at least 2/3 of the jws would be gone.
The only keg parties I ever attended were at Bethel. Outside of Bethel one of the congs I attended had several brothers who made their own beer. It was common after bookstudy for the friends to reconvene at another location to drink and they actually referred to is as The Afterglow. As far as I know, no one there got into any trouble until one of the bros had a Luge party. I guess somebody thought that was taking it a bit too far, and there was a service meeting talk condemning the party and anyone who attended. (I was invited to that party but, unfortunately, couldn't make it. Not that I'm a big drinker.)
Don't stand too close to some of them on meeting night. The liquor smell from thier breath would mow you over. Amazing!!!!!!!!!! The number of them that attended the meeting while under the infulence. It no wonder they all had sh## eating grins all night.
I dunno, I think you guys are old school. My jw was on a big kick of no drinking or drinking for effect (is there another reason? just kidding) he was actually on quite a rampage about it. Shame, cause it was right during the holidays when a little cheer was in order especially if you are married to a jw. Guess it was in an asleep or wt? or maybe the convention? yeah, I think the convention had a thing on drinking.
Yes there were. Firstly, my mom is an alcoholic. My Dad liked the sauce too, a little too much. Whenever they entertained, a lot of alcohol was consumed almost every time. But mostly I remember there always being a locals needs part after weddings or gatherings and how things got out of hand with drinking. Even a few instances of wife swapping took place.
MMO
This is why they cannot ban the booze: It explicitly tells Timothy (a prominent leader in the early Christian congregation) to use a little wine. And Jesus also drank (of course, he never did so to get drunk). It is pretty blatant that the Bible condones sensible drinking. If they try to ban it, they are going to have more people reading those accounts and leaving altogether. So, they hadn't better touch it.
Everything else, it isn't explicitly permitted in the Bible. Therefore, they can take it away without suffering the big fallout.
