Should a true Christian drink a cappucino?
Perhaps you have never considered the matter, but what are the origins of this popular beverage?
The name cappucino is derived from the word to describe the bones of 4,000 Capuchin friars in Rome, Italy. A visit to Rome may bring you to the Capuchin Crypt.
This is the description given in the book “Let’s Go Western Europe (St Martin’s Press)”:
Under the heading “TOO MUCH CAPPUCINO WILL DO THE SAME TO YOU” it reads,
“The bones of 4,000 Capuchin friars (for whom cappucino is named) decorate the four rooms of the Church of L’Immacolata Concezione’s Capuchin Crypt, one of the most bizarre and elaborately macabre settings in Rome. A French monk inaugurated the crypt in 1528, but never saw his brilliant concept brought to its completion because the crypt was not finished until 1870. Angels deck the halls, with hip bones serving as wings. The bodies of more recently dead friars stand, robed and hooded, beneath bone arches. Even the hanging lights are made of bones. Dirt was shipped in especially from Jerusalem to line the floors. The last chapel displays two severed arms with mummy-like skin hanging on the back wall. Also featured in this chapel is a child’s skeleton plastered to the ceiling, holding a scale and a reaper, and accompanied by the uplifting inscription: ‘What you are now we used to be, what we are now you will be’.”
Could it be that this beverage’s origins have escaped the notice of the F&DS, for instaed of alerting the readers to its unsavoury origins, the Awake! Magazine of November 8, 1967, on page 22 gave instructions for making the drink. In case any readers missed getting the instructions, here they are from the Awake! Magazine:
Instructions for Foaming Milk
To foam and/or steam milk for cappuccinos and lattes, you will need a steel pitcher, cold milk, and a milk steamer. If your espresso maker does not include a wand for milk steaming, you can purchase a stand-alone device for this purpose.
1. Fill a steel pitcher no more than halfway with cold milk.
2. Place the steam wand just under the surface of the milk, and open the steam valve.
3. Keep the tip of the wand barely under the surface, lowering the pitcher and incorporating more air as you foam.
4. The ideal temperature is usually reached when the pitcher becomes too hot to touch.
5. Close the steam valve, and remove the pitcher from under it. Then open the steam valve to clear any remaining milk, and wipe it with a damp cloth.
This may seem harmless, but is inconsistent with the views taken on other matters and customs where their origins are highlighted in the publications to warn true Christians to avoid them.
Take as an example, this one from the Awake! Of January 8, 1985, on page 27:
Under the heading Why the Clinking of Glasses? It reads:
“Have you ever noticed people at parties or in restaurants clinking their beverage glasses before taking a drink? If you asked them why they did this, most of them could not give you an answer. Or they may feel it is a harmless act among friends.
However, they may be surprised to learn that it is an ancient superstitious custom. According to the American Library Association, thousands of years ago people had the ridiculous notion that when they took a drink the Devil could enter their bodies through their open mouth. And they actually believed that this evil spirit could be frightened by noise. So to avoid this danger they noisily banged their goblets. In Europe, drinkers still bash their beer steins or make the sign of the cross. And some primitive people, including certain Africans, will ring bells before downing their drinks.”
So, it’s wrong to clink glasses because of some connection with something in the distant past, but the same does not apply to drinking cappucino.
You might be able to think of other examples of things or customs that are discouraged or even outlawed for JWs because of past connections.
One of these would be the cross on which Jesus is believed by many to have died.
The Reasoning book on page 92 makes this comment:
“How would you feel if one of your dearest friends was executed on the basis of false charges? Would you make a replica of the instrument of execution? Would you cherish it, or would you rather shun it?”
However you believe Jesus died, the above quoted principle would apply. Yet why does it not apply to the cappucino?
Perhaps too many brothers and sisters like to imbibe this tasty drink, and for it to be banned would create huge problems perhaps?
How refreshing to read Paul’s words at Romans 14:1-4:
“Welcome the [man] having weaknesses in [his] faith, but not to make decisions on inward questionings. One [man] has faith to eat everything, but the [man] who is weak eats vegetables. Let the one eating not look down on the one not eating, and let the one not eating not judge the one eating, for God has welcomed that one. Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand.”
Ozzie (a clinker from way back, but who prefers a short black to a cappo)
Should a true Christian drink a cappucino?
Perhaps you have never considered the matter, but what are the origins of this popular beverage?
The name cappucino is derived from the word to describe the bones of 4,000 Capuchin friars in Rome, Italy. A visit to Rome may bring you to the Capuchin Crypt.
This is the description given in the book “Let’s Go Western Europe (St Martin’s Press)”:
Under the heading “TOO MUCH CAPPUCINO WILL DO THE SAME TO YOU” it reads,
“The bones of 4,000 Capuchin friars (for whom cappucino is named) decorate the four rooms of the Church of L’Immacolata Concezione’s Capuchin Crypt, one of the most bizarre and elaborately macabre settings in Rome. A French monk inaugurated the crypt in 1528, but never saw his brilliant concept brought to its completion because the crypt was not finished until 1870. Angels deck the halls, with hip bones serving as wings. The bodies of more recently dead friars stand, robed and hooded, beneath bone arches. Even the hanging lights are made of bones. Dirt was shipped in especially from Jerusalem to line the floors. The last chapel displays two severed arms with mummy-like skin hanging on the back wall. Also featured in this chapel is a child’s skeleton plastered to the ceiling, holding a scale and a reaper, and accompanied by the uplifting inscription: ‘What you are now we used to be, what we are now you will be’.”
Could it be that this beverage’s origins have escaped the notice of the F&DS, for instaed of alerting the readers to its unsavoury origins, the Awake! Magazine of November 8, 1967, on page 22 gave instructions for making the drink. In case any readers missed getting the instructions, here they are from the Awake! Magazine:
Instructions for Foaming Milk
To foam and/or steam milk for cappuccinos and lattes, you will need a steel pitcher, cold milk, and a milk steamer. If your espresso maker does not include a wand for milk steaming, you can purchase a stand-alone device for this purpose.
1. Fill a steel pitcher no more than halfway with cold milk.
2. Place the steam wand just under the surface of the milk, and open the steam valve.
3. Keep the tip of the wand barely under the surface, lowering the pitcher and incorporating more air as you foam.
4. The ideal temperature is usually reached when the pitcher becomes too hot to touch.
5. Close the steam valve, and remove the pitcher from under it. Then open the steam valve to clear any remaining milk, and wipe it with a damp cloth.
This may seem harmless, but is inconsistent with the views taken on other matters and customs where their origins are highlighted in the publications to warn true Christians to avoid them.
Take as an example, this one from the Awake! Of January 8, 1985, on page 27:
Under the heading Why the Clinking of Glasses? It reads:
“Have you ever noticed people at parties or in restaurants clinking their beverage glasses before taking a drink? If you asked them why they did this, most of them could not give you an answer. Or they may feel it is a harmless act among friends.
However, they may be surprised to learn that it is an ancient superstitious custom. According to the American Library Association, thousands of years ago people had the ridiculous notion that when they took a drink the Devil could enter their bodies through their open mouth. And they actually believed that this evil spirit could be frightened by noise. So to avoid this danger they noisily banged their goblets. In Europe, drinkers still bash their beer steins or make the sign of the cross. And some primitive people, including certain Africans, will ring bells before downing their drinks.”
So, it’s wrong to clink glasses because of some connection with something in the distant past, but the same does not apply to drinking cappucino.
You might be able to think of other examples of things or customs that are discouraged or even outlawed for JWs because of past connections.
One of these would be the cross on which Jesus is believed by many to have died.
The Reasoning book on page 92 makes this comment:
“How would you feel if one of your dearest friends was executed on the basis of false charges? Would you make a replica of the instrument of execution? Would you cherish it, or would you rather shun it?”
However you believe Jesus died, the above quoted principle would apply. Yet why does it not apply to the cappucino?
Perhaps too many brothers and sisters like to imbibe this tasty drink, and for it to be banned would create huge problems perhaps?
How refreshing to read Paul’s words at Romans 14:1-4:
“Welcome the [man] having weaknesses in [his] faith, but not to make decisions on inward questionings. One [man] has faith to eat everything, but the [man] who is weak eats vegetables. Let the one eating not look down on the one not eating, and let the one not eating not judge the one eating, for God has welcomed that one. Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand.”
Ozzie (a clinker from way back, but who prefers a short black to a cappo)