Some Christians and Alcohol Consumption

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Some previous threads that may interest you:

The Devil's Grape Juice: A Tale Of Religion

aldiboronti’s thread about Shirley MacLaine and the Holocaust, over in the BBQ Pit, got me to thinking about the nature of belief… and how it can very much affect how you interact with your fellow humans. And it also brought to mind a reminiscence… Once upon a time, I made pizza with a Christian. I was raised Methodist, but it didn’t take too well. I could be considered a Christian, albeit not a very good one. I always kind of liked Ben Franklin’s “Deist” idea, myself. But in the course of my …

Jesus' Wine and Hrothgar's Mead

A teetotaling Christian (trying to convince of the validity of his lifestyle) once told me that modern winemaking techniques are designed to make the wine more potent, alcohol-wise, than ancient wine, and that the wine that Jesus & Co. drank would have been basically indistinguishable from grape juice due to the very low alcohol content. I’m not buying it. Has anyone been able to make wine by replicating 1st-century (or earlier) Roman winemaking methods? How was it? What was the alcohol content…

Was the wine in the Bible, Non-alcoholic?

A Seven-day Adventist was telling me that the wine in the Bible is not the same wine today. Difference being that the biblical wine has no alcohol? I also hear some Christian denominations don’t use wine for communion? Is it true? Was alcoholic wine a relatively recent developement?

Is the wine in the bible really grape juice?

Someone I talked to claims this. I find it hard to believe, as wine was used in ancient times. I checked Scientific American, and got no answers. So I throw it to the teeming millions. Thanks!

Scriptural support for non-drinking?

I have noticed among many Christian Churches, specifically Baptists denominations, remaining abstinent from alcohol is encouraged, if not required, in fellowship. Is there scriptural basis for this? My recollection of Jesus’ first miracle (water into wine) seems to be a clear sign that the Big Guy finds nothing wrong with taking a drink now and again…how did this become such a widespread practice?