Alcohol is one of the key discoveries of mankind: the state of altered consciousness achieved with the help of alcohol intoxication was perceived in different peoples at one time as an act of divine revelation, a way of communicating with the “subtle” world, a way of knowing the hidden. It is under the influence of alcohol that works of art are often created, scientific paradoxes are solved and answers to questions that seemed insoluble are found.
The religious doctrines of the world could not fail to include in their concept such a significant factor of the human psycho-emotional state, especially since even today, in the age of scientific knowledge and materialism, there is no consensus on what exactly the state of altered consciousness is, and whether there is a sacred ( sacred) background.
Alcohol in Christianity
This religion treats alcohol positively and even with some respect: red wine, in particular, is considered the Blood of Christ and is included in the sacrament of Communion. There are many references to fermented grape juice in the New Testament: suffice it to recall the well-known story about turning water into wine at a wedding. In the Old Testament, in the Song of Songs, a young man in love (King Solomon himself) is compared to a vinedresser, and his beloved Shulamith is the sister of the vineyard owners.
Do not fall under the ban and other drinks. For example, the wife of the famous German theologian, reformer and Bible translator Martin Luther was a brewer, and the Guinness family created their famous brand of beer in honor of the worship of Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, excessive intoxication is condemned in Christianity, when a person cannot control himself and loses his worthy appearance (the plot about the daughters of Lot, the plot about the sons of Noah – Ham, Shem and Japhet). Drunken drunkards do not find sympathy either, since Holy Scripture teaches its followers to always be masters of their bodies, so as not to accidentally commit a reprehensible act and not harm other people.
If you wish, you can find quotes in the Bible both for and against alcohol, one thing is for sure: alcoholic beverages are not prohibited in Christianity, and in certain ritual situations they are even directly indicated for use.
Alcohol in Islam
In this religion, alcohol is completely prohibited – according to legend, it was the taboo on alcohol that at one time became the reason why Prince Vladimir decided to baptize Russia, and not convert it to Islam. The Koran believes that what is forbidden in large quantities is not allowed in small quantities, therefore the Christian approach, glorifying moderation, is not applicable here: alcohol is considered the root of evil and sin, an unclean and filthy offspring of Iblis – a genie who leads believers astray.
Of course, this prohibition also applies to other intoxicating substances, but it is known for certain that some Muslims still do not deny themselves simple joys: for example, the great Iranian poet and scholar Omar Khayyam was a great wine lover, many modern Islamic researchers also find in the Koran confirmation that alcohol is not as bad as it is commonly believed. For example, Allah said that “the first drop of wine destroys a person” – it turns out that if you shake it off, then the drink remaining in the glass is completely harmless! A fairly loyal attitude to alcohol in democratic and secular Turkey, while in the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia for appearing on the street while intoxicated, you can end up in jail.
The official position of Islam remains the same as it was a thousand years ago: alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Buddhism and alcohol
The concept of a strict prohibition of something does not correlate well with the most philosophical and humane of all world religions, but in Buddhism the attitude towards alcohol is more negative than positive. For example, the Eightfold Path includes following the canons of right behavior, which includes avoiding drunkenness. Does this mean that a Buddhist cannot even sip half a glass of light wine? No, only if the monk – after all, clouded consciousness moves away from enlightenment.
For lay people in Buddhism, the requirements are minimal, and everyday “sins” are forgiven for them. The state of constant awareness is the duty of one who follows the path of spiritual perfection, and alcohol, as well as drugs, clouds the mind.
Buddhism is heterogeneous: it has Mahayana, and Hinayana, and Tantrism, and Zen, and other directions, each of which relates to alcohol in its own way. In the bottom line, we can say the following: Buddhism does not consider wine a foul and ungodly drink, but it does not encourage its use, especially beyond measure.
