Greetings
I n I nah pass judgement on those that do take alcohol and those that say its irie to drink but I don't believe it has a place in RasTafarI Order. This is because when Ones take the Nazarite Vow in Numbers 6 it tells you to eat nothing of the vine, nothing fermented. I personally can't bring I self to eat grapes because of I associate them with wine even though I know you can make alcohol from virtually anything - potatoes, apples, grains etc. But there are some traditional teachings I rose with and I can't bring ISelf to feel irie with alcohol in RasTafarI. I'm not closed off to reasonings of other Ites but this is just how I feel.
Another thing is that to I, the whole history of the alcohol industry is one built on death, corruption and capitalsm - a deadly cocktail. Look at the drinking cultures of the world over Africans were tricked into selling their land for guns and alcohol, same thing with Native Americans, Aboriginies and now look at how nations of peoples have become addicted or killed bec of alcohol. Yes, yes, I know blame the system not the object, but to I it represents a tool of conquest.
Added to that the drinking cultures of the youth today, pub culture in the UK is bad - on Friday nights you can't even walk through Central London because they are jammed in the bars and people spill over onto the streets. Thousands of them drinking away and that's why they say TGIF! Nonsense!Its not just in the UK but in different places of the globe on ALL Continents alcohol culture has a massive following of youth. It has the effect of making some pple violent, others addicted and so many lose their vision in life because of it. In excess people's physiques change and their personality changes. And when you think of how much the industry makes from pushing alcohol onto the youth its sickening and I can't associate ISelf with that. It has so many effects on the body that they never tell people of and so many die of alcohol-related causes.
This is just I feeling; if I n I seek a bodily livity of a Spiritual Order then I n I cannot associate with things that canker the soul and reek of death. Please note that I'm not ignoring the role alcohol has in religious ceremonies like in some Churches or in some native cultures. I overs it has its place in that particular setting but for I, as a RasTa. I say no, I pass on the drink.
Selassie I Liveth and Reigneth
JAH Live
p.s If "Jesus turned water to wine not soymilk" - well duh! Its a classic defence I've heard from Christians and drinkers. Have y'ever considered it was also the way the people lived at the time, in their culture they drank wine at weddings. BUT whose to say Christ drank it? Whose to say how intoxicating it was?
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