Marijuana

[bananabrain]

True but then again it doesn't say anything about
"Thou shalt not grab a rifle and run a river of blood of the unholy through your cities and cleanse your city in the wrath of God." Does it?

actually it kind of does. but no, actually it's not OK to do, because we haven't got the right sort (or wrong sort) of unholy nowadays.

I have a Desert Eagle which has no papers, but yes weapons are what I do best. Sadly there aren't much jobs apart from in the military where my weapon and killing training is of much use.... *shrugs his shoulders...*

mph. you could work in the security industry or, dare i say it, in the police. i don't wish to be rude, but i can't approve, i'm afraid.

It is apart of many things to why I arm myself.. I cannot get out of the military habit, I also have it for a piece of mind... I used to get.... paranoid at nights? Not dangerously but I couldn't sleep well thinking someone wanted me dead... lol So now I can.

i have to say that you would be far better off having counselling for this than having a weapon that you could use. does your girlfriend know about it? more to the point, does she approve?

i have to say that i think introducing firearms and prostitution into this discussion muddy the waters. drugs are one thing - the moral issues are very, very different. firearms and prostitution are simply not the same types of issues - conflating them does nothing for the clarity of argument, except to continue the misguided notion that chemicals have moral qualities. of course both guns and drugs have moral questions associated with their usage, but guns are a law and order issue, not an entertainment and health issue. you cannot have the same law for two different sets of needs and attitudes.

b'shalom

bananabrain

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by bananabrain

mph. you could work in the security industry or, dare i say it, in the police. i don't wish to be rude, but i can't approve, i'm afraid.


i have to say that you would be far better off having counselling for this than having a weapon that you could use. does your girlfriend know about it? more to the point, does she approve?

but guns are a law and order issue, not an entertainment and health issue. you cannot have the same law for two different sets of needs and attitudes.

b'shalom

bananabrain

I would love to be a police officer, not sure if my leg has healed enough though....
My Girlfriend knows I have it and she doesn't approve too much, but sure she would be thankful if it was needed. I agree also that this is changing the subject so I shall not any more on the gun issues also last thing it is a health issue if you catch one in the head lol.

[bananabrain]

it is a health issue if you catch one in the head lol.

it is an entertainment issue if you like shooting-and-shouting movies (which i do) - i dare say anything can be confused enough if you try!

b'shalom

bananabrain

[Quahom1]

Hi all,


Since this thread has nothing to do with Christianity (even in the most far flung concept), I've taken the liberty to place it among Societal issues.

Here I think it will thrive...

v/r

Q

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Hi all,


Since this thread has nothing to do with Christianity (even in the most far flung concept), I've taken the liberty to place it among Societal issues.

Here I think it will thrive...

v/r

Q

yah good idea Q.
i guess one other thing i would consider with honesty of heart & from a Christian perspective, since it started in the Christian forum is:

WWJD?

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Bandit

yah good idea Q.
i guess one other thing i would consider with honesty of heart & from a Christian perspective, since it started in the Christian forum is:

WWJD?

'Cause I'm slow...

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

'Cause I'm slow...

Not smoke pot...

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Not smoke pot...

that is what i think too

[juantoo3]

Kindest Regards, 17th!

I would love to be a police officer,...

Just an observation, but wouldn't that be like some form of conflict of interest? You know, the fox guarding the henhouse...?

[juantoo3]

Kindest Regards, BB!

i have to say that i think introducing firearms and prostitution into this discussion muddy the waters. drugs are one thing - the moral issues are very, very different. firearms and prostitution are simply not the same types of issues - conflating them does nothing for the clarity of argument, except to continue the misguided notion that chemicals have moral qualities. of course both guns and drugs have moral questions associated with their usage, but guns are a law and order issue, not an entertainment and health issue. you cannot have the same law for two different sets of needs and attitudes.

OK, I think I see what you are saying. So the recreational use thing is not a consent issue then?

[juantoo3]

Kindest Regards, Bandit!

WWJD?

Actually, that is what I am attempting to get at.

It is easy to make the assumption, but would He really object if it were not against the law of the land? Considering the crowd He hung out with, I am inclined to think the simple answer is just a bit, well, too simple.

What medicines did doctors have in the time of Jesus? Surely there was use of substance for recreational purposes, afterall Jesus not only drank wine at a wedding, He made a whole bunch of it too for others to drink.

I realize there is no direct reference (that I recall) to the use of herbal relaxants, but I seem to recall a fight between Rachel and another of Jacob's wives over a mandrake root, which as I recall was supposed to be an aphrodesiac (sp?).

And then considering the Church's absorption of local tradition and custom into the various regional churches, it would not surprise me to learn of places where herbs are either toleranted or folded into the regional practice. Haiti, perhaps?

What about the use of peyote by AmerIndians in the South West, and other similar substances in Central America and Africa in the indigenous religions. I am not speaking of the Western materialist tradition of highjacking something for mass consumption and profit (as was done with tobacco), these things were and are still used in a reverent way in the course of the pursuit of the spiritual traditions of many indigenous cultures.

Which raises another point, is the intent and motivation behind the use a determining factor behind acceptability in God's eyes?

I am actually trying to get at the ethical and moral issues per the Bible with this. I realize it is a difficult subject for many, but since it was raised it is one I have struggled with for a long time. Hence my questions.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Bandit

WWJD?

Good way to look at it, Bandit. To me this means He would ask us:

1) does it interfere with your ability to love God?
2) does it interfere with your ability to love your neighbor (family, friends, etc.)

And I keep in mind that love is an action, not just a nice feeling, which includes keeping up on responsibilities and obligations we have to our families, neighbors and society.

The answers to those questions will vary from person to person, but speaking for myself the answers would be yes and yes. As Faithful and others pointed out, there are medicinal uses for marijuana and other drugs that are used for recreational purposes. And for peyote and drugs used in some cultures and religions, I think these are usually strictly controlled by social mores, customs, and rituals surrounding their use.

peace,
lunamoth

[InLove]

Hi, Peace to Y'all Here--

Honestly, this is the most thoughtful and sensible conversation I have seen in years regarding this issue. (Thanks for the concern about the kids, Juan and all of you--as you probably know by now, it actually turned out to be a blessing that they could not afford to leave the Houston area--big sigh of relief!!)

The marijuana issue is a catch-22, for now. I have some ideas that could help, but I am not going to be sent into Congress or Parliament or what-have-you in my lifetime. And, to tell you the truth, as strongly as I feel about the issue, there are bigger ones that we all have to deal with on a daily basis. Maybe I should have gone into politics when I was young--LOL--thought music would be more lucrative (who am I kidding? Was I worried about "lucrative"? Nope--just loved music. Still do. )

Anyway, I really do thank you all for an actual intelligent conversation on this subject--it is refreshing, and it really does help me believe that I am not entirely idiotic in my thoughts and beliefs.

InPeace,
InLove

[I, Brian]

And as we're steering back to the original question - well, I don't see an argument that *any* herb that affects the biochemical pathways of the human pathways therefore means it is Divine - after all, there are plenty that will cause serious illness or death.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by juantoo3

Kindest Regards, Bandit!



Which raises another point, is the intent and motivation behind the use a determining factor behind acceptability in God's eyes?

I am actually trying to get at the ethical and moral issues per the Bible with this. I realize it is a difficult subject for many, but since it was raised it is one I have struggled with for a long time. Hence my questions.

i have felt the same way Juan. i even know some who found Christ while doing drugs & reading the bible. i know they did not continue using afterward.
i dont really have an answer but i just cant see Jesus smoking, pill popping or shooting up anything for some reason. (even if he was in the flesh right now with us) i kind of see these things as temptation that we can get caught up in, with the exception of medicine & such.

though like you or someone mentioned before about the abuse of prescriptions. what can i say.

Like Luna said, & i have to agree I think these things will eventually come between us & God & the people we love if we are not careful. I have to admit the drug world is not a pretty picture & not everyone has the ability to get out of it on there own.
OTH, i can't see Jesus stuffing his face full of pork sausage & bacon every day either. LOL
i suppose it could get rather complicated & i should just leave at that.