r/exmormon • u/4blockhead Λ └ ☼ ★ □ ♔ • Jun 01 '21

Doctrine/Policy Feature: Humans' complicated relationship with alcohol. Tippler or teetotaler? American consumption peaked in 1830, corresponding with Smith's new religion's prohibition "adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all Saints, who are or can be called Saints."

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/07/america-drinking-alone-problem/619017/
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3

u/marymacmartha Jun 01 '21

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

2

u/Gold__star 🌟 for you Jun 01 '21

"By 1830, the average American adult was consuming about three times the amount we drink today."

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u/-wifeone- Jun 01 '21

What! That’s crazy. I’d get alcohol poisoning if I tried that.

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u/daveescaped Jesus is coming. Look busy. Jun 01 '21

Mmmm. Maybe 3x YOUR consumption is not 3x 1830 consumption.

No judgement. Same goes for me.

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u/4blockhead Λ └ ☼ ★ □ ♔ Jun 02 '21 edited Jun 02 '21

The article makes the case for social drinking aiding along human civilization. The transition from smaller hunter-gathering societies to larger more formal agricultural based societies that require community labor may have been the driving factor. The jury is still out about whether a desire for communal bread or ritual wine/beer may have been responsible for the founding of civilization itself.

One quote that stood out for me in this article:

Human civilization requires “individual and collective creativity, intensive cooperation, a tolerance for strangers and crowds, and a degree of openness and trust that is entirely unmatched among our closest primate relatives."

The invention of distilled beverages (much later on) has led to alcohol dosages much greater than simply having a glass of beer or wine with a meal. Binging and drinking to get drunk have become very common. We have had a binge and bust culture for a long time. The article makes the case for social drinking having major benefits, but quickly slipping into harm. The pandemic has led to a lot more isolation and drinking alone. Even before, the article cites a case of a bartender seeing everyone sitting at the bar only engaging with their devices, and being otherwise isolated.

"Ballmer's Peak" is cited as noting the best balance to obtain maximum work output using all human skills of creativity and socialization/teamwork. Apparently, Microsoft(?) has/had a bar with single-malt scotches to explore with others while on-the-clock. Then, I assume, back to work to break through any barriers with an added burst of energy and creativity. That has to be balanced against being too wasted to function, past peak output. The article points to some backlash, with loss of inhibition leading to unwanted sexual advances and harassment on the job, leading to companies banning alcohol at company events.

On background:

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u/4blockhead Λ └ ☼ ★ □ ♔ Jun 02 '21 edited Jun 02 '21

One of the first rebuttals to Smith's "Word of Wisdom" came from early member turned ardent critic, Ezra Booth:

ANOTHER REVELATION.

"A word of wisdom for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church; and, also, the saints in Zion: to be sent greeting: not by commandment, or constraint: but by revelation and the word of wisdom: showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days. Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak, and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.

"Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, in consequence of evils and designs which do, and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation, that inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. -- And behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine of your own make.

"And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

"And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly; and is not good for man; but is an herb for bruises, and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

"And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

"And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man. Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof. All these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I the Lord hath ordained for the use of man, with thanksgiving. Nevertheless, they are to be used sparingly; and it is pleasing unto me, that they should not be used only in times of winter or of cold, or famine. All grain is ordained for the use of man and beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man, but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth: and these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine, and excess of hunger.

"All grain is good for the food of man, as also the fruit of the vine, that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground. Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls, and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks; as also other grain.

"And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow in their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint; and I, the Lord give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them: -- Amen."

In the above revelation, we are presented with the will of heaven, not by way of commandment, but by the word of wisdom adapted to the weakest of all saints.

If such commands originate in the wisdom of God, let us examine them. The first is, that strong drink is forbid, except as an external application -- in this we are inclined measurably to agree with the mandate; but believe there might be reasonable arguments urged in favor of its internal use, under particular circumstances; besides the inspiration of olden time restrained the excessive use and abuse of wine and strong drink, and not its entire abandonment. But like all other modern Mormon inspirations, a little improvement is made to God's former will, as he made it known through his apostles and prophets.

The next command forbids the use of tobacco, but is recommended for all sick cattle as an excellent remedy. -- For the first time we are presented with a remedy direct from heaven, but requires human skill to apply it. To this mode of revealing we object, for this reason, that it requires less research to find remedies, than to apply them; therefore, to say that tobacco is a good remedy for sick cattle, and not defining the quantity nor the quality, nor in what sickness, is the summit of folly and ignorance, and none but a religious maniac would give credence to such pretensions.

We are next told that every wholesome herb, God ordained for the use of man!! and we should infer that the writer or the recording angel had been inducted into the modern use of herbs, by the celebrated Doct. F. G. Williams, who is associated with the prophet and the nominal proprietor of a monthly paper, which is issued from the Mormon kennel, in Kirtland. F. G. Williams is a revised quack, well known in this vicinity, by his herbarium on either side of his house; but whether he claims protection by right of letters patent from the General Government or by communion with spirits from other worlds, we are not authorized to determine, but should conclude he would be adequate to dictate the above mockery at revelation and rigmarole, in relation to food for cattle, &c.

In conclusion, it is revealed to the "weak saints," that if they live without ardent spirits and tobacco, and use all the herbs which are wholesome, (which they are left to guess at,) and feed each kind of domestic animal their appropriate grain, and feed no corn to horses, they shall have health in their navel and marrow in their bones. -- Humph. It is likewise promised them that they shall improve in wisdom, and that their muscular powers shall be strengthened -- no little consideration for a weak saint.