The World's Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

Teetotaling and Atheism

I imagine a lot of people here get drunk occasionally, and sometimes use drugs. As a person who has recently given up drinking (not an alcoholic or anything, just want to give it up for several reasons), I am beginning to see Religion as a self-imposed form of delusion, but also see being drunk, buzzed, or high as the same thing. Question is, can you be a "bright" and still be a "drunk" even an occasional one ? Not that we cant fall off the wagon every once in a while, but to be an advocate for occasional drunkenness or getting high seems to be at odds with being rational. Thoughts?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BecaT on April 11, 2010 at 11:11am

ITs just a thought. SImilar in my opinion to the eating of meat. Many people are opposed to eating meat for moral reasons involving the animals, but as a species we have been eating it for thousands of years. I study nutrition and would never advise someone to give up all forms of animal protein unless they truly wanted to for their own personal reasons. ( I wouldnt tell them to eat steak everyday, or binge eat either) I mean, studies have shown that drinking small amounts of alcohol can be good for your health. I dont think it is necessary for a good time, thats not my point, if someone feels that way about it, that could indicate a problem, but looking at it as part of our diet, or part of our culture...moderate drining of alcohol has been with ur for a while.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Pianko on April 11, 2010 at 5:10pm

Any amount of any alcohol is bad for you. Sure it has some nutrients, but all organic matter has nutrients, and you will get your nutrients, the same things in alcoholic beverages, from fruit or grapes! In addition to damaging your liver, putting too much stress on your liver, it damages your central nervous system and might do other damage. It is also generally not healthy to desire to derive enjoyment from any other food or drink.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Pianko on April 11, 2010 at 6:17pm

Yeah, man, I am for real, more real that some people who get drunk and can't distinguish between what is real vs what is imaginary. Ok, I didn't give up everything at once, it happened in stages, so I imagine that for a person to go from a typical diet to my diet in one big leap would cause a massive amount of discomfort, but after you psych yourself out and acquiesce to the fact that I follow just about the healthiest lifestyle, after the initial discomfort, and after you read the book I started to write about this...you too can have the energy and vitality I have.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Black Magick Woman on April 11, 2010 at 6:43pm

What if I don't give a shit about having the diet and lifestyle you have?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on April 11, 2010 at 6:48pm

BMW, you have a most excellent way of getting right to the nub of the issue.

Permalink Reply by Little Name Atheist on April 11, 2010 at 10:23pm

My bet's on the old man. Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

Permalink Reply by BecaT on April 11, 2010 at 11:03pm

In regards to diet...a extremly strict one is not necessarly the best for your health. Its not difficult to eat a variety of foods and have an appropriate nutrient/caloric intake. And there is nothing wrong from deviating from it from time to time. Strictness like that reminds me of religion, because it dictates what you can and can't do, not matter how you are feeling. It teaches you to not "give in to temptation", however in the long run, eating healthy becomes a way of life, rather than a strict set of rules to follow. And...alcohol is in fact not the terrible thing that many think it is. In moderation is ok, and often good for your health. and irregardless, there are many worse health habits than drinking alcohol.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TNT666 on April 12, 2010 at 3:20am

Gotta remember, there's this thing called evolution, over thousands and millions of years.

Early on we did not have grocery stores stocked with "diversity". We are not evolved for "diversity".

S-man's obsession with purity may be religious in its zealousness, but that doesn't make him wrong about health. We live in a decadent society, I've met plenty of fat fried chicken wing eating atheists. As a North American society, we take pride in our wastefullness and decadence, it is what we are, our very essence of an obese society.

Yeah, we could change it, but that would require obsession, and we don't want it right, we want the "freedom" to eat all the junk we eat, cuz then we prefer to pay for the pharmaceutical companies to sell us pills instead of the cheap way which would have been to take better care of ourselves.

But we make our choices right. Just stay away from that 'short' evolution concept. all wrong there...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TNT666 on April 12, 2010 at 3:09am

hundreds of years... evolved, AAhahaha

That's a good one, thanks for the late night laugh :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Little Name Atheist on April 11, 2010 at 10:25pm

Please video and upload to youtube! Can we, as rational atheists, place bets?

Oh Talia... shall we start another discussion topic? I mean, can you be truly rational if you want to gamble away your hard earned cash?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Little Name Atheist on April 11, 2010 at 11:05pm

You see, my dear Ms. Talia... it's a slippery slope. You start with toast and coffee, and then you're gambling your home and/or first born dog away for a crack pipe.

I highly recommend the benefits of Breatharianism, and no impure thoughts!