Cersei Lannister, Drunkenness and Closed Aisles at Target -- By Breanna Poole
Cersei Lannister, Drunkenness, and Closed Aisles at Target
by Breanna Poole
With this reading, I was unbelievably shocked how stringent John Calvin was when it came to the punishments for some of the missteps -- even the smallest infraction could lead to someone being hoisted up in front of the church and shamed. This is the most random comparison ever, so ignore it after I make it, but it kind of reminds me of the public shaming of Cersei on Game of Thrones, although her crimes were much more serious to be fair. Okay, random comparison over, back to the actual content.
One part that really stuck out to me was the part about drunkenness, mostly because of how similar it was to a lot of modern Baptists views on wine and alcohol. Growing up, it was always explained to me that Calvin had a bunch of really out-there concepts (which after this reading I see isn't all that true, as some things have rather valid arguments if you think about it), but that the Baptists weren't connected to Calvin or any of his teachings at all. But in actuality, the view of alcohol is similar on a level that won't convince me they didn't take it directly from him.
In Practical Matters, Calvin says people shouldn't give each other drinks, that taverns should be closed during services, and that if someone is drunk they shall be punished. I'm going to be real with you guys, I'm not really sure what a 'sous' is, I think it's a currency, but I tried looking it up but I couldn't find any information, so I think the punishment was a fine? I'm not really sure, so if I'm wrong please feel free to call me out on that. But still, that's eerily similar to Baptists, at least the one's I know, as they won't give each other alcohol and hardly ever drink it (which is an understandable choice) but what really got me was the tavern not being open.
For the longest time in Alabama, you could not sell alcohol to anyone before noon on a Sunday. Although I think that law has now been thrown out, I still have very vivid memories of seeing alcohol aisles at Target and Wal-Mart closed off if we for some reason had to go early on Sunday morning, meaning the law at least was in effect within the past fifteen years. Alabama is a state that is heavily influenced by Baptist influence, and I hardly think it's a stretch to say that Alabama is and was heavily influenced by religious views, so I would say it's completely within reason to say that alcohol thing was religiously motivated.
I just find it really funny that Calvin is considered some kind of radical, at least in the circles I grew up in, but meanwhile we live in a state that basically practiced something he stood very vehemently for.
P.S. I commented on Sydney and Sophia's blog posts.
by Breanna Poole
With this reading, I was unbelievably shocked how stringent John Calvin was when it came to the punishments for some of the missteps -- even the smallest infraction could lead to someone being hoisted up in front of the church and shamed. This is the most random comparison ever, so ignore it after I make it, but it kind of reminds me of the public shaming of Cersei on Game of Thrones, although her crimes were much more serious to be fair. Okay, random comparison over, back to the actual content.
One part that really stuck out to me was the part about drunkenness, mostly because of how similar it was to a lot of modern Baptists views on wine and alcohol. Growing up, it was always explained to me that Calvin had a bunch of really out-there concepts (which after this reading I see isn't all that true, as some things have rather valid arguments if you think about it), but that the Baptists weren't connected to Calvin or any of his teachings at all. But in actuality, the view of alcohol is similar on a level that won't convince me they didn't take it directly from him.
In Practical Matters, Calvin says people shouldn't give each other drinks, that taverns should be closed during services, and that if someone is drunk they shall be punished. I'm going to be real with you guys, I'm not really sure what a 'sous' is, I think it's a currency, but I tried looking it up but I couldn't find any information, so I think the punishment was a fine? I'm not really sure, so if I'm wrong please feel free to call me out on that. But still, that's eerily similar to Baptists, at least the one's I know, as they won't give each other alcohol and hardly ever drink it (which is an understandable choice) but what really got me was the tavern not being open.
For the longest time in Alabama, you could not sell alcohol to anyone before noon on a Sunday. Although I think that law has now been thrown out, I still have very vivid memories of seeing alcohol aisles at Target and Wal-Mart closed off if we for some reason had to go early on Sunday morning, meaning the law at least was in effect within the past fifteen years. Alabama is a state that is heavily influenced by Baptist influence, and I hardly think it's a stretch to say that Alabama is and was heavily influenced by religious views, so I would say it's completely within reason to say that alcohol thing was religiously motivated.
I just find it really funny that Calvin is considered some kind of radical, at least in the circles I grew up in, but meanwhile we live in a state that basically practiced something he stood very vehemently for.
P.S. I commented on Sydney and Sophia's blog posts.
I really like how you pieced this together, Breanna! Speaking from a personal view of Calvinism, I had only met Calvinists who were mean, and arrogant, as well as stuck up... So, I read the whole thing in my "religionist" way, because, quite frankly, I have reasons to not like the Calvinists. So, I guess I didn't exactly read it correctly. Putting aside my personal visions and views of it, I can honestly see where you're coming from and it makes sense. Whereas I had first been upset about his views on dancing (I'm a dancer, so...), I notice that that is the TYPICAL Baptist view to a degree. I mean, I have yet to meet a Baptist boy that can dance other than my brother who I taught. When I find one, I'm dancing. Because I need that in my life. Lol. Anyhow, the way you pieced this together helped me open my eyes to what he was saying, and while I still think Calvinism is heretical and wrong, he does make some valid points. -Abbigayle Ebling
ReplyDeleteOne of the most entertaining things about studying different theologies is that calling someone “out there” and “radical” can mean one of two things. It means they’re either wildly liberal with their theology, discarding most (if not all) of what the Bible teaches quite bluntly, or they’re wildly literal with their theology, taking the Bible for its word in a way that many Christians are uncomfortable with. Calvin is obviously the second kind, trying to fit Biblical living into every minute aspect of his earthly existence. The idea is simple: he wants to eradicate anything and everything that could cause him to sin or even begin to lead to causing him to sin. He wants to cut sin off at the roots as close to the ground as humanly possible, from what I gather. He basically does what every Christian should want to do, only he takes it five steps further—that’s essentially what his radicalism is. Whether that’s a bad thing or not, I’ll leave to you.
ReplyDeleteBut Baptists and alcohol? I agree, it’s the same deal! This is where Baptist’s do just what I described Calvin as doing. “Drunkenness is a sin, not drinking, but drinking can lead to drunkenness, so it’s best not to start down that road—we’ll just make alcohol pseudo-anathema in our circles,” is the train of thought I gather. I’ll never drink for something close to that reason…
Some counties in Alabama still to this day hold the noon law on alcohol for Sundays. As for Baptiists, I was raised in ultra conservative churches that alcohol was absolutely forbidden for members. When I was in the military, I dd quite a bit of drinking. A few drinks won't break you, but most people take it too far. My dad is a pastor in one of those churches, but he is more biblical than most. the Bible does not forbid alcohol. For that matter, wine was a staple drink because clean water was not always easy to find. Over-consumption is where the Bible draws the line. Calvin was pretty accurate on that at least. Drinking wasn't forbidden, simply closed off until services were done.
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