Addiction in Society

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTENF1iEtts&feature=related

This advert is selling me aspirational-overpriced t-shirts.

Never mind the perfect, beautiful, well behaved and successful family.

Romney has the worse narrative to have as a candidate in this climate. He made his money destroying other families livelihood and his church going smiling family has no problems with that.

What no Sons of Anarchy chez les Mormons?

Never invite a Mormon to go fishing with you because he'll drink all your beer. Invite two Mormons, because then neither will drink.

I have had the good fortune to have had members of the Latter Day Saints Church as neighbors, co-workers, and close friends. Although I am not of their religious persuassion they have always been open to explaining their beliefs. The key to use of alcohol, nicotine, and caffiene is that they refrain rather than abstain. These things are regarded as harmful to the body and therefore should be avoided. This is reinforced through CBT by parents, church community, and church elders. Here in Michigan (the Romney's stomping grounds) they mix freely with society as a whole and are willing to discuss their belief's without puritanical judgemnt of differing views. Perhaps other conservative theologies might learn from their examples.

In the military, our social group would meet at the NCO club for a few ( and sometime more) beers. When my mormon friend got close to the end of his enlistment he seemed somewhat dispondant. We asked him why, when he was so close to returning to civilian life. He said he would miss the morning coffee, an occasional cigarette and drinking with friends. We mentioned quite a few of your suggestions (and more) and he felt better giving up a few vices and benefits for the security of home, family and community. Situations that reveal your mortality force you to chose your own best path to the inevitable. Contrary to the first of the 12 steps, you ARE NOT Powerless.

My wife's answer to the "Jesus drank wine" scenario is that it was safer than the water available at that time.

No alcohol, cigarettes, tea, caffeine, drugs, no swearing, no sex unless married.

Twilight makes so much sense now, for the “benefits for the security of home, family and community” Edward makes Bella into a vampire to save her. Forever the insecure - little mouse -doormat - co-dependent to be, looking for a knight in shiny armor to give her status and save her from life’s ugly truths and vicissitudes, she fails to see he is a controlling - entitled little creep in the body of an unwashed vegetarian teenager that will demand total submission.

Paging Eric Northman, being kept on your toes with a vice or 2 is half the fun.

• I've never met a fat Mormon.

• During my 50+ years of dwelling in the fog of Christian fundamentalism, I never used tobacco, used illegal narcotics, tasted an alcoholic beverage, or cheated on my wife. My record holds nearly ten years later. The motive is no longer esoteric religion, but esoteric sense.

• I find it peculiar that fundamentalists find uttering the word 'a--hole' to be sinful though being an a--hole is perfectly legit.

• The different paths taken by militant Mormons and militant Muslims is interesting. I doubt you will ever see Mormons blowing themselves up. And I doubt you will ever see a Muslim Tabernacle Choir.

I'd like to clarify that some protestant denominations forbid alcohol use, but not all. I was raised and still am United Methodist. My mother and her family despises drinking of all types, but my father and his family were more lenient and I adopted his attitude. My mom tolerates me having a drink once in a while, and I have even had a drink or two with my pastor.

I agree, though. When someone raised with such strict standards does rebel against them, the results tend to be disastrous.