Some initial thoughts include:
I attempt to be as inclusive as possible in my approach to culture. However, careful and cautious thought (and action) is (are) required.
I’m uninformed about the origin and purpose of ‘hubbly’ which should be influential factors as to whether one takes that the stand that the occasional ‘hubbly’ is immoral.
For integrity's sake it worth noting that some of the most popular Christian authors were smokers. That confessed I’m also very aware of the human tendency to 'pet moralities'... Smoking is evil! Chocolate is a blessing! In my mind this emphasises again the importance of rigour and consistency of thought. Neither should be dismissed. Logically it follows then, that something used appropriately constitutes a moral use thereof. Consequently, something used inappropriately (or abused) constitutes an immoral use thereof. (Abuse is here defined in a broad sense and could include the abuse of Christian freedom, of another person, a substance, ones body or the abuse of context).
St Paul argues that everything is permissible but not necessarily beneficial. Elsewhere, that leaders are to be above reproach (In Paul I think a case can be made that 'above reproach' could be defined contextually). Also important for Paul is that we are Spirit led... Which begs the question: Is the Spirit leading us to smoke 'hubbly bubbly', drink alcohol, eat chocolate, or make use of social networking tools like Facebook, etc?
Other Pauline arguments that I think may apply (by extension)
include :
- Your physical body is a temple honour God with it (1 Cor 6).
- Don't cause others to stumble by the abuse of your freedom (Rom 14).
- Food eaten in the presence of demons constitutes demonic worship (1 Cor 8- 10).
How would you answer my friend's question?
13 comments:
Does the communal hookah smoking lead to a sort of communal oneness/solidarity as in Brave New World's (obligatory) Community Singery?
Huxley has his characters sing the orgy-porgy song, as I recall...
Having read the blog I must agree with most of the points raised. I however do believe that Hookah does have it's social benfits for the modern christian.
As you saud Paul wrote that all things are permissable but not all things benficial. I believe that Hubbly canbe beneficial at times. Hubbly acts as a sort of social catalyst for the younger generation, allowing a comfortable environment where one can discuss pretty much anything from cars to religion to politics and I do believe that this can be very beneficial for a generation that suffers from lack of information in many areas.
I don't believe that all the hubbly's should be written of just yet. Hubbly is just as effective and as usefull as taking your friends to McDonalds to build relationship. McDonalds isn't the best thing for one's body but in moderation it's in the same league as hubbly.
I wouldn't put Mcd's in the same category as hubs. According to your argument Wantu, both are good for the emotions and (therefore) good for (the enhancement of) social interaction.
But mcd's is not bad for you. In moderation it can be good for you. In moderation it offers some form of nutrition, and nurishment. I would argue (against those who say) that hubs offers you some nutritious.
Wantu, does hubbly offer you anything other than soulish delight, or social catalyst?
I have yet to read the WHO article, but i would imagine (correction is welcomed) that it says in moderation, hubbly has little to no side effects but research has shown that copius amounts indicate increased risk of tb and whatever else.
Did we really need science to prove that hubbly (or anything) out of moderation = bad.
Should relationship be built around 'hubbly' or any other social practice?
I would argue the nutritional value of McDonalds but thats another debate all together.
Yes anything out of moderation is bad and science isn't the only way to come to that revelation. The point was that Hub in moderation can have positive effects. The positive effects may have nothing to do with your health but they are positive none the less. Watching a movie with a friend does nothing for your health but can be good for you none the less.
My arguement is not that Hubbly is good for your health or will do wonders for your body but rather that if it done in moderation it can improve other aspects of life like social interaction with those who find comfort in it.
In response to the question, "Should relationship be built around 'hubbly' or any other social practice?" I believe that we should use whatever tools that we can to build relationship with people while holding firm to Biblical values and Morality. Due to Hooka not being a question of morality i'd say, as my teacher always says, "God doesn't care" unless it is coming between you and God. To quote another teacher, "Does it bring life or does it bring death" I believe that Hub can in fact bring life or rather assist in the process.
Has anyone done research into the historical origins and purposes of hookah smoking?
I would think that this is vital before we claim using hookah is not a moral issue...
A brief History: The Hookah was invented in India in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542 - 1605 CE) Following the European introduction of tobacco to India, Hakim Abul Fateh Gilani who was a physician in the court of Mughal raised concerns after smoking tobacco became popular among Indian noblemen, and subsequently envisaged a system which allowed smoke to be passed through water in order to be 'purified'. Gilani invented the Hookah after Asad Beg, then ambassador of Bijapur, encouraged Akbar to take up smoking.Following popularity among noblemen, this new device for smoking soon became a status symbol for the Indian aristocracy and gentry.
Reference:
1)http://www.thecolorsofindia.com/hookah/hookah-history.html
2)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah#History
There's an article at on this site http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=1692&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0 It is titled Beyond the Smoke, There is Solidarity Among Cultures. It speaks exactly of my point of how Hooka brings diverse cultures and people together create an environment for communication whichother wise would probably would not have benn there had it not been for the Hooka. The article also suggests that Hooka serves as an alternative to smoking and drinking, “It diversifies the cultures,” said Saba Mohammad, a native of Baghdad and current journalism sophomore at the University of New Mexico (UNM). “We can just relax with the hookah, people like it more than drinking or cigarettes. It’s a great alternative to partying, which I’m not interested in.”
Somehow seems to me as if Michael and Dave are discussing an issue purely out of head knowledge and no experience at all, Factual evidence is critical for this discussion. A person that discusses the negative aspects of sky diving but has never actually gone sky diving cannot possible begin to imagine the thrill and pure fun experienced by somebody that has actually done it- SMOKE A HUB MICHAEL AND DAVE- I have smoked hub before and had great conversations about my faith with unbelievers while doing so, they find it interesting that christianity is not as religious as the church makes it seem, rather than causing a brother to stumble I have managed to positively influence and be "the light in the dark" as my friend Wantu has aid, hub brings cultures together and creates a wonderful platform for many different religions to interact and share in beliefs. You cant get high or drunk or addicted to hub, you decide when you have had enough and its far too much of an effort to pack a hub everyday by yourself...... so yeah I think hub is great( coz Indians invented it) Delwyn Rajkuar
I've heard people say that cannabis and brings soldarity between cultures aswell, I would venture to mention that maybe you are putting to much emphasis on the fact that you need a hookah to engage people in conversation. My point is that even if you can have a really deep theological conversation with someone while sharing a pipe, ultimatly you are indifferent to them because you do exactly what they do, the Christ your life is portraying is one that so weak he needes a hookah to engage people, who would want to know someone like that?
so my stand is thus: if you want to smoke hookah, smoke hookah, if you want to make a difference in the world, be the difference.
I fail to understand how making a difference must mean you completely different? We are called to be in the world but not of it? Which still means thaty we are to be able to relate to people where they are at, St Paul goes so far as to say that he will be all things to all people so that by all ways he may save some.
There's no point in being so heavenly that we become no earthly good.
This is what irritates me, mostly about myself, but about life in general.
Medical doctors have proven this and that. And then someone saying that assumes authority, over a subject. But hasn't medicine lied to us. Me, i don't have the resources (money, energy, time or inclination) to research the thing myself, so i am forced to make a faith based decision.
And it's that way with too many things in my life.
My irritation is not with making faith based decisions, but with the unreliability of so called facts, that science has "proven". But maybe it is that way, so that we will make more decisions, based on what God tells us to do.
What say you.
Well said RockerKEI!!
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