cannabisnews.com: What Do Christian Groups Think About Marijuana?





What Do Christian Groups Think About Marijuana?
Posted by CN Staff on March 20, 2007 at 15:35:32 PT
By Torie Bosch
Source: Slate Magazine 
Washington, DC -- On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a First Amendment case involving a high-school student who was suspended for holding a sign that said "Bong Hits 4 Jesus." His provocative slogan turns out to have been little more than a ploy to get on TV. But what do Christian groups really think about marijuana?It depends on the Christians, and it depends on the weed. Many major Christian denominations and religious groups have issued statements supporting medicinal marijuana use.
The Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, and the Episcopal Church have all either issued resolutions or signed statements supporting the use of marijuana under the supervision of a doctor. The Episcopal Church's 1982 resolution even delves into politics by saying that it "urges the adoption by Congress and all states of statutes providing that the use of marijuana be permitted when deemed medically appropriate by duly licensed medical practitioners." There are biblical rationales for such a position. The Presbyterian Church's position on pot-smoking, which they adopted during a June 2006 General Assembly, notes that Matthew 25:35 calls for people to give aid to those who are suffering. Many Christians in favor of medicinal marijuana use this line of argument, saying that if it helps ease the pain of people dying from cancer, it's a good thing.But churches that support prescription cannabis don't always endorse bong hits just for the fun of it. The United Methodist Church considers marijuana a gateway drug. At the Episcopal Church's 1982 General Convention, a resolution was passed "proclaiming there are harmful effects which can be permanently disabling with the use of marijuana." The Presbyterian Church is less strict; it stated in 1971 and again in 2006 that "marijuana is not properly classified … and conclusive evidence is lacking that it produces physiological effects or automatically leads to the use of more serious, addictive drugs."Other churches take more of a hard-line approach to marijuana. The Catholic Church says that drugs "constitute direct co-operation in evil" and does not seem to make exceptions for marijuana. The Vatican has condemned legalizing "soft drugs" like marijuana, and its newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, recently scolded Italian lawmakers for liberalizing pot-possession laws. The Mormon church (whose members consider themselves Christians) also strongly advises members to refrain from smoking marijuana, though it has no established position on medical use.Some small Christian groups, like Christians for Cannabis, advocate smoking pot. A fringe Christian and Jewish sect calling itself Temple 420 uses marijuana as a sacrament. Police raided the temple in February, and the pastor is facing drug charges. Note: The Christian doctrine on bong hits.Source: Slate Magazine (US Web)Author:  Torie BoschPublished: Tuesday, March 20, 2007Copyright: 2007 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLCContact: letters slate.comWebsite: http://www.slate.com/URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2162292Related Articles & Web Site:ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/High Schooler's Fun Unites Right and Left http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22781.shtmlBong Hits 4 Jesushttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22780.shtmlUp in Smoke At The High Courthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22778.shtml
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Comment #20 posted by Toker00 on March 23, 2007 at 03:46:50 PT
Wet behind the ears Reporter.
Actually, 420 is slang for a meeting time for SMOKING cannabis. "Marihuana" is Anslinger's racist slang for Cannabis. Get your facts straight, son, before you hit "PUBLISH".Toke.
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on March 22, 2007 at 19:49:59 PT
AP: LA Minister Sues Over Marijuana Bust
March 22, 2007LOS ANGELES - A minister who was arrested on charges of marijuana possession has sued police for $30 million, contending his civil and religious rights were violated because he heads a church that uses pot during worship.The Rev. Craig X Rubin, 41, is the founder of Temple 420, which holds that pot is a religious herb."Our congregation mandates members study the Bible, have faith in God and regularly burn the herb cannabis (The Tree of Life mentioned in the Bible) as sacrament," says the lawsuit filed Wednesday in state court.Rubin, his son and another man were charged last fall with two felony counts each of selling or transporting marijuana and possessing marijuana for sale.Rubin's lawsuit contends that last November, an undercover officer joined the Hollywood temple and bought 3 1/2 grams of marijuana "to be used for religious purposes." Five days later, the strip-mall sanctuary was raided by officers, who seized money and marijuana.Rubin has made several appearances on the Showtime series "Weeds" as the owner of a medical marijuana club. He was ordained in 1990 by the Universal Life Church, which ordains everyone who asks.The temple has an estimated 400 members who pay a $100 initiation fee and $100 annual dues, enabling them to purchase marijuana for requested donations. Marijuana also is burned during some services. In drug culture, "420" is slang for marijuana.Calls to Rubin and his attorney were not immediately returned Thursday. A police department spokeswoman declined comment.Copyright: 2007 Associated Presshttp://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/16956434.htm
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on March 22, 2007 at 13:18:01 PT
ekim
I missed it. I only was able to see a little of Al Gore yesterday. 
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Comment #17 posted by ekim on March 22, 2007 at 12:23:05 PT
did anyone hear AL Gore yesterday
he said something like earth our fatheri ve thought of her as our mother
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 22, 2007 at 12:16:53 PT
Sam 
Nothing has changed. History keeps repeating itself.
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Comment #15 posted by Sam Adams on March 22, 2007 at 12:08:52 PT
FOM
The Lord doesn't like war, unfortunately, there are too many men that do. It doesn't look like much has changed since Biblical times.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 21, 2007 at 14:19:37 PT
Thanks Sam Adams
This is worth reposting. Why the Lord hates these things is because in my opinion that is what starts War.Proverbs 6:16-18 "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
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Comment #13 posted by Sam Adams on March 21, 2007 at 14:12:23 PT
Isaiah 18:4-5
For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvestThe lord said.. 'Afore harvest, when the bud is perfect, he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and cut down the branches.'
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Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on March 21, 2007 at 14:08:22 PT
Bible
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, those consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." 
-Timothy 4:1-5.Proverbs 6:16-18 "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.Isaiah 10:1 - "Woe to those who make unjust laws and to those who issue oppressive decrees..."
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Comment #11 posted by The GCW on March 21, 2007 at 08:07:13 PT
They got the verse wrong?
I think they got the wrong verse.Matthew 25:35: Actually says: For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; -0-I think I'm familiar with -calls for people to give aid to those who are suffering, but can not place it, now.Later I will have more time... does anyone know off hand which verse does indicates it?The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #10 posted by OverwhelmSam on March 21, 2007 at 05:23:31 PT
If Penalty For Marijuana Is Just A Fine
If possession of under an ounce were only a $100 fine like in the state of Colorado, it would lessen the need for medical marijuana laws and enforcement. The people are speaking, they want marijuana laws to go away. But the US government is the Devil and they will kill and steal anything they want under premise of law.
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Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on March 21, 2007 at 04:41:03 PT
Mayan #2
If Christ were to come here today, he’d likely be killed again. This time a modern day cross would be used, the gurney they use to strap the arms down for lethal injection. The powers that be would fear this man, as it was in the past.This, I shed tears for.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 20, 2007 at 20:48:30 PT
taylor121
Thank you. I will check it out tomorrow and maybe they will have it archived then. Good luck in Texas.
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Comment #7 posted by taylor121 on March 20, 2007 at 20:19:56 PT
The link
Here is the link:http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php
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Comment #6 posted by Taylor121 on March 20, 2007 at 20:17:45 PT
Yes, but...
you will have to wait until it is archived which may be either some time tonight or tomorrow I believe. The committee is probably still hearing a few other bills live, but the marijuana bill was a little while ago. This was the committee:
2:00pm or Upon Adjournment - Tuesday, 3/20/07 - Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on March 20, 2007 at 20:17:08 PT
I Am Christian.
I Am Christian.If You support and enable government to cage humans for using cannabis, a God-given plant; plant as in Christ God Our Father, The Ecologician, The Master, indicates He created all the seed-bearing plants, saying they are all good, on literally the very first page of the Bible (see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30), then You support caging Christ God Our Father, The Ecologician, The Master.You are not a Christian; You might think You are, but You are fooling Yourself and the One would object. What kind of Christ follower would stick a knife in the Christ? 
At best a disobedient Christian, at worst…….I don’t like people to kill Our Father.
I don't like people killing Our Father.
I don't like people who kill Our Father.Misconceptions of what a Christian is is prevalent.-0-Killing is another one... Imagine a person who follows Christ stepping off to the side of Christ to kill someone... The Christ turns and looks at that follower and what do You think He says?I sick of those who claim they are Christian yet kill My Father. 
The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 20, 2007 at 19:54:41 PT
Taylor121
Is there a link that I can hear it too?
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Comment #3 posted by Taylor121 on March 20, 2007 at 19:32:31 PT
Just listened to Texas House Committee
They were hearing the Texas bill that would reduce marijuana penalties to a fine only offense and there were some severe factual distortions. The marijuana law reform community was painted as this monster and that all these bills are some kind of conspiracy. There was great information out there too. If anyone noticed, the people that testified against the bill always said "I'm sure that this would increase marijuana use" but never cited evidence. The distinction is those that testified in favor of the bill had evidence and were happy to get it to the committee. 
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on March 20, 2007 at 18:28:12 PT
Jail 4 Jesus
If Jesus came back tomorrow and tried to heal with cannabis he would likely be cited for illegal possession and distribution. To quote an old Jethro Tull song, "If Jesus saves, well he'd better save himself!"THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Demonstration of Support for Rosie O'Donnell This Wednesday at ABC Studios: 
http://www.wearechange.org/Anniversary Of Sheen's 9/11 Trailblazing Legacy - Chain reaction raises profile of truth movement: 
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/march2007/200307sheenanniversary.htmHuge Amounts Of Smoke Came From WTC 5 & 6 NOT WTC 7:
http://infowars.net/articles/march2007/200307building7.htm9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on March 20, 2007 at 17:00:30 PT
Christians
Good job Torie on mentioning the advocacy work of Christians for Cannabis. Their website is great, and, I've posted think link before, but it bears repeating. Fascinating stuff, especially if you like history.Was high-power cannabis annointing oil behind JC's miracles? Read and decide for yourself:http://www.cannabisculture.com/backissues/cc11/christ.html
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