Drugs+&+Alcohol

12/6 Drugs/Alcohol

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **The Chinese Philosophies: Confucianism and Taoism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

In Confucianism drugs are permissible if they are natural, which most medicines in ancient China were made from vegetables and herbs. They also permit some human drugs, such as hair, nails, urine. These were considered alright because they could be collected without harming an individual, but medicines derived from the body or taken such as bone, gall, placenta, blood, and flesh are considered morally repugnant. They believe it is wrong to desecrate a corpse, a sentiment from the beginning of man. Confucianism doesn't accept the use of drugs or alcohol either. Taoism does not believe in the use of drugs or alcohol, it clouds the mind and body. They believe it interrupts an individuals //Qi//, the flow of energy in a persons body.

Sources: http://www.angelfire.com/wa/tao4teens/Body.html http://www.scribd.com/doc/19960962/Confucian-Bioethics

11/22 Drugs/Alcohol

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Buddhism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

In the Buddhist beliefs drugs are a no no. They believe it clouds the mind and hinders you. Buddhist believe in reincarnation, and the more lives you live the clearer your mind becomes. If you live enough lives then your mind will free itself from attachment and desire, and they believe you cant obtain this if you use drugs or alcohol. If the substance can cloud your mind it is not to be consumed, except in very small and occasional instances, where certain Monks may sip alcohol as an offering or they may dip their finger in it and flick it three times.

11/15 Drugs/Alcohol

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Hinduism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Hindus do not forbid alcohol, although some monks have taken a vow to not use, like a vow of celibacy but it is up to the individual. They do not care as long as you are not harming yourself or others, even though technically alcohol harms the body. A lot of Hindu beliefs and rituals formed around Soma, a god, a plant, and a intoxicating drink. It is extracted from a plant, although Hindu's never released the identity of it. Also many Hindu sects use Cannabis, a drug connected with the God Shiva, who is said to have rested under a cannabis plant on a really hot day and in gratitude gave the plant to mankind. Bhang, a ritual drink is consumed in the honor of Shiva, is a tea made with milk, cannabis leaves and flowers, and spices.

Sources: http://www.dharmicnaujawaan.org.gy/?q=node/51 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_drugs

11/8 Drugs/Alcohol

BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Islam** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'aan that drugs and intoxicants are work of Satan.**//"//****//O You who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid (such abominations) that you may prosper."//** (5:90) If you are caught with these intoxicants you may be subject to "hadd" (legal punishment) for maybe something like 80 lashes. In some cases Tazir, reprimand or punishment, may be enacted which may have no limit and is decided by a judge due to its severity. In Islam drugs are "Haraam" and should be abstained from, drugs are bad, and destroy lives in Islamic views.

10/18 Drugs/Alcohol

DIVERSITY AND NUANCE. Are there different rules for different people/sects within **Christianity** regarding your ethical issue? What about differences in the way consequences are applied? **This week, concentrate on the similarities and differences between Catholics and Protestants on your topic.**

Most Christians believe that using drugs that were prescribed by a doctor is Ok, but using illicit drugs is looked down upon just as in normal society. If it alters your mind then its thought to be useless and against Gods will. " God made us the way we are, to function the way we do- naturally, not artificially." Psalm 139.

10/4 Drugs/Alcohol

Describe the main teachings of **Christianity** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

In Christianity drugs and alcohol are not permitted. In the Bible, specifically Corinthians 3:16-17 says," Don't you know that you yourselves are Gods temple and that God's spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." Christians believe in preserving their body in order to keep God's contempt. They believe that an addict has lost touch with their true God, and that whatever substance they are addicted to has replaced their God.

9/27 Drugs/Alcohol

Are there different rules for different people/sects within **Judaism** regarding your ethical issue? What about differences in the way consequences are applied?

Not all Jews must adhere to the rules set by their beliefs because some choose to be more or less orthodox, meaning that they can follow the old ways or can adapt them to the present. It is the choice of the person whether to drink or smoke so its more up to the individual and how strictly they follow Jewish law, according to Halacha a sound mind requires a sound body which means you must take care of your body. Health is a large concern in Jewish law so anyone that smokes or drinks is endangering their "sound" mind and body. There aren't really any differences in sects of Judaism or consequences, it depends on the specific person and their rigidity of religion. If the person is OK with smoking then their friends may be concerned for their health but no one can tell that person to stop or how to live their life.They are no consequences unless say you are intoxicated and trying to participate in a religious function, as in being drunk and trying to pray. They will refuse you and turn you away until sober, so it may help straighten the person up. It may vary upon congregation but most Jews feel the same on the subject of inebriation involving their religion.

9/20 Drugs/Alcohol

Describe the main teachings of **Judaism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

In Judaism smoking used to be thought of as a good healthy habit, an aid to blood circulation, and digestion. Now a days it isn't as loved as it once was. In Jewish belief one should not harm themselves on purpose or recklessly, therefore smoking is forbidden and according to their beliefs those who smoke should do all they can to quit. Alcohol is allowed moderation. In fact the Bible calls wine a substance that "gladdens the human heart". Wine is used in Jewish traditions such as, //Kiddush// (a declaration of the sacredness of a Shabbat), weddings, Brit Milah (ritual circumcision of a boy). Judaism is about clear thinking and responsible conduct, so when a Jewish person is a drunk or //Shikur,// they are kept from joining in religious ceremonies, and even praying until sober. When it comes to drugs they only permit prescription drugs that is given to the individual by doctors and is not abused. They do not see any use in recreational drugs, or the "expansion of consciousness", anyone addicted to drugs should be given the proper help to break their dependency.

Sources http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ethics/Our_Bodies/Health_and_Healing/Smoking_Alcohol_and_Drugs.shtml

9/13 Drugs/Alcohol

Define and describe your topic as an ethical issue and identify the controversies and dilemmas within the issue. Seek to do general background reading to understand the main issues inherent in your topic.Identify at least two opposing positions often taken on your ethical issue, and explain two to three main arguments for each side.

Drugs and alcohol have been around for years. The most popular drug is alcohol and its really the only legal drug yet it is proven to be one of the most dangerous too. Prohibition of drugs over the years has actually helped sky rocket the use and amount of drugs in the world. Many controversies are present when discussing drugs and alcohol, such as legalization of marijuana for medicinal use, to making alcohol illegal. When it comes to prohibition Sweden is a good model of a moderately effective drug policy, strict rules and discipline for those caught with drugs, good health care and rehab for users, and they have been pretty adamant about their policies. Also the negatives are that prohibition has forced the drugs even further underground and according to surveys have increased diseases spread through shared needles for inject able drugs. Before 1914 drugs were used by many doctors as medicine, marijuana for migraines, rheumatism and insomnia. Cocaine was used for sinusitis, hay fever and chronic fatigue, and was used as an ingredient in many wines and soda, such as Coca Cola. Due to the Harrison Act, banning cocaine and opiates, a black market opened up to fuel the drugs that were now illegal. Soon after alcohol was banned, by 1918, but that wouldn't stop either. Moonshiners and bootleggers began speakeasies, underground bars that still sold Americas sweet nectar. In 1933 due to rampant and uncontrollable alcohol the Alcohol ban was repealed. In 1937 after the passing of the marijuana Stamp Act, it too was prohibited. The Federal drug policy still has marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other opiates banned. Since 1981 America has spent around $150 billion dollars on a losing war. It is said that for every TON of drugs that is seized hundreds more slip through into the country. Between 1968 and 1992 the number of drug related arrests skyrocketed from 200,000 to 2.1 million, one third of those arrests were mere marijuana possession.

Sources www.aclu.org/drug-law-reform/against-drug-prohibition www.drugpolicy.org/global/drugpolicyby/westerneurop/sweden/