A somewhat frivolous post for a Friday. I’m not really sure how it will end.
If you know me at all, you know I’ve got nothing good to say about papism. Heretical doctrines aside, I’m no fan of the disciplines Rome encourages, and particularly abhor those imposed on the priesthood. Monasteries and the poor souls who inhabit them are tragic, indeed. However, that doesn’t mean I have anything personal against individual papists. In fact, I think some of them are very clever, and I suppose living in a monastery, free from worldly concerns, leaves a guy a lot of time to think. 
Case in point: Lent. The story of J. Wilson (HT: Ordinary Pastor, AKA Irish Calvinist) reminded me of the fact that one of my favorite beers, a double bock, was invented by monks as a way to (as I see it) cheat on their Lenten fasts. According to the Samuel Adams website,
Brewed since the 13th century, these malty lagers are still some of the biggest and most sophisticated beers around. . . . Doppelbocks (or double bock) originated in Bavaria as an extra strong bock brewed by the monks of St. Francis of Paula. Traditionally monks brewed strong, high gravity bock beers full of nutrients, to provide sustenance during fasting. These beers thus became closely associated with the holidays from Christmas, to Lent and Easter.
I’ve always admired those monks for their ingenuity in circumventing the pointless practice of Lenten fasting. Fasting, as I see it, is eating nothing. Beer, or juice, or whatever liquid food is used to “get [one] through a fast” disqualifies the fast. Call it a “_____-free” or “low-_____” diet, but don’t call it a fast. Anyway, as their Lenten fast was not (to my knowledge) voluntary, I give those monks a high-five for creating a legal loophole and getting away with it. Each twelve-ounce bottle of Samuel Adams Double Bock is made with a half-pound of malted barley and contains 320 calories, so you can see how that could help you through an ostensibly food-free day.
Back to J. Wilson’s story, one item that caught my attention was the twenty-five pounds he lost during his forty days of purpose beer. I’ve been trying to drop a few pounds by limiting my carbs to my routine one beer per day at lunch. I’ve thought of cutting even that for a while, but I drink it because I am genetically pre-disposed to one day having a heart attack, and men who have one or two drinks per day lower that risk (OK, yes, and because I like it). I’ve never thought of taking a beer-only “fast.”
What do you think?
- Cool, go for it!
- No, you will go to hell for sure.
- Other
By the way, the Thirsty Theologian has a beer page. Read it in moderation.
TrackBack URL: http://www.thirstytheologian.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1744
Share this post:
Posted in:
Link · 6 Comments · 0 TrackBacks
← Previous · Home · Next →
6 Comments:
#1 || 11·04·29··12:24 || Daniel
I am all for a beer only fast, but only if you drink beer to the exclusion of other liquids altogether.
#2 || 11·04·29··14:48 || Mark Olson
I'm not a "papist" but crossed the Bosphorus instead a few years ago. Fasting comes in several varieties. The "complete" fast, which is indeed eating and drinking nothing at all is just one type of fast. More typically a fast is restriction of both choice and amount of food. In Lent for example, you eat from a restricted menu (for example no meat,fish, wine, olive oil, or dairy is the "standard" (oil and wine are allowed on the weekend in Lent)) *and* you don't snack and push away from the table before you are completely full.
I should note also regarding the Lenten fast. That which is noted above is the recommended ascetic practice. There is no "guilt" or other blame assigned if you can't manage that. It's an spiritual athleticism, seen more as training. The same ethics that pass in the gym regarding how strong or fast you are compared to others holds in view of the fast. *That* you exercise to the best of your ability counts for more than how much you can lift or how fast you are.
BTW, monasteries to the best of my knowledge (in real life) are not tragic ... but normally quite joy and peace filled places. Thinking of them as tragic may satisfy your worldview, but it doesn't match reality.
Oh, and in the East, priests (basically) are required to marry. :D
#3 || 11·04·29··15:47 || David Kjos
Daniel,
Including water?
Mark,
Tragedy doesn’t necessarily correlate with unhappiness. The perfect example is the multitude of people who die every day having lived happily without Christ.
#4 || 11·04·30··07:45 || Leon Cunningham
I too am trying to shed a few pounds and would be willing to join you in the beer-fast.
#5 || 11·05·02··15:14 || David Paul Regier
There's a reason they call it liquid bread.
#6 || 11·05·02··16:01 || David Kjos
No butter needed.
Comments on this post are closed. If you have a question or comment concerning this post, feel free to email us.