I have been attending a LDS Ward and I am considering joining because I really like their principles, which are very hard to come by in other religions. Anyway, when told that coffee could no longer be in my morning ritual, I was confused. I was told it was because caffeine is not good for you, but I was free to drink all of the sodas I wanted. I suggested that the sugar in sodas was more dangerous than the caffeine in a cup of coffee and soda also contained caffeine. Coffee is more dangerous because it is hot?!!!! I'm confused - no coffee, but you can drink a case of pepsi a day? Any insight would be helpful.
2007-07-26 03:16:25 · 19 answers · asked by D - 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is a common misconception that we cannot have coffee because of the caffeine. This is wrong. We are told not to have "hot drinks". At the time this was told to us, the only hot drinks were coffee and tea. Since, this question has arrisen several times. I replaced coffee with Mt. Dew. It's just as good and can be poured in your coffee cup! LOL And there is actually many more chemicals in coffee that are damaging to the body than many people are aware. Trust me on this one. My GI doc said that it is EXTREMELY rare that anyone who is diagnosed with colitis is not a coffee drinker...I drank the stuff for YEARS and was just diagnosed with colitis. And my doctor is not LDS.
2007-07-26 13:06:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its a personal choice. I don't drink cola or coffee or tea. I try to limit caffeine because I have problems absorbing iron and caffeine can inhibit absorbition. I have the occassional organic chocolate.
Its true hot drinks are to be avoided but also drugs. Caffeine affects the way the body works so is considered a drug. I believe anything that is addictive ahould be avoided or at the very least limited. Of course most people find it hard to keep all things in moderation. Its hard to find a balance.
Even food which is necessary can be misused.
Its all about moderation, if you can't do that its best to avoid it.
2007-07-27 14:47:14 · answer #2 · answered by fishcan'tseewater 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well the Church has defined "hot drinks" as coffee and tea (not herbal tea).
but the word of wisdom is so much more.
Yes you can drink sodas (caffinated and so forth), eat mounds of chocolate and stuff yourself with goodies all the day long -- and still get a temple recommend.
however the word of wisdom also gives good eating advice that will bring you health and happiness -- but are not Mandated.
I gave up soda all together 6 months ago and feel great. This is not mandatory. All of my family still drink any soda they want and they'll all make it to heaven or not but it will have nothing to do with soda.
Remember this was out in the 1800's when smoking was considered healthy even in the 1950's smoking adds on TV were touting the health benefits of their brand. -- but now we all know it is unhealthy.
who knows when everyone will be on the no coffee bandwagon when they tell us it is not good for us? Mormons knew it in the 1800's
D
2007-07-26 08:49:15 · answer #3 · answered by Dionysus 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The more I study health, the more I find that coffee is irritating to your stomach lining and drinking it can lead to an actual dependence on it as well. Caffeinated sodas, when drunk to excess with improper nutrition, can cause you to lose your hair, and certain additives in certain drinks can interfere with the production of progesterone in women. If you are pregnant, caffeine makes the baby nervous. Caffeinated drinks are easy to get addicted to, and if someone is spending a large amount of their budget on caffeinated drinks, that is sort of a waste. Having said that, do I drink sodas? Yes, but not every day. I don't care for the taste of coffee, but the smell reminds me of diners and truck stops, so I don't mind it. I have never drunk an actual cup of coffee, but I have tried coffee-flavored candy and ice cream.
Really, what we should be doing is using the Word of Wisdom as a guideline and then keep studying and applying good principles of health, since our bodies are temples. You are right about sugar. That is my weakness, but as human beings we have the right to work on our own weaknesses. Have a happy day, and I send you a sugar-free gummy bear.
2007-07-27 03:55:34 · answer #4 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hi there! I hope you are enjoying your LDS Ward. Yes I understand how it can be confusing. I loved my tea and coffee too! The Word of Wisdom says "hot drinks", and does not refer to caffeine. Some members believe that since caffeine alters the body chemistry that it should not be imbibed, but that is purely a personal choice. When I was taking the new member lessons I was not told that I could drink all the sodas I wanted, basically I was told that they could be drank, but in moderation. I decided that I would stop drinking coffee and tea, not drink alcohol (didn't drink much anyway) and continue to not smoke because ultimately it really was a small price to pay for what Christ did for us. Once I put it in that perspective, it was an easy choice. I haven't wanted coffee much since, however I was a very big tea drinker and still crave it often. My dad loves iced tea and when I am pouring him a glass it is very hard not to start to drink! I loved my tea!!
I hope this helps!
2007-07-26 03:53:08 · answer #5 · answered by bran72072 4 · 7⤊ 1⤋
The confusion is understandable. The prohibition against coffee comes from a revelation known as the "Word of Wisdom" received by the prophet Joseph Smith. You can find the full text of the revelation here:
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/89
It refers to hot drinks, which Joseph Smith defined as tea and coffee (the hot drinks of the time).
Some people speculate that tea and coffee are prohibited because of the caffeine, but I'm not aware of any revelation confirming this. Therefore, I wouldn't drink them even if they were decaffeinated.
I don't drink sodas with caffeine because I believe caffeine is a drug that's harmful to my body. This is in the spirit of the Word of Wisdom in my view, but not doctrine of the Church.
2007-07-26 06:48:22 · answer #6 · answered by Bryan Kingsford 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Coffee can prevent you receiving a temple recommend, but caffeinated soda cannot. I though, do not drink anything with caffeine in it. Most members of the church do, though my family and I have chosen not to.
2007-07-27 05:26:28 · answer #7 · answered by Karen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The church suggests to avoid all drinks that contain harmful drugs. True "hot drinks" have a special mention, that because they are so common that we do not even realize the impact the make on our health. You are right colas are more dangerous. Please refer to "Gospel Principles" chapter 29. The Church does not support any specific drink. The words used there are "to avoid all drinks the contain harmful drugs". I guess this should answer your question.
2007-07-28 10:31:25 · answer #8 · answered by Neophyte 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The revelation was 'hot drinks' not caffeine. Hot drinks has been interpreted to mean coffee and tea. If you personally believe that colas are unhealthy, then that's your choice.
I look on the Word of Wisdom as what happens when you go to God in prayer. That He is truly our Father comes out in this revelation. If I ask my parent about tobacco, which is all Joseph asked, he would tell me about tobacco and all the other things that could harm me. He would tell me what was good, too. He would still leave me some choices.
2007-07-26 03:21:26 · answer #9 · answered by Isolde 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
There is also another chemical that is found in Coffee and tea other than Caffene which is dangerous. Many people think it is for the caffene, which still isnt good, but there is something worse in both Coffee and tea. that is why
2007-07-27 05:03:34 · answer #10 · answered by DJ_surfer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋