Atheosists, Why do you believe that Alcoholism is a disease and not a Choice?

Question

What Virus causes alcoholism? Because My alcoholic stepfather breathes on me quite often, and yet I've never managed to catch alcoholism--How contagious is it? Is it sexually transmitted? When I choose not to drink to excess, was that some kind of atheist-metaphysical vaccination?

Or are Alcoholics just saying it's a Disease to excuse all the harm they do to people when they choose to stay drunk for six months at a time? Isn't excusing sins like that what Jesus is for?

God bless!

Answer 1

Greetings again "Sister".
Such a shame Mis-information, Scarcasim and Dogma direct your querry.
It is a WELL known disease that affects many. Just as Religion affects many! And they are BOTH a CHOICE to begin with but eventually it becomes a "Way of Life" and not a choice. So with this misinformed comparison of alcoholism to a virus, you must also compare Religion to a virus or sexually transmited disease.
Fact is alcoholism starts as a choice, just like Religion. The concious choice is made to drink the alcohol or choose your Religion. And AGAIN the choice is made to continue to drink or worship your religion.
Eventually it no longer is a concious choice. Now it is a nessessity and daily routine. If you choose to stop being religious, nothing happens., where if you choose to stop consuming alcohol, terrible, PHYSICAL damage happens to your body, including death.
Now it is a DISEASE as well as a DIS-EASE. (topic for another discussion already posted)
And BOTH can be "Cured", alcoholism and religion!

THE greatest gift our Creator has bestowed upon us is the gift of CHOICE! As YOU choose the path you are on and accept the Dogma and Doctrine that goes with it, others choose a different path.
It may not be a path you or others would choose but because it is different does not make it right nor wrong.

"Some lessons in life can not be taught nor learned. These lessons MUST be experienced to understand and fully appreciate."

You really need to understand the disease (topic) itself before you express JUDGEMENT! Not very educated as a "Sister" to even believe alcoholism could be compared to a virus. Hope this inspires you to RESEARCH questions prior to asking.
This is like comparing Religious fanatics to a virus, you know the type. The folks who do not believe the same thing you believe.
And yes the MAN named "Jesus" died for our "sins" and other MEN and WOMEN have and will continue to "die" for our "sins" all in the "Name of Christ" and Holy domminance.

Prayers be with you Sister,
~BLESSINGS~DIVINE LOVE~HEALING LIGHT TO ALL~

Answer 2

It is a social disease in the fact that it can become a learned behavior pattern when exposed to it. Addiction itself, no matter what the primary motive, is a disease because the mind no longer has control over the wants and desires for the substance in question. Not everyone who is exposed to the environment will repeat the behavior pattern. My grandfather was one of 12 children and all but the youngest girl was an alcoholic and his father drank Paris Green which contained methanol because he could no longer distinguish between the types of alcohol. Once a person loses rational ability because of the substance, it becomes a disease.

Answer 3

if your cousin with diabetes type 1 coughed on you you would not catch diabetes.

it is a HEREDITARY DISEASE.

even that bieng said, alcoholism IS a disease that operates more like obesity- where the person must shoulder a large part of the blame or diabetes type 2 where, while it is a disease- if they didn't eat poorly, they wouldn't have gotten it.

what I'm saying is that some people are more likely to catch it through normal activity (drinking alcohol in moderation) than others.

thus it is a disease- however those "suffering" from the disease must share responsibility.

that is one of the major problems with religion and religious thinking- it is unrealistic as it sees things in only "black and white" types of extremes when the world is grey with very very few and simple things bieng black and white.

Answer 4

After drinking long enough, it no longer becomes a choice between drinking or not, it becomes a choice between drinking or d.t.'s... I think a night of that would be enough to keep anyone drunk (that is if withdrawls are similar to those I've experienced with other things).

Making it into a disease will make a person eligible for federal financial aid when paying for treatment. This is the same reason obesity is considered a disease.

I'm lovin' it.

Answer 5

Speaking as an atheist and an alcoholic, what makes you think that all atheists believe that alcoholism is a disease?

Personally, I choose, and even revel in my alcoholism. I'd do it professionally if I could.

Answer 6

Firstly, not all diseases are contagious. Many are just genetic.

Secondly, I do believe that having a predisposition towards addiction is genetic.

thirdly, I disagree with the characterization of Alcoholism as a disease. That's just to make the alcoholics and their families feel better.

Answer 7

It's a genetic propensity, not a contagious disease. This means that some people are more likely to become an alcoholic, but alcoholism is not limited to them.

Answer 8

"Isn't excusing sins like that what Jesus is for?"

Oh, man. The religionists are going to get you for that.

(Alcoholism is a serious medical problem and is inheritable. Thus it is a disease. For you report-monkey-suckas who report people for "chatting.")

Answer 9

Its a mental disease. And at a point it has poisoned and rotted the brain beyond any conception of rational thought.

Answer 10

Its not a pathogenic disease.

Go to school.

By the way, my father was an alcoholic, I'm an atheist, I don't drink, and I do believe alcoholism can be a huge struggle for people whose parents were alcoholics. Its more than just a social issue, it can be physiologically challenging.

Tell me, is it nice to not have that struggle?