Sex and booze
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Frank Harrist
Booze was frowned upon (severe penalties were involved) in Mexica society because it was believed that the Gods should be kept at arm's length and persons getting drunk (or off their boxes on mushrooms) were laying themselves wide open to the malign influence of sacred forces. Thus drunkeness was (officially) only something that happened within the carefully controlled circumstances of religious rites where, I suppose, priests would be on hand to exercise damage limitation should you suddenly be seized by the wobbly hand of Tezcacoacayopechtli. I gather the booze+sacred forces=a bad time for all concerned equation operated in many early civilisations.
Mind you, at the same time it's worth remembering that authoritarian states are often somewhat strict where intoxicating substances are concerned. Maybe it's better to control it by religious means than just ban it outright and create a black market.
Unofficially, I suspect there was some boozing going on away from the prying eyes of Mexica officialdom. After all, Mexica (and by extension, the name of the country) means (it has been argued, although some of the arguing is still going on) 'The People from the Heart of the Century Plant' - the Century Plant being the Agave Americana of which the sap is used in the production of tequila, mezcal and their rough-as-fuck mutual ancestor octli (or pulque). Odd, when you think about it. Kind of like England being called Hopsland, or even the United States of Sour Mash.
Mind you, at the same time it's worth remembering that authoritarian states are often somewhat strict where intoxicating substances are concerned. Maybe it's better to control it by religious means than just ban it outright and create a black market.
Unofficially, I suspect there was some boozing going on away from the prying eyes of Mexica officialdom. After all, Mexica (and by extension, the name of the country) means (it has been argued, although some of the arguing is still going on) 'The People from the Heart of the Century Plant' - the Century Plant being the Agave Americana of which the sap is used in the production of tequila, mezcal and their rough-as-fuck mutual ancestor octli (or pulque). Odd, when you think about it. Kind of like England being called Hopsland, or even the United States of Sour Mash.
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Minimalist
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Thus drunkeness was (officially) only something that happened within the carefully controlled circumstances of religious rites where
But you can bet your ass that the 'priests' had their own stash! It's like that in every religion.
Last edited by Minimalist on Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed.
-- George Carlin
-- George Carlin
It's the same with almost anything where a set of values is shouted out just a little louder than necessary. All the UK 'family values' politicians getting caught with their pants down are a case in point. I stopped noticing after the conservative geezer was found dead, hanging in stockings and suspenders with a whole orange in his mouth, and there seems to be a new one along every two weeks. When moral codes are applied with too much pressure you just seem to get all sorts of weird things squirting out around the edges.Roberto wrote:It's amazing to me how many religious festivals involve heavy drinking and sexual promiscuity. Aren't those things frowned upon by religions?
Only when you show your ass, and then get caught!
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Minimalist
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I stopped noticing after the conservative geezer was found dead, hanging in stockings and suspenders with a whole orange in his mouth
Over here that happens to preachers. A lot.
Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed.
-- George Carlin
-- George Carlin
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Minimalist
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- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Arizona
Regarding the politician I mentoined... or even mentioned... somebody knocked out a load of t-shirts with the slogan "Stockings and suspenders. Orange. Noose. What could possibly go wrong?" which tickled me, although I'm sure I should be ashamed about that.
I'm not sure it's exactly power that corrupts, but anyone with an absolute and unrealistically unshakeable belief in their own convictions usually has issues. I don't trust anyone who's incapable of being wrong.
Oh Lord. Quick. Sex and Booze. Let's get back on this thread. Somebody post something quick!
I'm not sure it's exactly power that corrupts, but anyone with an absolute and unrealistically unshakeable belief in their own convictions usually has issues. I don't trust anyone who's incapable of being wrong.
Oh Lord. Quick. Sex and Booze. Let's get back on this thread. Somebody post something quick!
Infallibility
Not quite on topic but close enough W/A. I have always believed that people get in trouble when they start believing in their own, or others' infallibility. Nature has a way of leveling the playing field by ultimately helping assholes assume room temperature.I'm not sure it's exactly power that corrupts, but anyone with an absolute and unrealistically unshakeable belief in their own convictions usually has issues. I don't trust anyone who's incapable of being wrong.
By the way, the last time I looked in my toy chest I didn't see suspenders or an orange. Does that mean I'm conservative?
Natural selection favors the paranoid
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Frank Harrist