Do you think alcoholism is a moral failure?
 

My uber-religious brother thinks it is. He is very condemning of those who imbibe. I argued back that it is a disease and people should not be condemned for being sick. He thinks this is a lame excuse to drink.

What do you think?

Not sure on alcohol but I think drug addiction is at least partially. I knew full well what I was doing and did it anyway. That was failure on my part to do the right thing and that is a moral issue.

Im sorry your brother sees it like that

interesting question considering alcoholism and morality are both human created concepts with no solid definitions...It's like a double whammy of nonsense that you should disregard. really..total rubbish

Why one drinks beyond normal will always be debated.

Is it a moral issue? Absolutely not.

if i was in your shoes the next time your brother starts off on it again, just agree with him : ) it works wonders to let things go right over the top of our head, at the end of the day your not going to change him or his views so why waste a moment on it ? go and do something else that is more enjoyable

moral failure? no.

Love from Lenina

The last time I answered this question Dee invited me to reword my response. It was past the editable time frame so he just deleted it.

The allowable answer is:

No.

I'd just like to take a moment to thank Dee. He's been a champ and appropriate in dealing with me.

I don't consider my alcoholism to be a moral issue. I do consider not addressing it for 30 years a moral issue or at least a responsibility issue.

Alcoholism is not a character defect. It's a disease.

I had to chime in here and hope I don't get too many tough responses from my post, but my answer is yes.

If you are an alcoholic and know you are someone who can't handle drinking "normally" and it reeks havoc on your own life and others yet you still continue to do it, then yes.

The point is I believe it becomes a moral failure once you realize that you have a problem and do nothing about it. Before that happens (admitting your an alcoholic), then no.

I have to agree with desypete here.

I don't argue about moral issues with family if it is going to get heated - just not worth the aggravation. Every person has their own moral compass. Some are a bit further off North than others, IMO. And that's all it is, my opinion.

Your brother probably has a lot of um...different...ideas from yours. Amirite?

I think Cecilia and Stang nailed it.

Ask him if he has read this bit in his Bible??

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven"

I drank more then 99% of people. i knew what i was doing before i did it. like everyone does i didn't and I don't care what other people think about that. my morality is my own..not anybody else or any religious group or culture. The notion that every heavy drinker is ruining the lives of all these people around them..not so true for a lot of people..people could careless what i was doing..and my loved ones didn't even know..I probably kept one little liquor store afloat...it came down to physical health..thats all

Ok, we can frame it that way. I, and everyone else who have chosen sobriety have repented. Praise Inanna!

Definition of alcoholism is pretty clear. Morality not so much

I think being judgemental is a moral failing.

I believe alcoholism/addiction is a complex physical and psychological issue, key word being Complex.

Denial is an aspect of the condition. It took me about ten years to fully realize I had something more going on than a rough patch. It took me longer to figure out what needed to be done. This is where the personal responsibility comes in, I think.

I suppose we could get into one of those dissections of the nature of Good and Evil. Right and Wrong. I'm just grateful I'm sober today.

Love from Lenina

This gets my blood boiling HOT---my son is one who believes it's a moral issue, choice, they should just get it together, etc.

I have a friend who is an amazing woman. Martha Stewart couldn't touch her talent. She is articulate, well-read, and beautiful. Yet she struggles heavily with alcohol. There's nothing wrong with her morals--she gives and loves with all she has. I can't imagine saying to her "you are making immoral choices" She would LOVE for it to be a choice she could take or leave, trust me.

Okay, rant over. People need to get off their high horse and look at their own stuff.

I could go on and talk about people's views on mental illness.....same stuff many times.