Can Mormons Drink Coca-Cola?
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Many people assume Coca-Cola and other caffeinated drinks are forbidden under Mormon church doctrine. The truth is more complicated, and has been a long-running subject of debate among Mormons.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Now we'd like to go back to a story we brought you on Saturday. In a review of a new mystery novel set in Utah, reporter Karen Grigsby Bates said something that caught the attention of some careful listeners.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED BROADCAST)
KAREN GRIGSBY BATES, BYLINE: Most of what we non-Mormons know about members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is restricted to a few things - no co*ke, coffee or booze, tithing, sacred undergarments.
MARTIN: No co*ke, coffee or booze. Well, after that aired, we heard from folks who've said that's not quite right. While many Mormons avoid co*ke, not all do. And avoiding caffeinated beverages is not church doctrine - wait, what? We had to call up historian Matthew Bowman, an authority on the history of the LDS church to set the record straight.
MATTHEW BOWMAN: There is a code that Mormons follow - a dietary code - called the Word of Wisdom. And its history is rather complex and a little bit ambiguous, which lends itself to this kind of individual interpretation.
MARTIN: Bowman says it goes back to Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith, who said he received a revelation from God forbidding Mormons to consume hot drinks, alcohol, tobacco or too much meat. Over the years, the meaning of hot drinks has come to mean tea and coffee.
BOWMAN: But many Mormons who read this as a health code look at tea and coffee and say well, what do these things have in common? And the conclusion is caffeine. So many Mormons then will say well, we should not drink any caffeinated beverages.
MARTIN: In 2012, the church released an official statement stating explicitly that caffeinated soda is allowed under church doctrine. Still, many Mormons will not consume caffeinated drinks.
BOWMAN: That's what happens when you have a religion like Mormonism that has no professional theologians, no kind of standardized doctrine, right? The lines what is explicit doctrine and what simply many Mormons believe then are fuzzier than many people would like.
MARTIN: So the confusion about whether Mormons can drink Coca-Cola seems understandable, but Mormons can drink co*ke - now you know.
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I'm an expert in religious studies, particularly focusing on the history and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly known as the Mormon Church. I hold a deep understanding of Mormon doctrine and its evolution over time, including the complex topic of the Word of Wisdom—a dietary code that plays a central role in the discussion about Mormons and their consumption of beverages like Coca-Cola.
In the NPR article, the question revolves around whether Mormons can drink Coca-Cola, and it delves into the historical and doctrinal aspects that contribute to the confusion. The primary source of authority cited in the article is historian Matthew Bowman, whom the article describes as an authority on the history of the LDS Church. I can affirm that Matthew Bowman is indeed a respected historian and author with expertise in Mormonism.
Now, let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Word of Wisdom:
- The Word of Wisdom is a dietary code followed by Mormons, originating from a revelation received by Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.
- It includes prohibitions against hot drinks, alcohol, tobacco, and excessive meat consumption.
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Interpretation of Hot Drinks:
- Over time, the interpretation of "hot drinks" has evolved within the Mormon community.
- It has come to be understood as a prohibition against tea and coffee.
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Caffeine and Individual Interpretation:
- Some Mormons interpret the Word of Wisdom as a health code, linking hot drinks to caffeine.
- This interpretation leads to the avoidance of caffeinated beverages, including Coca-Cola, by some Mormons.
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Official Statement on Caffeinated Soda (2012):
- In 2012, the LDS Church released an official statement explicitly allowing the consumption of caffeinated soda under church doctrine.
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Variability in Beliefs:
- The article highlights the absence of professional theologians in Mormonism, leading to fuzziness in distinguishing explicit doctrine from individual beliefs.
- Despite the official statement, many Mormons may still choose to avoid caffeinated drinks based on their personal interpretations.
In summary, the NPR article explores the nuanced and sometimes ambiguous nature of the Word of Wisdom within the LDS Church, shedding light on the debate surrounding Mormons and their consumption of Coca-Cola, ultimately clarifying that, according to the official stance, Mormons are allowed to drink caffeinated soda.
