Bread - Grape Juice - Christianity

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Aspies - How do you think/feel about the usage of bread and grape juice in Christianity? In my view, according to the gospels, Jesus created a variation on Thursday on the Passover bread of Judaism as a poetic symbol of his death (at the hands of the local Jerusalem politicians on Friday). To me, the bread and grape juice is 100% symbolism because at the last supper Jesus never gave his disciples any part of his real blood of his real flesh (such as part of hair from his head/his beard to eat/whatever). At the last supper, Jesus only gave his disciples wine and bread (no DNA). As Aspies, what do you think/feel about it? Personally I feel that those who try to say the bread and wine are Jesus's actual DNA are simply fibbing (aka lying) to the pew renters in a church - a theatrical show designed to entertain the pew renters and to bring cash into the collection plates to support the lifestyles of the theater actors called clergyministers.

Symbolism (best explanation, correct explanation)
Literalism (incorrect, false explanation)

Honestly, I don't really see any clear-cut way to handle the matter.

I mean, often the people who say it is figurative are referring back to earlier traditions. (The Catholic church uses the interpretations of the fathers for instance) Not only that, but some of the things in scripture do talk about the importance of eating him, such as in John 6.

Finally, you must be from a Baptist tradition. Almost everybody else uses wine.

The Bread and Wine referenced at these times were also referenced as "unleavened".

Meaning that Bread in the form of a flour tortilla or dry crackers and non-fermented juice (not necessarily pure grape) is what they had available and most likely consumed.

Of course it's more convenient to think of it as a Huge loaf of well buttered garlic bread and enough wine for all.

In short, kosher wine and matzah. Jesus was having a Passover Seder on his last night.

ruveyn

Great description there!

I have heard there are people who still have allergic reactions to one or more of the organic ingredients used to make those wafers other folks then believe are actually transformed or whatever into something else.

Modern Jews use a grape drink that is usually called "grape juice", but really isn't gentile grape juice OR wine, at least not in the common meanings. Next time Passover rolls around, look for Kedem brand grape juice, that's the stuff American Jews use at seder. Matzah is, of course, unleavened "bread", the modern version tending more towards saltine crackers. The gluten "Host" used by the Catholics is something totally different. I should note that some of the more radical semi-heretical Christian sects, like Mormonism, use water instead of a grape-derived drink of ANY kind. The Mormons excuse the use of water via a unique teaching that forbids all alcohol consumption, however it doesn't forbid the drinking of grape juice. Catholic sacramental wine is obviously NOT what was initially intended, as it is usually fermented. The practice of heavily fermenting sacramental wine may have started during Prohibition (1920-33, a time when alcoholic beverages were illegal in the US) as a way around alcohol laws.

Not necessarily. Methodists typically use grape juice. Some Christian Reformed churches will offer a choice between wine and juice.

As to my own church, I believe it is regarded as an act of remembrance, but an extremely significant and powerful one. The elements are consecrated through the minister's blessing, and the communicant is part of the ritual, and the prayers, but as far as I am aware, it is an act of remembrance and there is no requirement to believe that any chemical changes occur or anything else requiring a literal interpretation.

At least it makes for a decent little snack.

Heh...when I was very little, I didn't understand the difference between the after-church fellowship at my grandparents' church, where snacks were served, and Communion. I got up to the Communion rail and blurted, "I love it when they serve snacks at church!"

Many years later and my parents still think it's the funniest thing ever!

Ok, perhaps I was jumping the gun here with attributing this to being a Baptist.

Yeah, I was a Methodist. Bread and grapejuice. Yum!

Much better than what the Catholics serve.

What little kid wants to drink real wine, anyway?

And those tasteless wafers. Ugh!

I'm sure the first congregation that switches to mini pizzas and beer will immediately grow tremendously.

They dont serve it to kids.

Maybe the priests do in private in the rectory. You know... when nobody else is around?

Yep...but he didn't leave the required empty seat!!

Transubstantiation is clearly complete nonsense. I can't see how anyone can take it seriously. They should sit for one mass and immediately leave their religion upon observing that spectacle and being told something that is patently untrue to anyone with even the vaguest experience of reality.