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===Wine and Christianity===

===Wine and Christianity===

Wine has an important role in the Christian religion, reflecting the central role it played in society at the times of Jesus's ministry on [[Earth]].  Plain water was generally not potable at that time and wine was often mixed with water, so that the alcohol in the wine killed some of the harmful microorganisms in the water. (It should be noted, however, that some Christians, primarily fundamentalist Protestants, hold that none of the references in the Bible to "wine" should be understood as referring to an alcoholic beverage, but rather to unfermented grape juice, despite the fact that it was impossible at the time to kill wild yeast and prevent fermentation.  Such view is held by only a small minority of Biblical scholars.)

Wine has an important role in the Christian religion, reflecting the central role it played in society at the times of Jesus's ministry on [[Earth]].  Plain water was generally not potable at that time and wine was often mixed with water, so that the alcohol in the wine killed some of the harmful microorganisms in the water. (It should be noted, however, that some Christians, primarily fundamentalist Protestants, hold that none of the references in the Bible to "wine" should be understood as referring to an alcoholic beverage, but rather to unfermented grape juice.  Such view is held by only a small minority of Biblical scholars.)

Christ's first miracle, performed at the wedding feast at Cana, was to turn six [[amphora]] filled with water into wine. (John 2:7-10.)  At the [[Last Supper]], Christ commands the [[Apostles]] to eat bread and drink wine, which he calls His Body and Blood, and commands the Apostles to do this  "in remembrance of me." (Matthew 26::26-29; Mark 14:23-24; Luke 22:20-23.) This is preserved in the liturgy of the Christian Church as [[Holy Communion]].  The different denominations of Christianity have various teachings and doctrines about the place and significance of the wine in the communion service, which are roughly separable into [[memorialism]] and a belief in the [[Real Presence]] of Christ in the [[Eucharist|Eucharistic]] hosts.

Christ's first miracle, performed at the wedding feast at Cana, was to turn six [[amphora]] filled with water into wine. (John 2:7-10.)  At the [[Last Supper]], Christ commands the [[Apostles]] to eat bread and drink wine, which he calls His Body and Blood, and commands the Apostles to do this  "in remembrance of me." (Matthew 26::26-29; Mark 14:23-24; Luke 22:20-23.) This is preserved in the liturgy of the Christian Church as [[Holy Communion]].  The different denominations of Christianity have various teachings and doctrines about the place and significance of the wine in the communion service, which are roughly separable into [[memorialism]] and a belief in the [[Real Presence]] of Christ in the [[Eucharist|Eucharistic]] hosts.