Pursuits

I wouldn't think that the pursuits of pleasures are in and of themselves bad. The Lord made many things to be beautiful and pleasurable. Sex is beautiful and pleasurable, but it can be a terrible intoxicant if one's pursuit becomes unleashed.

Similarly, striving towards not pursuing pleasures can itself become an idol. It's a form of asceticism, isn't it?

Note: dictionary.com: 1: "The principles and practices of an ascetic; extreme self-denial and austerity." 2: "The doctrine that the ascetic life releases the soul from bondage to the body and permits union with the divine."

The Christian faith has a tradition of asceticism in some of the monastic orders. I'm not sure sure that's supported by scripture, but it's also not prohibited. It may be a personal thing -- for some, pursuing the ascetic life might be the only way in which they can free themselves to then pursue God. And pursuing God is something we are definitely called to do.

What I'm stumbling over is your use of the term "peace." By that do you mean a kind of suspension of an internal struggle, perhaps caused by pleasures or the pursuit of them? Or are you thinking of something else. I have a hard time with that world, just like I do the word "love." There's too much historical baggage associated with it.

I think it's safe to say that there is too much obsessive pursuit of pleasure in today's society. I'm a little unclear on what you meant by "The Church enticing children with the pleasures of alcohol" -- are you referring to using real wine for communion?