Is smoking a sin?

[AlegreFe]

But what about the health benefits of smoking mentioned in post #59 and 74?

Bunch of malarkey! It’s just like a girl going into the Gyno’s office asking for the birth control pill because her periods are off. That would still be wrong. There are other alternatives to regulating a girl’s period. There are also other alternatives to these so called “benefits” of smoking cigarettes. Again, all excuses.

Why would anyone want to fix one thing while something else gets broken at the same time. You can fix one thing while not breaking something else. If your lungs are okay why would you want to mess them up just because you’re trying to fix something else in your body? Utter nonsense.

 

[whatevergirl]

Health benefits of smoking??? I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or be angry over that comment. There are no benefits to smoking cigarettes…none.

AlegreFe-- about bc pills being prescribed for women who want to regulate periods…the RCC is not against that, so long as it’s not being used for the purpose of preventing pregnancy. It would be a byproduct, but for medicinal purposes, the pill is not seen as sinful, if that is the intent. However, I agree with the rest of what you said about that. There are health benefits, but also risks…

But, I still wouldn’t compare them to smoking. Taking bc pills isn’t habit forming, or addictive…and smoking is always detrimental to one’s health, and to others should they be in nose-shot of smelling it. Like when my kids and I came out of a restaurant tonight, and one of the waitresses was smoking right in front of the door… lovely. Just the image I want now of who is serving my food.

 

[JimG]

Health benefits of smoking??? I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or be angry over that comment. There are no benefits to smoking cigarettes…none.

Not being a smoker, I have no horse in this race. I’m just going by what was posted by kentuckyliz in post #59 as to the possible benefits of smoking.

Judging by the posts in this thread, it would appear that smokers are indeed the new lepers. Perhaps they should be required to wear a scarlet S and shout “Unclean! Unclean!” whenever approaching anyone.

Is smoking now listed in examinations of conscience? Do people confess it in the confessional? Do textbooks of moral theology list it among the grave sins and provide mitigating as well as aggravating circumstances? What is the gravity of smoking a cigarette compared to smoking a joint, or sipping a bourbon, or eating a Twinkie or a Big Mac? How does it compare to fornication, masturbation, pornography or cussing in public as to the order of magnitude? Do people go to hell for smoking?

The Q&A link given a few posts back by alexbrown is obviously not from a Catholic source;
I don’t know that the Church has spoken about the matter one way or the other.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I am a smoker and I have talked to my priest about it and he says it is not a sin, however for some reason im not convinced. Can anyone help?

If you think that it is a sin, than you should quit. However I can’t find anything in the Catechism that says otherwise, so you should be fine.

 

[Chuck_H]

I admit it. I am a smoker and an addicted smoker.

Having said that, I am also a catholic and strive to get the most out of every mass I go to. I am constantly looking for God in every situation I encounter. I try my best to love God with my whole heart and soul and my neighbor as I do myself.

Smoking is one of the bad habits that Jesus will free me from, along with the others and in the grand scheme of things it seems like one of the smaller problems associated with being human.

The way I see it, it is one of the problems that show my human weakness that prompts me to throw myself on the mercy of God and trust He will handle this problem as He will the others.

A weakness, yes, a sin, no; just part of being human that keeps me like the publican who stood in the back of the temple and beat his breast asking God to forgive him, a sinner.

 

[bobzills]

Is smoking a sin? Probably not in small amounts. For example, it is known that alcohol can be dangerous, but drinking in moderation is not a sin in the Catholic religion. However, as the amount of smoking increases, you are increasing your risk of various diseases, such as lung cancer, etc. And as well, you may be putting other people at risk from these diseases. Therefore, it could be a sin.

 

[whatevergirl]

I guess I think a little differently on this subject–maybe because my dad died from smoking…it was directly related to that, yes.
Maybe because I just don’t like smelling smoker’s second hand smoke …but my thought is that the RCC doesn’t need to spell out for me everything that I should or shouldn’t be doing, for me to consider it harmful and potentially leading me from God. Smoking, driving drunk, etc…are just a few things that come to mind. Driving drunk isn’t officially a ‘sin,’ but can we in good conscience get behind the wheel of a car, and drive intoxicated, maybe killing someone, and think this is not sinful behavior because the RCC hasn’t declared it such? I think it’s dangerous to only lock one’s self in to only what the RCC has written as laws that we should follow. The Bible teaches us that we are to treat our bodies as temples of the Lord. That just doesn’t encompass sexuality, which seems to be talked about frequently on here. It encompasses how we eat, drink, and abstain from harmful substances. My dad was addicted to smoking, and this was back in the 70’s before smoking had the bad rap it has now…I mean, we could see movie stars in movies, smoking away…as if built into the script. People smoked in restaurants, and public buildings…even IN offices, but now, with the knowledge we have through scientific research, and the thousands upon thousands of deaths attributed to it–we can see that smoking is highly dangerous, especially when done frequently, and continuously.

My point is that just because the RCC doesn’t announce that something is or can be considered sinful, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t examine our consciences and tell ourselves that something is destroying our bodies, which God created. If you are addicted to smoking–please, I ask of you to seek help to stop. Don’t give up hope to try to break the habit. Smoking cigarettes over a prolonged period of time will harm your health…maybe not cancer, but it can lead directly to stroke, and heart disease as well. It’s just a killer!!!

If we are to profess ourselves as being the culture of life, we should try to take care of our own. It doesn’t just stop with abortion, euthanasia, and other ‘big picture’ issues–we are part of the big picture. It is hard to convince others that we are a culture of life, holding a cigarette in our hand, or say getting drunk on a continual basis. Sort of presents a mixed message. You have to be for life in all stages, and in all instances. My husband, when he smoked, used to tell me…"We’re all gonna die someday.’ Ugh, I loathe that line. I would say back…“But, you’re quickening the pace–why? Why are you so bent on hurting your body?” Over time of these tense debates, he gave up the habit, praise be to God. I didn’t always nag …I just started praying. God wants us healthy and whole…and truthfully, we could take care of our bodies, and still end up with cancer in the end. But, if I choose to* support a culture of life*, and *abhor *the culture of death–I must make choices in my own everyday life that reflect the talk. I must also walk the walk.

I hope I don’t sound preachy–not my intent. But, I just want to see you all around for as long as our dear Lord has for you–don’t quicken your life…there are those around you who love you, and need you around for a long time.

God bless,
WG

 

[Catherine_S]

.
DO NOT SMOKE :nope: !

Driving a car is the most polluting act an average citizen commits. Emissions from passenger vehicles are increasing in Canada and the US despite attempts to make engines more fuel efficient and despite the addition of antipollution devices. The two main reasons are:** 1**. vehicle use has increased; 2. cars are getting bigger and pick-up trucks, vans and sports vehicles are often replacing smaller, lighter passenger cars.

Despite scientific evidence of climate change, governments in most affluent countries have avoided their responsibility to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The USA is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases worldwide.

***Exhaust ***from all combustion engines combine to produce local adverse effects on the health of car users and all innocent bystanders. Cities have become islands of toxic chemicals from the unrestrained use of vehicles burning fossil fuels.

Cars are noisy, ugly, often dangerous and* dominate*** the experience of modern living. We are now used to the carnage on roads and highways- attempts to reduce death and disability from our motorized containers have not substantially altered the negative impact on society. The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.

Television Ads for sports and recreation vehicles show solitary, impeccable machines in wilderness locations. One TV ad shows a couple making a mad dash to escape the city core in their expensive, luxury upholstered clone of the land-rover.* The ads are selling a fantasy of wilderness, fresh air and escape***. Is the consumer completely deluded? These vehicles are mostly found in suburban driveways and in the traffic jams of polluted cities. They have nowhere to go to escape the environmental degradation they help to create. 4x4 drives and large tires are rarely useful and are not suited to highway driving, You see these machines, submerged in suburban driveways by** the floods they helped to create.**
Combustion engines contribute to greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere and are responsible for climate changes. A sane, sober revision of vehicle use is long overdue.
.
Is driving a car a sin?

 

[whatevergirl]

I wanted to add one more thing–as I think this is equally important.

I have had times in my life when I was focused on something other than God–part of the time. I always told myself…God, you are number one in my life…but then I had these other things that captured my attention that were not of God, truthfully. So, I look at any addictions, whether they be smoking, alcohol, whatever it is that is your ‘thing,’ if it causes you to have to debate yourself in your mind, it probably would be best to be rid of that ‘thing.’

For example, I think that if someone is struggling with an addiction…there has to be a mental battle to a degree…that go any number of ways…such as "I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but I do it anyways.’ (Remember St Paul had such conversations with God?) “I wish I could kick this habit, but I just can’t seem to free myself.” The worst is when we justify it and say…‘well, it’s ok…I mean, I’ll quit this someday.’

I think that when we crowd our mind with these internal battles, we sort of move Christ over–because Christ will a)not compete with secularity and b) Christ has greater things for us and we crowd Him out, when we keep these battles going.

It is so common to have these battles in our minds. It is human nature to succomb to the flesh, but the spirit is willing! That is something God knows about us, but He will help us to give up the vice that competes for His attention. That clutters our minds with excuses and rationale, and perhaps guilt and depression. Giving up bad habits is tough…I just know that if we work hard at it, then our minds and bodies will be out of bondage and completely FREE to serve God. To be like Christ. It is hard to completely serve God, when we become enslaved to addiction. Jesus came to set us free…of even our addictions. He doesn’t want us addicted to anything–but Him.

Ok…I hope this is taken with the spirit I intended to deliver it in.

 

[Cajetan]

Is smoking a sin? Probably not in small amounts.

The thing is, most smokers smoke because they’re addicted, not because they are tobacco aficionados who partake in a little pinch here and there for relaxation or whatever. I smoke over twenty cigarettes a day, because that is the extent of my nicotine addiction. I need that much nicotine in my system every day to feel normal. In terms of “moderation,” I would be more a lot more like an alcoholic than one who savors a glass of wine in the evening. Again, most smokers are like this.

 

[whatevergirl]

The thing is, most smokers smoke because they’re addicted, not because they are tobacco aficionados who partake in a little pinch here and there for relaxation or whatever. I smoke over twenty cigarettes a day, because that is the extent of my nicotine addiction. I need that much nicotine in my system every day to feel normal. In terms of “moderation,” I would be more a lot more like an alcoholic than one who savors a glass of wine in the evening. Again, most smokers are like this.

I admire your candor, Cajetan. I pray that you work towards giving up the habit…It is hard, I know. I lived with smokers my whole life (my husband quit over the past year finally) and if there was ever a tough habit to break–it’s that one. The cigarette industry knows this, too…and gets rich off making people addicted.

But, now that you know that…or have known that–you can work towards giving it up. Freeing ourselves from addictions is hard work…no doubt, but with God, all things are possible. Addictions, I really believe, keep us from the full complete blessings we can be receiving from Christ…I know this to be true.

Anyways–thanks for sharing…I will pray that you give up the habit. God bless.

 

[JimG]

Smoking is one of the bad habits that Jesus will free me from, along with the others and in the grand scheme of things it seems like one of the smaller problems associated with being human.

This is pretty much my view. Even though, (or perhaps because) I’m not a smoker, this seems to be one of the lesser problems affecting the human condition. (My own last smoke was a few years ago, enjoying a fine cigar with a friend at a business convention. It was quite enjoyable and I don’t view it as sinful in any way.)

But for someone like whatevergirl, who had to live unwillingly in a personal smoky environment for years, I can see that it would take on much larger proportions. I do think that we should refrain from turning addicted smokers into a new underclass.

Driving a car is the most polluting act an average citizen commits.

If you are here speaking of the automobile’s “carbon footprint,” I read somewhere that the carbon footprint of driving a car two miles and the carbon footprint of a man running two miles were the same. Both, of course, are emitting CO2.

I have noticed that high gas prices do not keep people from driving, or from driving bigger cars. Gas stations are busier than ever. Where entire families used to be able to fit into a relatively small family sedan, they now require a huge SUV that would have eclipsed the ‘family car’ of prior years.

But I’m afraid that further addressing this issues would entirely sidetrack the thread. Perhaps Catherine’s post should be a new thread.

 

[whatevergirl]

wow Jim! You said my thoughts so succinctly. I need to work on that.

But, also–addictions of any sort keep us from all the peace and joy we can receive from Christ…I believe that. I used to be addicted to shopping–and if one can’t relate, let me just say it kept me from true peace within myself, and marriage. I wasted money (like smokers who waste money on cigarettes for example) and because of that, went into serious debt years ago. So, the trickle effects of our ‘vices’ can have lasting effects…with smoking…I lost my dad, and grew up in far different circumstances than I would have had he not smoked. Sure, maybe he could have died that early from ‘something else,’ but, I view addictions as competing for God’s rightful place in our minds, and bodies.

The flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing. It isn’t for me to dub something a sin, but if something causes you to be enslaved to it–one should ask him/herself…is this something God would want for my life? To be attached to a vice, where I only feel ‘good’ if I’m doing it?

It’s not always easy to answer these questions, they cause us to have to change. How I stopped my addictive spending/shopping, is I felt the Holy Spirit ask me to start tithing signifantly each week–I simply (eventually) couldn’t keep up the shopping, AND the tithing level, I felt I was called to do…so, what gave out? The vice! Thankfully, God showed me how to do it.

I bet if addicted smokers followed a similiar plan–‘donating’ their cigarette money to charity, the Church, etc…it would be very painful to their budgets to keep up the habit.

 

[bobzills]

.
Is driving a car a sin?

Probably not in most cases, but there are ways when it could be a sin. For example, if one were to drive recklessly to endanger others.

 

[Cajetan]

But, now that you know that…or have known that–you can work towards giving it up. Freeing ourselves from addictions is hard work…no doubt, but with God, all things are possible. Addictions, I really believe, keep us from the full complete blessings we can be receiving from Christ…I know this to be true.

You are correct. I have no doubt that my tobacco use is sinful behavior; it is not a “good” situation. I don’t believe that I am committing mortal sin by way of my tobacco use, but my conviction that it is sinful period should be enough to motivate me to strive toward quitting. We must all strive toward holiness.

It’s hard for me to imagine a saint with a cigarette hanging out of his or her mouth.

 

[whatevergirl]

You are correct. I have no doubt that my tobacco use is sinful behavior; it is not a “good” situation. I don’t believe that I am committing mortal sin by way of my tobacco use, but my conviction that it is sinful period should be enough to motivate me to strive toward quitting. We must all strive toward holiness.

It’s hard for me to imagine a saint with a cigarette hanging out of his or her mouth.

LOL–right?

We all struggle with various vices to varying degrees…but it’s in the striving to give up anything that holds us in bondage. The word bondage might sound dramatic, but I believe that the opposite of living completely free means. I have great hope that you will be smoke free…in less than one year! I’m going to pray that.

 

[Catherine_S]

Probably not in most cases, but there are ways when it could be a sin. For example, if one were to drive recklessly to endanger others.

I think that it is may be a little bit more than driving recklessly or to endanger others.

According to the policy statement, exposure to traffic-related pollution, such as exhaust emissions from cars and diesel exhaust from trucks and even school buses, increases a child’s risk of respiratory complications as well as lifetime risk of cancer. The statement indicates that pediatricians play an essential part* in educating local** and national representatives, policy makers, children with asthma or chronic respiratory tract disease and school sports officials about the harmful health effects of air pollution, and advocating for prevention policies at the state and local level.*
*The Academy also makes the following recommendations in the policy statement: *
*- Areas with poor air quality should alert local residents about potential health hazards. *
*- Local and federal government should **encourage **mass transit and car pooling. *
*- Programs that exempt some passenger vehicles (e.g., SUV’s, minivans, and light-duty trucks) from fuel-economy standards should be eliminated. *
*- New schools should be built away from “hot spots” of localized pollution. *
*The policy adds that pediatricians who serve as physicians for schools or for team sports should be aware of the health implications of pollution alerts to provide appropriate guidance to school and sports officials, particularly in communities **with high ozone levels. ***
*The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists ****dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents **and **young adults. ***
American Academy of Pediatrics

I do not want to distract anyone from the degree of sin involved in smoking.
I do not smoke nor do I drive a car but I find the pollution problems resulting from cars, especially in terms of the health of children a huge eye opener and I often wonder how this issue plays itself out in the area of sin as well.
There was a slim chance that this thread may have addressed this issue due to the interest shown in terms of ones own health and the health of others in regards to cigarette smoking.
I will let you get back to the** original** topic of this thread.
"Is cigarette smoking a sin**?"**

.

 

[Al_Masetti]

I think that it is may be a little bit more than driving recklessly or to endanger others.

According to the policy statement, exposure to traffic-related pollution, such as exhaust emissions from cars and diesel exhaust from trucks and even school buses, increases a child’s risk of respiratory complications as well as lifetime risk of cancer. The statement indicates that pediatricians play an essential part** in educating local** and national representatives, policy makers, children with asthma or chronic respiratory tract disease and school sports officials about the harmful health effects of air pollution, and advocating for prevention policies at the state and local level.
The Academy also makes the following recommendations in the policy statement:
- Areas with poor air quality should alert local residents about potential health hazards.
*- Local and federal government should **encourage ***mass transit and car pooling.
- Programs that exempt some passenger vehicles (e.g., SUV’s, minivans, and light-duty trucks) from fuel-economy standards should be eliminated.
- New schools should be built away from “hot spots” of localized pollution.
The policy adds that pediatricians who serve as physicians for schools or for team sports should be aware of the health implications of pollution alerts to provide appropriate guidance to school and sports officials, particularly in communities **with high ozone levels. **
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists ***dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents ***and **young adults. **
American Academy of Pediatrics

I do not want to distract anyone from the degree of sin involved in smoking.
I do not smoke nor do I drive a car but I find the pollution problems resulting from cars, especially in terms of the health of children a huge eye opener and I often wonder how this issue plays itself out in the area of sin as well.
There was a slim chance that this thread may have addressed this issue due to the interest shown in terms of ones own health and the health of others in regards to cigarette smoking.
I will let you get back to the** original** topic of this thread.
"Is cigarette smoking a sin**?"**

.

Well, in the old days, there were horses for transportation. And their pollution was worse.

 

[bobzills]

Well, in the old days, there were horses for transportation. And their pollution was worse.

Not necessarily. The droppings could easily be cleaned up, processed. and used for gardening. This would not affect the air quality that much. Air pollution by cars and industries is a real problem.

 

[JimG]

Not necessarily. The droppings could easily be cleaned up, processed. and used for gardening. This would not affect the air quality that much. Air pollution by cars and industries is a real problem.

Yet I don’t think I would have wanted to live in London in a time when the chief pollutant was horse manure; it was a big city even then, and people had to get around.