Why is smoking/ selling cigarettes NOT a mortal sin?

  • Thread starter Thread starter someperson555
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
someperson555 said:
this is crazy. cigarettes are harmful and so is alcohol. its insane that many catholics rail against the “evils” of contraception yet do not do a thing about tobacco.
the proprieters of tobacco companies KNOW that their products harm and kill millions, yet they still sell them.
cigarettes are not the same thing as food. (however putting chemicals in food should be addressed by the church too).
it is a drug, and it is unnatural.
and the smoker also knows he is harming his own body by using the product! the catechism states that we must take reasonable care of our bodies!
these pleasures should not be allowed.
Click to expand...
Notice that the “evils” of contraception that the Church rails about are those which can doom a person’s soul to an eternity in the fires of Hell. I have never heard the Church condemn contraception on any other basis.
 
someperson555 said:
this is crazy. cigarettes are harmful and so is alcohol. its insane that many catholics rail against the “evils” of contraception yet do not do a thing about tobacco.
the proprieters of tobacco companies KNOW that their products harm and kill millions, yet they still sell them.
cigarettes are not the same thing as food. (however putting chemicals in food should be addressed by the church too).
it is a drug, and it is unnatural.
and the smoker also knows he is harming his own body by using the product! the catechism states that we must take reasonable care of our bodies!
these pleasures should not be allowed.
Click to expand...
I assume you also think motorized vehicles and power plants are sinful and should be “railed” against as well. I assume this because the pollution caused by those are far more harmful to one’s body (especially if you live in a large urban area) than smoking. Wow, I just realized that if my assumption is correct you are using a totally organic computer running off of a totally organic and non-polluting power supply in order to post your comments. Where can I get a similar setup?
 
I have $5 that says the OP thinks his computer is (or soon will be) powered by environmentally friendly alternative energy.

I have some other money in my pocket that says other things about his opinions about other issues of the day, because propaganda is pretty much a package deal.

Edit - I wonder if he realizes 555 is a brand of tobacco…
 
minion said:
How so? Which beverages do you recommend that are beneficial?

WAIT WAIT Eucharist doesn’t count
Click to expand...
Moderate amounts of some alcohol, such as red wine, are supposed to be good for your heart. I think there’s something with other types of alcohol as well. But in MODERATION! Intoxication is a sin!

Also, sort of beside the point, but a fun fact: alcohol can have medicinal uses. My doctor said that for a strained back or other large muscle ache, a glass of gin and tonic or some other strong-ish drink works better, cheaper, with fewer side effects(and tastes better) than muscle relaxant medicine. Then, she proceeded to prescribe the medicine, which I took instead of having a drink, because I’m underage. 🙂
 
I’m just going to throw this out there, but me smoking the handful of cigarettes/cigars/cigarillos I have in my life is going to do much less harm to my health than the junk food I have eaten, or the lack of exercise. Smoking is not in itself a sin just like eating junk food is not in itself sinful. It is when it is taken to excess that it becomes sinful.
 
I don’t think it’s necessarily sinful, just stupid, inconsiderate(Second hand smoke is even more dangerous than actually smoking.), and repulsive.
 
TeenageConvert said:
I don’t think it’s necessarily sinful, just stupid, inconsiderate(Second hand smoke is even more dangerous than actually smoking.), and repulsive.
Click to expand...
Good, then don’t take up the nasty habit, but leave the rest of us stupid people alone. If I ever meet or talk to you I won’t blow smoke in your face. And you won’t WON"T correct me for smoking.
 
Burdensome1 said:
Yes, it’s totally frustrating not to be the moral lawgiver to humanity, isn’t it? But, sadly, you are not, and are instead just a person. Being in your position means that what is moral and what is not is something you receive, and then decide whether you will follow or not. No amount of argument will invert the relationship and render your opinions law.

Sorry, bud. I know it hurts.
Click to expand...
you are just rationalizing your sin. sorry, but morality isnt 100% what you like. we all have to face up to our own sinful habits and admit they are sinful. you arent doing that unfortunately yet you still have the effrontery to judge me and my spiritual life. you should know that in the bible it says “judge not lest you be judged”. you just come off as a very self righteous person. (im not saying you are, since i wont pass judgment on a complete stranger based on his posts on a forum) but you definitely seem like it.

these are not my opinions, this is a fact. smoking is immoral, that is actually already established by the catholic church. what im saying is that its a mortal sin. ask yourself, should it not be considered gravely immoral to sell people a product which is detrimental to human health.
it is different from food, since cigarettes are not necessaryt for human life. smoking is a completely superfluous habit. therefore i think the people who sell the product and even parents who engage in the habit are guilty of mortal sin.
 
George_Stegmeir said:
There is an old saying that “Anti’s” are people who can’t stand the fact that somewhere, someone is enjoying himself!
You should wake up to the fact that prohibition of anything just lures some people into obtaining it. Believe me, the more that you as a person becomes a prohibitionist, the more some people will go against you with great glee and gusto. Right or wrong, it is just human nature. A classic example is what happened during the Prohibition era in the USA.
Click to expand...
you cant be serious. did a catholic just use a LIBERAL argument? this just shows me that 90% of the peopel on this forum shouldnt be taken seriously.

also its hypocritical that some of you want pornography to be banned yet are totally OK wih cigarettes being kept on the market. that is such non sequitur logic.

you have your priorities backwards.

also let me ask you this, by your logic we should then also legalize heroin, cocaine, and meth. because hey, banning them just creates a black market :rolleyes:
 
MilesVitae said:
As far as smoking cigarettes is concerned, I would say that becoming a frequent smoker and/or letting oneself become addicted is sinful - for, smoking in excess is harmful to one’s body. However, smoking is not, per se, immoral - it is only so when there is a real risk to one’s health. I know people who smoke a pipe, cigar, or a couple cigarettes on occasion, but nowhere near a frequency that would be dangerous to the point of being immoral.
As such, selling tobacco is not evil per se - Aquinas says that one can make and sell things which have a proper use, even though some will abuse it (weapons or jewelry I think are the examples he uses, though alcohol and tobacco would also be obvious examples). That being said, I would say that to the extent that tobacco companies seek to promote cigarette addiction and profit thereby, this is immoral.
Click to expand...
yes it is evil.
weapons have a legit use. the weapons dealer cant guaruntee that people wont abuse his products but there is still a legit use for weapons therefore its moral for him to sell. however this is not the case with cigarettes. cigarettes just cause harm, they are not necessary for any aspect of human life. the individuals who push tobacco products know full well the damage their products cause. yet they ignore it out of their greed. this is mortally sinful!
 
yes it is evil.
Click to expand...
You’re really around the bend about this, aren’t you?

If only you were so zealous about actual teachings of the Church and real moral evils.

Oh well.
 
someperson555 said:
you cant be serious. did a catholic just use a LIBERAL argument? this just shows me that 90% of the peopel on this forum shouldnt be taken seriously.

also its hypocritical that some of you want pornography to be banned yet are totally OK wih cigarettes being kept on the market. that is such non sequitur logic.

you have your priorities backwards.

also let me ask you this, by your logic we should then also legalize heroin, cocaine, and meth. because hey, banning them just creates a black market :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Hypocritical would be saying this-
" …since i wont pass judgment on a complete stranger based on his posts on a forum"

in a post you start off with-
“you are just rationalizing your sin.”
 
Hey, a twofer, today on CA I have been accused of not believing in the real presence AND smoking. Awesome. Internet, how I love thee.
 
Burdensome1 said:
You’re really around the bend about this, aren’t you?

If only you were so zealous about actual teachings of the Church and real moral evils.

Oh well.
Click to expand...
your username suits you.
stop judging my faith, frankly its not your place to do so.
and im sorry that im not “zealous” enough about the church teachings on other things. i somehow dont think its alright to throw people in jail for practicing homosexual sex or preventing people from using contraception. im a catholic but i dont want a theocracy, you and your pals seem to be pushing for just that. but hey! it worked great the last time we had a theocracy… wait.

anyway about smoking, the church could use its authority to help eradicate smoking from society, yet it doesnt. and that annoys me. so quite frankly dont talk to me about the evils of contraception while you turn a blind eye to other evils poisoning society.
 
Homosexuals in jail? Theocracy?

Dude, you’re the one who wants to ban stuff.

I think we’re about two posts away from you losing it. I’m going to enjoy watching.
 
and burdensome, why do you continue to pass judgment on my catholic faith.
ill have you know i assent to the church teaching that contraception is evil (reluctantly i will admit) but i realise its meant to be taken on faith. there are some aspects of our faith which cant be understood and i accept that.
but im also not a religious fanatic like you are. i dont think life should revolve around church. and i am able to make a distinction between secular law and religious moral law.
 
I don’t want to ban tobacco, so I’m a religious fanatic.

This is great stuff. Keep it coming.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top