Posted by Gooddoctor on October 24, 2009, 10:25:17, in reply to "Re: Religion and smoking"
69.134.207.234
It could/should be put into a broader context. Smoking should be equated with other bodily pleasures that can have a negative impact on health, such as overeating, drinking, etc. In my mind, these things become "sins" when they cause harm to other people or stand in the way or your own spiritual growth.
--Previous Message--
: I think this would be an
: intersting topic for a
: sermon: "Are
: smokers sinners?"
:
: I thought that too. The
: idea that smokers are
: bad people is a
: pernicious and spiteful
: one, which in the case
: of those antis who
: really seem to get off
: on tormenting smokers
: stems from the most
: unpleasant part of human
: nature, and really
: should be challenged
: more, but I think some
: caution is advisable
: here - we all known what
: the crazier antis are
: like - even the best,
: most reasonable sermon
: ever, would probably be
: interpreted as self
: serving rubbish by some
: of them if they got wind
: that John smokes.
:
: --Previous Message--
: You bring up an
: interesting point about
: smoking as a vice/sin.
: There seems to be a
: great deal of hypocrisy
: about this in our
: current society. People
: seem to put smokers in
: the same league with
: criminals, pimps,
: pushers, drug abusers,
: etc. There's even
: parental guidance that
: alerts parents if a film
: contains images of
: smoking. People would
: have no problem with
: someone who cheated on
: their spouse or income
: taxes, took steroids,
: drinks too much, etc.
: but someone who
: smokes--watch out!
: Smokers are the modern
: lepers. I think this
: would be an intersting
: topic for a sermon:
: "Are smokers
: sinners?"
:
: --Previous Message--
:
: Thank you for the
: advice. I'm feeling
: addicted to smoking and
: I like it. It is going
: to be hard for me to
: give it up, because it
: relaxes me. My dilema is
: that I'm a pastor of a
: church, and many people
: of the church I think
: would have a problem
: with me smoking. Even
: though over the history
: of the church, there has
: been many great
: theologians, pastors,
: and Christians who were
: smokers; smoking seems
: to be the great evil of
: our time. Of all
: societies problems,
: smokiing seems to be the
: one that society
: condemns. As I read
: Jenny's story of
: starting to experiment
: with smoking, what if
: she becomes a smoker?
: Will her church accept
: her? I'm sure that she
: will continue with the
: good values that she
: stands for. How can I
: get my people to accept
: me if I do go out of the
: closet. Should I offer a
: time of cigars and Bible
: study? Maybe this would
: get more men interested
: in being part of the
: church.
: --Previous Message--
: There's nothing to add
: to
: the things Bilbo said!
: If you're such a weak
: person, who has not the
: courage to smoke openly
: at the age of 48, it's
: the best thing to stop
: immediately. Unsatisfied
: cravings will weaken you
: even more. As a smoker
: the need for nicotine
: will dictate your daily
: routine, you will need
: to smoke a cigarette at
: any time and at any
: place - otherwise it'll
: be hell für you! Hope
: it's not too late yet.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I have started smoking
: for
: various reasons, and
: enjoy it. I have always
: wanted to smoke since I
: was 13, but it was so
: prohibited that I never
: got the courage to do
: it. Three weeks ago, I
: finally got up the nevre
: to try. I discovered
: that I like it. I am
: smoking in the closet
: because as of now
: because I feel that I
: will not be accepted by
: people who I associate
: with. I am a person who
: is not allowed to smoke,
: but wants to continue.
: Any advice for me?
:
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