# Is smoking a sin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 19, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024 "2001-07-19T06:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hippy144](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/90db22/32.png) [@Hippy144](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy144)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/1 "2001-07-19T06:15:13Z")
Okay, I’m mainly looking for preist types (I’m closer to cristian in religion if that helps) but all comments and opinions are welcome. I asked many people if smoking was a sin, and the only two responses I got were “Well of course it is” and “Well of course it’s not”. I see this from two ways, smoking is concidered suicide because it contains chemicals that kill you. But it’s not really suicide because it’s not a sure thing. Anyway, people eat those McDonalds cheese burgers all the time and they’ll eventually give you a heart attack. Then again they give you some benifitial crap as well as the chloresteral. So you see, I can’t figure it out. I thought of going to a preist, but if he thought I was kidding and got pissed off… well god doesn’t seem to like me too much right now and I don’t think I can afford to piss off a preist. So I’m calling all takers on this, show me your power of persuation. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/2 "2001-07-19T07:22:30Z")
Yes, that is why I switched to chewing tobacco. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/3 "2001-07-19T07:24:55Z")
Would any Rastafarians care to speak on this matter? ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/4 "2001-07-19T07:27:04Z")
[According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses it’s a sin.](http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2000/3/22/article_02.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/5 "2001-07-19T07:58:41Z")
IANAPriest, but… In my mind, there’s a distinct difference between ‘unhealthy’ food and smoking, in fact I’d venture to say that there’s no such thing as unhealthy food, only unhealthy diets (you could eat an ounce or two of pure butter every Saturday morning as part of a completely balanced diet overall). I was going to say that smoking is not beneficial in any way, but somebody would probably find some way to correct me. In any case, Most of the people in religious authority that I know would say that they don’t think smoking is a good idea, but that it’s very much down to the decision of the individual’s conscience before God. Nobody can point at a bible verse as being definitively anti or pro-smoking; if you believe in God, you could try asking him directly… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/6 "2001-07-19T10:15:02Z")
I’m not a priest either, but I suspect that, as usual, **Mangetout** is talking sense here… I’d just add this: sin is a matter of the will, so, if you’re not actually _planning_ to smoke yourself to death (or cheeseburger yourself to death), then, no, you’re not guilty of attempted suicide. Are you guilty of some other sin? I don’t think it’s my place to judge that. You might be placing the love of cigarettes before the love of God, or you might just be indulging in a pleasure (and God made the pleasures, after all). OK, so smoking is not a _harmless_ pleasure… but I don’t think that _necessarily_ makes it sinful. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/7 "2001-07-19T10:50:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > **…I suspect that, as usual, Mangetout is talking sense here…** I think perhaps there are two **Mangetout** s? ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/8 "2001-07-19T11:50:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*In any case, Most of the people in religious authority that I know would say that they don’t think smoking is a good idea, but that it’s very much down to the decision of the individual’s conscience before God. Nobody can point at a bible verse as being definitively anti or pro-smoking; if you believe in God, you could try asking him directly… > \*\* My favorite comment on Smoking And Sin: > [@](#): > > Smoking never sent anybody to Hell; it just makes you smell like you have been there already… Seriously though, my own opinion is that nicotine/tobacco is an addictive drug, and as such should be treated with caution. In addition, it is likely to kill you if you use it as the producers intend you to, another reason to keep well clear. Thirdly, the only biblical reference that might be apposite is the refernce to the body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit”, and as such, worthy of respect and good management. Inhaling carcinogenic substances couldn’t be condidered to be “good management” (neither could drinking enough alcohol to make you lose your memory, eating so much that you are confined to bed or not washing while fungus grows under your arms for that matter…). Gp ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/9 "2001-07-19T12:24:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grimpixie \* > \*\*… the refernce to the body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit”, and as such, worthy of respect and good management. \*\* Oh dear. (:: looks down at own bloated, flabby, blotchy body) Oh dear, oh _dear_, oh dear… (:: brightens up suddenly) I know! I’ll lie on my back, and pretend I’m St. Paul’s Cathedral! Thank you, Sir Christopher Wren! ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/10 "2001-07-19T12:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > \*\*I know! I’ll lie on my back, and pretend I’m St. Paul’s Cathedral! Thank you, Sir Christopher Wren! \*\* So THAT’s why cathedrals have domes!!! (rather than spires…) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/11 "2001-07-19T13:10:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grimpixie \* > **Seriously though, my own opinion is that nicotine/tobacco is an addictive drug, and as such should be treated with caution.** The problem with this is that Caffeine and Theobromine (in chocolate) are also addictive drugs (less so than nicotine I believe) - there’s no ‘black and white’ here, so any line we draw is arbitrary (unless we are draw the line at abstention from all such substances - think about that for a moment; no more chocolate, \ ) \*\* > [@](#): > > In addition, it is likely to kill you if you use it as the producers intend you to, another reason to keep well clear.\*\* Fair point, the same can’t be said of coffee, chocolate or greasy hamburgers. > [@](#): > > **Thirdly, the only biblical reference that might be apposite is the refernce to the body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit”, and as such, worthy of respect and good management.** This makes sense at first glance, but I think this verse gets abused a great deal (by people who want to justify abstention[sup]1[/sup] from all kinds of things) and many Christians are captives as a result, Although he was respectful towards the temple, Christ was very critical of those for whom the _temple_ had become more important than the _God_ who lived there. [sup]1 They don’t necessarily want to abstain from the things themselves, but they expect others to[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/12 "2001-07-19T13:16:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > > * * * > > > [@](#): > > > > In addition, it is likely to kill you if you use it as the producers intend you to, another reason to keep well clear.\*\* > > Fair point, the same can’t be said of coffee, chocolate or greasy hamburgers. > \*\* Or can it?; I suppose it could be argued that Nestle would like you to drink seventeen gallons of their coffee daily, Cadbury’s would have you eat half a ton of chocolate and McD’s would be delighted if your diet consisted of wheelbarrows full of their hamburgers. Sheesh, I still say if you believe in God, accept **his** instruction on the matter, treat anyone else’s advice (inlcuding mine) as interference. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/13 "2001-07-19T13:39:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > > > > * * * > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > In addition, it is likely to kill you if you use it as the producers intend you to, another reason to keep well clear.\*\* > > > > Fair point, the same can’t be said of coffee, chocolate or greasy hamburgers. > > \*\* > > Or can it?; I suppose it could be argued that Nestle would like you to drink seventeen gallons of their coffee daily, Cadbury’s would have you eat half a ton of chocolate and McD’s would be delighted if your diet consisted of wheelbarrows full of their hamburgers.\*\* Are these the **two** Mangetout that you were refering to earlier? 🙂 I’d consider gallons coffee, tonnes of burgers, etc as **abuse** of those substances, whereas simply smoking a reasonable abount of tobacco each day will greatly increase your change of dying from a lung/throat-related disease. Alcohol is an addictive substance, but there is no restiction (in Christianity at least) against its consumption. **Abuse** of alcohol, on the other hand, is strongly advised against. Gp ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/14 "2001-07-19T13:48:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grimpixie \* > **I’d consider gallons coffee, tonnes of burgers, etc as abuse of those substances, whereas simply smoking a reasonable abount of tobacco each day will greatly increase your change of dying from a lung/throat-related disease** I suppose. You might have guessed by now that I’m a Christian, you might not have guessed that I’m an ex-smoker (and in fact I now can’t stand to be in the same room as someone smoking), I felt a strong desire to give up shortly after my conversion and I found giving up quite easy as a result, but it was a matter of personal conscience to me, not something that I felt obliged to do because of anything in the bible or because of pressure from leaders etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Crude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Crude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Crude)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/15 "2001-07-19T15:43:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Thirdly, the only biblical reference that might be apposite is the refernce to the body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit”, and as such, worthy of respect and good management. Inhaling carcinogenic substances couldn’t be condidered to be “good management” What if it’s incense though? You know, frankincense, myrrh, tobacco, cannabis? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/16 "2001-07-19T19:02:28Z")
Welcome, **Hippy144**. General Questions, the forum where you posted this, is for questions with a factual answer, which this is not. It’s much better suited for our Great Debates forum, so I’m moving it there. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/17 "2001-07-20T04:59:57Z")
For the record, some denominations of Christianity DO frown on ANY consumption on alcohol. At least, all of the Southern Baptist churches in my area do, and so do all the Churches of Christ. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/18 "2001-07-20T13:44:03Z")
FTR, here is the Catholic catechism cite, in context: [http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/fifth.html#PERSONS](http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/fifth.html#PERSONS) > [@](#): > > 2288 Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good. Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment, and social assistance. > > 2289 If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for it’s [sic] sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports. By its selective preference of the strong over the weak, such a conception can lead to the perversion of human relationships. > > 2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air. > > 2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law. ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/19 "2001-07-20T17:35:06Z")
the division of Christianity I belong to frowns on smoking, alchohol et al. In fact it frowns on using any material substance as a crutch for living through God. (In some individual’s estimation this does include coffee and chocolate. Its an individual interpretation issue.) Is it a sin? _shrug_ if it pulls you from your study of God and Truth, than probably it could be treated as one. I’d prefer to focus on being nice to others and compassion as personal goals first, and clean up the little stuff later. (I don’t smoke, nor have I. For those that care.) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024/20 "2001-07-20T18:53:40Z")
The commission of any act in which you know causes harm (to others, yourself, God, etc.) is a sin. Do you know you’re harming yourself when you smoke? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-smoking-a-sin/73024.md?page=2)