Posted by ILSL on 8/2/2009, 1:03 pm, in reply to "Religion and Smoking"
68.215.46.38
Lets try this approach. God created all the plants of nature for man's enjoyment and stewardship - except one. That one was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Well, mankind couldn't keep its hands off that one. Yet all others - including tobacco (poppies too?) - will not separate one from God. BTW, I am taking the fundamental understanding of faith (fellowship with God) and sin (separation from God). Of course, historically the pharisee has always created waves by trying to apply Holiness to non-religious concerns. For example, diet (dining with tax collectors is forbidden), movement (walking further than the distance to your local temple on Sabbath is forbidden), or health (smoking is forbidden). Jesus also taught his disciples not to even worry about taking care of the body because it is perishable. Personally, I can think of no bona fide religious prohibition against smoking (though I remember Pres. Carter's health secretary saying that smokers commit slow-motion suicide - but I don't buy it).
--Previous Message--
: So here's my story...
:
: I'm nearly 30, and I smoked occasionally
: during college but not as a habit. After a
: particularly stressful day at work three
: years ago, I bought a pack to help me
: unwind.
:
: For about a week, I hid my smoking until my
: wife, an ex-smoker, caught me. A week after
: that, I told her that I was smoking more and
: didn't really intend to stop.
:
: I went out back to smoke, and to my
: surprise, she came outside and said,
: "Well, if you're smoking again, I guess
: I'm smoking again."
:
: We've both been closet smoking since then...
: about half a pack on work days... more on
: weekends and vacation. We only smoke at
: home when we're in town. It's wonderful
: when we're on vacation, and we can both
: smoke openly.
:
: My problem with 'coming out' is, of course,
: the guilt from others who know me as a
: non-smoker. My parents and other family are
: VERY anti-smoking, and they live in the same
: town we live in. Most people have some
: connection to each other here, and if I even
: smoked in my car, I know word would get back
: to others.
:
: But this is the main issue: My parents are
: deeply religious (as am I). They seem to
: connect smoking to faith, and I can't
: imagine their response if they know I smoke.
:
: We've gone to a church where they have a
: smoking area outside, and it's nice to not
: have the pressure on me there. But I don't
: know about acceptance beyond there.
:
: Any thoughts? Anyone ever dealt with this
: particular side of the issue?
:
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