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Smoking
Jul 12, 2004 2:22:19 GMT -5
Post by Archangelwolf on Jul 12, 2004 2:22:19 GMT -5
Ohhhh, I expect to raise some eyebrows, and some blood pressures, with this topic for sure.
Several questions beg to be asked.
First, is smoking an environmental issue? Secondly, is smoking a sin? Third, is smoking anyone's business?
Before we go any further, let me tell you that I am not naive. I know that their are those who believe so strongly one way or the other that it would not matter what kind of facts I throw at them, they would not change their stance. For those of you who refuse to view the facts, I need not waste your time. You need not read any further than this sentence.
Apparently, if you are still reading, perhaps I have your attention about something. In that case, I will evaluate each of the three above questions.
Arch.
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Smoking
Jul 12, 2004 2:23:05 GMT -5
Post by Archangelwolf on Jul 12, 2004 2:23:05 GMT -5
Is smoking an environmental issue?
With all of the fuss about smoking ordinances, second-hand smoke, and other health problems associated with it, we have to wonder if it is an environmental issue. Personally, I do not smoke. However, I grew up around it all my life. My sister started as a teenager, and still does today. My best friend in high school was also an avid smoker. Do I have personal ill will towards smoker's? God forbid. However, I can not ignore the implications of science and religion on the smoking community. There is obviously a direction in which these areas point to in regards to smoking; and that is the fact that smoking is indeed an environmental issue that must be dealt with.
My wife was an education major at our local university. One day, while she was student teaching, the children got into a collective mood to play tattle-tells. They continuously kept telling on each other for the least little thing. My wife decided that it was time to nip it in the bud, so she gave the children something to think about. She told them to pretend that they had an imaginary bubble around themselves. If any other child did something to them inside their own bubbles, then they could tell. Otherwise, they should mind themselves.
This story stuck with me. We all have an imaginary "box," if you will, for which I call our own Personal Environment Box. Every person is entitled by their own inalienable human rights to a healthy PEB for the sake of preserving their life. It is a human rights issue, as well as an environmental issue. If anyone violates another person's PEB, whether intentionally or not, they are violating not only that person's environment, but their human rights as well.
So, how does smoking fit in? A person who smokes, even if they do it outside, still has the nicotine and second-hand smoke in their lungs as they exhale; even after going back inside. Also, the carcinogens that are exhaled, as well as the unfiltered smoke from the other end of a cigarette, are absorbed into the clothing of smokers. Thus, when a smoker returns into a closed area, whether it be an office, a restaurant table, or even their own living room, they are still a health hazard to anyone breathing that is in the same room with them. In effect, they are affecting the PEB of another person, which is a violation of their human rights to breathe clean air.
This is especially true of small children in the home. A parent that smokes, even if they go outside, still carries dangerous carcinogens in their breath as well as their clothing. The children breathe this, unknowing of the dangers of the air for which they are forced to breathe against their will.
Is smoking an environmental issue? YES! I will even go so far as to say that forcing someone else to inhale carcinogens of second-hand smoke is a violation of their human rights to breathe clean air, even if they do so of their own free will; especially if the persons in question are children. Smoking has a negative impact on the environment as a whole, and the only motive I see for someone who continues to do it is selfishness.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Arch.
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Smoking
Jul 12, 2004 2:23:54 GMT -5
Post by Archangelwolf on Jul 12, 2004 2:23:54 GMT -5
Is smoking a sin?
If you read my intro to this particular forum, I mentioned how we as a human race are a part of our environment, not apart from it. Basically, there exists two entities: Creator and Creation. We are a part of Creation, along with the animals, plants, and non-living things that are invaluable to the preservation of life on this planet. Just as God wishes that we not harm any of these things and each other, we are not to harm ourselves. We were created to love, nurture, and co-create EVEN OURSELVES. Anything that is self-destructive, such as smoking, drugs, promiscuous sex, or any other behavior that does not foster love, nurture, and creation of one's self, is disobedience to God. Disobedience to God is sin.
There are two kingdoms that exist in today's world: the Kingdom of God, and the kingdoms of men. Or you could say the Kingdom of Light, and the kingdoms of darkness. Everyday men and women choose to live after these two kinds of kingdoms. To love, nurture, and further advance our bodies, our fellow men and women, and our environment; these are things of the Kingdom of God. Anything that is self-destructive to this belongs to the kingdoms of darkness. SMOKING IS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE! Therefore, smoking is definitely a sin.
But we all sin, right? How can I judge someone for their sin when I have my own? Is it any of my business if they want to sin? This is an interesting question...
To be continued...
Arch.
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Smoking
Jul 12, 2004 2:24:43 GMT -5
Post by Archangelwolf on Jul 12, 2004 2:24:43 GMT -5
Is smoking anyone else's business?
Interesting question. I believe it is an environmental issue. I believe it is a human rights issue. I believe it is a sin. However, does someone have the right to butt into someone else's business for smoking?
Fifty years ago, smoking was not known to be a health hazard. It was suspected, but there was no substantial proof. Here we are in the 21st Century. We have all sorts of scientific data now at our fingerprints that proves that smoking, whether directly or indirectly, is definitely a health hazard.
For some people that started 50 years ago, this is a terrible thing. Had they known this, they would have never started. OR WOULD THEY?
Today, in our own 21st Century world of technological and scientific advancement, people are still smoking. They know that it has a negative effect on their bodies, yet they choose to pick up the habit anyways. Have you ever noticed that in most science fiction, there is no smoking? Why is that? Because science fiction is based on the hope of the human race that through advancements in science and technology, we will completely destroy all forms of disease and illness that are detrimental to our mortality. What does that have to do with smoking? Society views smoking as one of these diseases. Smoking increases the rate for which a person will die.
Some will argue that attacking the smoking community is a violation of their right to privacy. Yet, I do not feel that we live in a private world anymore.
Try this sometime. Bring up a search engine website. Put in your local phone number, area code first. Then click on search. In most cases, your name or someone who lives with you will come up. Along with this name will be an address, as well as a link to a map to show someone how to get there.
Suddenly, your world does not seem so private anymore, does it?
Society views smoking as a disease; and because of this, smoking will be a target for eradication and rehabilitation. Smokers have a lot to say about the government and other people getting into their business. I am afraid the future is looking gloomy for those of this stance. Whether it be federal, state, or local, our governments are slowly eroding away any protection of a person's right to smoke. Why?
Being a sinful issue is a moot point because of the separation of church and state. However, the ideal that smoking is an environmental issue, as well as a human rights issue especially in regards to children, will have an effect on the government's role in the smoking industry.
Heed my warning, smokers. Regardless of my own personal opinions, restrictions on the lives of those who wish to pollute their bodies with nicotine and carcinogens will only get worse. I even predict that one day it will be lawful for children to be taken out of a home of parents that smoke.
God bless,
Arch.
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Smoking
Jul 12, 2004 8:57:24 GMT -5
Post by PhilipDC78 on Jul 12, 2004 8:57:24 GMT -5
I put none of the above. I don't go so far as to say that smoking is a sin, but I do think that it is a serious invasion of non-smokers privacy to have someone light up in their vicinity. I think a law should be pkmtyolped that smokers must smoke with a special helmet on that keeps the smoke inside so that it does not bother people around them. I also think that it is child abuse for parents to smoke in their homes when they have children. Second hand smoke has been proven to be worse for a person's health than first hand smoke. I for one voted for the smoking ban in all non-bar businesses in Florida. I think it is much better than that. Smokers think that they have a right to smoke, which they may, but they don't have the right to subject me to their filthy, dirty, disgusting, cancer causing, adictive smoke.
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Smoking
Jul 12, 2004 12:46:19 GMT -5
Post by SonWorshiper on Jul 12, 2004 12:46:19 GMT -5
Quote by Philip: ...but they don't have the right to subject me to their filthy, dirty, disgusting, cancer causing, adictive smoke.
My Response: Smoking's all these things yet not a sin? Hmmm. If smoking is all these things (and I'm not questioning that it isn't), how can smoking be regarded as something God approves of. And if He doesn't approve of it, then shouldn't it be considered a sin? Isn't sin anything that God disapproves of?
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Smoking
Jul 12, 2004 13:18:44 GMT -5
Post by PhilipDC78 on Jul 12, 2004 13:18:44 GMT -5
Quote by Philip:...but they don't have the right to subject me to their filthy, dirty, disgusting, cancer causing, adictive smoke. My Response:Smoking's all these things yet not a sin? Hmmm. If smoking is all these things (and I'm not questioning that it isn't), how can smoking be regarded as something God approves of. And if He doesn't approve of it, then shouldn't it be considered a sin? Isn't sin anything that God disapproves of? True, and I do not smoke (as can be obviously seen from my previous post). I just have a hard time calling it a sin. It is just something with me. But I would lean more towards the argument that it is a sin, than isn't. I would then have to start saying things like overeating is a sin, not excersising is a sin, listening to loud music is a sin, etc. This is because all of these things are not good for the body, hence would God approve of them or not? That is why I hesitate in flat out calling smoking a sin.
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Smoking
Jul 16, 2004 1:06:00 GMT -5
Post by Archangelwolf on Jul 16, 2004 1:06:00 GMT -5
I hope that I can make this very simple to understand.
God is the Creator. We are a part of His Creation. Anything that is self-destructive towards the Creator's Creation is a sin. It may be polluting our rivers and lakes, or depleting the ozone layer. Or it may be polluting our bodies with toxins and poisons from cigarette smoke or other drugs. The simple fact is that we are to love, nurture, and create, (Yes, help God create) God's Creation. Anything contrary to this, ANYTHING, is disobedience to God, which is a sin.
Arch.
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Smoking
Jul 25, 2004 13:17:59 GMT -5
Post by Cohdra on Jul 25, 2004 13:17:59 GMT -5
In reading your posts I can see that the research you have done is mainly from biased anti-smoking lobbies. I suggest you do an internet search on "cigarette smoking+unbiased research". I think you will find the results astounding. Incidentally, all the research that was done concerning second-hand smoke (the research determining smoking policy) was done by biased sources. You will find testimony from the CDC that contradicts the findings from the anti-smoking lobbies. Make sure before you post, that you have read the un-biased research statistics. It might influence your point of view. I would also like to add, how far are you willing to go with your everyone protecting their "Personal Environment Box"? Should we ban all barbecuing, burning fireplaces, aerosols, perfumes, body odor, gas fumes, etc? If you profess to be a Christian, and you rely on the government to solve your problems rather than Christ, your a hypocrite. Christ can protect you from serious illness, and heal you, if you have the faith. There is nothing in the bible concerning your right to a clean environment, and healthy air. Smoking is ancient, and there is no biblical text prohibiting it..this includes drinking in moderation as well. As a matter of fact, there is no biblical prohibition against drugs. I have noticed this is one of the most hypocritical views put forward by certain Christians. They say birth control is ok, because there is no biblical prohibition against it, but they condemn smoking, drinking, drugs, etc with absolutely no biblical support whatsoever. Interesting indeed
God bless
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Smoking
Jul 25, 2004 15:48:17 GMT -5
Post by PhilipDC78 on Jul 25, 2004 15:48:17 GMT -5
In reading your posts I can see that the research you have done is mainly from biased anti-smoking lobbies. I suggest you do an internet search on "cigarette smoking+unbiased research". I think you will find the results astounding. Incidentally, all the research that was done concerning second-hand smoke (the research determining smoking policy) was done by biased sources. You will find testimony from the CDC that contradicts the findings from the anti-smoking lobbies. Make sure before you post, that you have read the un-biased research statistics. It might influence your point of view. I would also like to add, how far are you willing to go with your everyone protecting their "Personal Environment Box"? Should we ban all barbecuing, burning fireplaces, aerosols, perfumes, body odor, gas fumes, etc? If you profess to be a Christian, and you rely on the government to solve your problems rather than Christ, your a hypocrite. Christ can protect you from serious illness, and heal you, if you have the faith. There is nothing in the bible concerning your right to a clean environment, and healthy air. Smoking is ancient, and there is no biblical text prohibiting it..this includes drinking in moderation as well. As a matter of fact, there is no biblical prohibition against drugs. I have noticed this is one of the most hypocritical views put forward by certain Christians. They say birth control is ok, because there is no biblical prohibition against it, but they condemn smoking, drinking, drugs, etc with absolutely no biblical support whatsoever. Interesting indeed God bless Which is one of the reasons why I will not call it a sin. Is it bad for your body? Yes. Is it bad for the people around you? Yes. Do I feel like dousing a person with water whenever I see them smoking? Yes. It is an ugly, nasty, adictive habit. And would you consider medical research journals showing second hand smoke is more deadly than first hand smoke? Not everyone has a bias against smoking. And just for the record, I don't think that drinking in moderation is wrong (Jesus did it), just as eating in moderation is not wrong (glottony is). I basically think of this as a personal thing. If it is a sin for you to drink, or smoke, then it is a sin for you and you shouldn't do it. If you believe it isn't a sin, then it isn't a sin for you. However, things that the Bible is clear about, then are obvious sins. Examples are: - Drunkenness: Obviously drinking till you are drunk - Lawlessness: Drinking under the age of 21, or smoking under the age of 18, or using any illegal drugs. God said to follow the laws of the land, and they say that this is illegal, so it is a sin to do them.
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Smoking
Jul 25, 2004 18:26:25 GMT -5
Post by TarueBeliever on Jul 25, 2004 18:26:25 GMT -5
Is smoking a sin? I believe you're asking the wrong question. Paul wrote ...
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 NASB
How is smoking profitable? Just how does it benefit a person? We know there are costs in health, time, and money, but are there any benefits? Smoking may not be explicitly be prohibited in the Scriptures, but it surely can be a "master." People will spend their last dollar on cigarettes and go hungry. Smoking doesn't do anyone any good. Smoking only destroys.
Demanding "the right to smoke" is hardly following Christ's command to love one another. Paul wrote ...
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB
Smokers ask that others suffer the results of their smoking as they destoy themselves. This is not love. It is selfish. It is sinful.
TB
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Smoking
Jul 26, 2004 0:16:13 GMT -5
Post by SonWorshiper on Jul 26, 2004 0:16:13 GMT -5
Cohdra, No Biblical mandate against mind-altering drugs? (I assume you meant mind-altering because you mentioned them along with drinking). You cannot be serious. Unlike drinking a gpkmtyoll of wine, or maybe enjoying a Frangelica on the rocks (a couple of my favorites, I know there are more examples), I don't know of one mind-altering drug that can be consumed in moderation. I mean, the whole point of doing the drug is to feel something. Therefore, since the New Testament is full of admonitions to be sober, and drugs are taken for the sole purpose of altering this sober state, we can conclude that drug usage is a sin, since they indeed cause us to become unsober. Also, while I'll concede that lighting up a cigarette on occasion is probably not a sin, allowing yourself to become addicted to nicotine is, since we know for a fact that smoking destroys our bodies, which is considered the temple of God, and that spending money on expensive cigarettes is a foolish waste of money, therefore making the smoker an unwise steward as well. Just because something's ancient doesn't mean it pleases God. If that's the case, I guess murder's okay too, since it is also an ancient practice. And for that matter, I guess prostitution is fine as well, right? I mean, since it is an ancient practice and all.
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Smoking
Jul 26, 2004 1:03:08 GMT -5
Post by Archangelwolf on Jul 26, 2004 1:03:08 GMT -5
Cohdra,
First of all, as a Christian, I am against the birth control pill, so that statement is some sort of inaccurate generalization that you have made.
Secondly, my belief that the government should protect us from our environment as well as ourselves does have scriptural reference. Romans 8:20-21 "Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay." What was God's curse? Death and decay. What brought about death and decay? Humanity's disobedience. Our disobedience is what causes the death and decay of this world; from inhalation of deadly second-hand smoke to the changing climates of this world due to the depletion of the ozone layer and pollution of our water, which will inadvertently affect the ocean currents.
Yes, we need to find an alternative for aerosols. Yes, we need to find an alternative for fossil fuels. Yes, we need to eradicate cigarette smoke. If it is self-destructive to Creation, then it is disobedience. God never has nor ever will condone anything that is self-destructive to His Creation. Do you not remember what He said in the days of Noah? He said He was SORRY that He even created us. We were like a cancer on His Creation; just as we are today. Prophecy says that in the end times, it will be as in the days of Noah. Indeed, that prophecy has come into fruition. We exploit, abuse, and destroy our environment, God's Creation, that we were supposed to love and nurture.
Right Wing fundamentalists have a hard time about protecting the environment, because they are afraid to take away individual right to privacy. Hello! Privacy does not exist. I can put your telephone number in a search engine right now, and I will get your address, and a map to your house. Because of credit cards, there is a paper trail for every person on this earth. There is no privacy! And because of 9/11, it is only going to get worse.
The powers that be are in place according to God's will, whether or not their own personal agendas are wicked or not. We as Christians, or even more as human beings, have a responsibility to ensure the protection of each and every one's right to a clean and healthy environment. We can use the powers that be for that purpose. Because that purpose is not our will, but God's will.
I used to work in a convenience store. There were several occasions where a man or woman would come in barely scrounging up enough change to buy some cheap cigarettes. Meanwhile, their children would be complaining that they were thirsty or hungry. The man or woman would tell them they had no money, and promptly spend the $3 for cigarettes. That $3 would have bought more than one child something to drink or eat.
Smoking is self-destructive. Smoking is a sin, especially if it controls a person to everyone else's detriment.
Arch.
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