Why claim that smoking is not a sin?

[JayneK]

There are MANY things one can do to harm one's body - even eating many of today's processed foods, which is probably equally as harmful as smoking, if not more so. 

I find it interesting that so many people have made this point in this thread.  The argument seems to be that eating unhealthy food is as bad or worse than smoking and we eat unhealthy food therefore we can smoke.  Let's try similar reasoning in this sentence: Pornography is not as bad as adultery so there is no need to be concerned about pornography.  I hope everyone recognizes that this statement was incorrect.  

[JayneK]

Monsanto has changed all of the seeds that grow the things we eat. The seeds in the vegetables and fruits are incapable of growing the next crop, making it necessary to but more Monsanto seeds. What I question is all of the health idolaters promote eating vegetables instead of meat, anything white, which will bring you to everlasting progressive life. Yet it's Monsanto's seeds, and I wonder if they are brained washed to extol the virtues of solyent green. This is way more dangerous than smoking cigs.

I try to buy or grow organic produce whose seeds have not been tampered with.  There are alternatives.  Everything I know about Monsanto indicates they are an evil organization.

[JayneK]

I find the massive anti-smoking rhetoric of groups like the WHO to be over the top. It takes a truly sick mind to see the puffing of a cigarette as immoral but the termination of third trimester pregnancies as a-okay.

While they are certainly wrong about abortion, it does not logically follow that they are therefore wrong about smoking.

[JayneK]

Am I the only one who finds this obsessive concern with bodily health that we can see in the anti-smoking movement slightly atheist in tone and rhetoric? 

(not directed at you Jayne)

Well of course godless people are going to manifest concern for health in a godless way.  This does not indicate that there is anything inherently godless about concern for health.  There is a Catholic way to think about and express health.

[JayneK]

Go outside and have a smoke, or stay inside and rage on my kids....you tell me which one sounds more sinful.

Are those really the only two choices open to you?

[Bakuryokuso]

i'm not prepared to say that addictions arent sinful. It's sinful to remain in them when you have a chance to get out.

DK - addictions dont have rights as far as I'm concerned. Why should I not be able to go somewhere I want because of someone else's addiction? Things are way better than before. Your examples are not applicable to montreal pre-smoking ban. Everyone smoked in every bar and pub there were no alternatives except for fast food outlets. And how many times did i hear this: sorry sir there's no more place in the non-smoking section but there are seats in the smoking section.

[devotedknuckles]

Because it's. Or about what u want. U sound like a brat. It's about owners rights. It's their property if rhe want to have smoking in it they should. U brats can go to other places
stop whining u got what u wanted but as a bussiness owner I think it's bullshit to ha gov butt is nose in

[CanadianCatholic]

Go outside and have a smoke, or stay inside and rage on my kids....you tell me which one sounds more sinful.

Are those really the only two choices open to you?

Pretty much yeah...or have a couple shots of whiskey...but I have ALOT of driving to so in a day, so smoking it is.

[SCG]

I personally don't mind not smoking in public restaurants or work. The way I figure it cuts down on some of my smoking - although as I said before I don't smoke that much to begin with. But I think it should be up to the owner of the restaurant or the business, not the government. Look at what happens when the government gets involved. I would hate to see a wholesale prohibition on smoking. Imagine "speak easies" for people who want a cigarette!

Of course it's a habit that's good to break - our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit. But I don't think "habitual sins" will keep you out of heaven or even merit purgatory time necessarily, because so many addicts I know truly mourn the slavery they are in - many I know continually attempt to break the habit, continually confess "habitual sins" in the confessional, but die in an addicted state. The spirit is willing but the flesh weak.

[JayneK]

Go outside and have a smoke, or stay inside and rage on my kids....you tell me which one sounds more sinful.

Are those really the only two choices open to you?

Pretty much yeah...or have a couple shots of whiskey...but I have ALOT of driving to so in a day, so smoking it is.

If you can go outside and smoke, you ought to be able to go outside and pray.