Religion, Smoking and the Afterlife. BIG question here.

@mentalward (14691)
United States
March 13, 2009 11:43am CST
I was at the doctor's office yesterday. This was a new doctor. Of course, he asked me if I smoked. I said YES. He asked me why? I said because I don't want to live to be an old person. I told him I have no intention of killing myself, but I won't try to prevent my death and if smoking can hasten it, so be it. Then, I realized that smoking IS a kind of slow suicide. That made me start thinking about religion and the concept of suicide. So, here it is: Suicide is obviously a sin in most religions. Since smoking is a known carcinogen and almost always leads to an earlier death than if we didn't smoke, wouldn't all religious people who smoke be committing a sin? Okay, I know this is a weird thing to be thinking about, especially regarding my views on death and religion, but it's the cockeyed way my mind works these days. I REALLY want to know! I'm not attempting to raise a religious ruckus here, I just want an honest answer to this question because it is perplexing me. (If anyone is wondering how I can still smoke when we don't have enough money to pay the bills, I'll tell you. First, I don't smoke that much. Second, I've switched to the cheapest cigarettes around [blech]. Third, I REFUSE to give up smoking when my husband still smokes [more than twice what I do and also hasn't switched to cheaper cigarettes] AND he buys beer. I've already given up everything else I love, so please don't crucify me for smoking. If I'm going down, I'm going down smoking! Thanks. Of course, if you feel that you are better than I am, by all means, put me down for smoking!)
13 people like this
6 responses
• United States
13 Mar 09
The word "sin" can mean a lot of things. I belive Jesus said adultery and blasphemy are the only unforgivable sins. Having said that, it is also written that your body is a temple for the Lord. It shouldn't be defiled with pollutants. I quit all my bad habits because I was tired of being a slave to them. Addiction is tantamount to slavery. You are not in control, you are being controlled from the outside. But it's your choice.
4 people like this
• United States
14 Mar 09
My pastor actually told a story last Sunday about his father and him sitting around while he was trying to get his elderly father to quit smoking. He told his father, "Well you won't go to hell for smoking, but you'll speed up your departure to heaven and stink like hell along the way". I thought that was pretty amusing myself.
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
14 Mar 09
Well, the scientists I have learned to know while working with the health business say that we are programmed to live healthy 120 years and then just go to sleep without any pains and aces. That is if we give our body optimal nutrition and take care of it in many other ways. So the alternative would be - according the scientists that we die healthy and have a great life quality as long as we live. Yes, most people can change their health by choosing the right nutrition. What does our Creator think of smoking and other habits that are harmful to our health? If we study the principles he gives us in the bible, we should consider our body as a gift from our Creator and take good care of it..then it is an instrument we can use to many good things. Every person is responsible for how they decide to do, so why let other people´s behavior prevent us from taking care of God´s gift, our body?? After all, we can choose to live the life we want to but we have to take the consequences from it. The choice is yours and only yours..
@commanderxo (1494)
• Canada
23 Mar 09
Where was it "written", that I couldn't smoke in the afterlife? MY Heaven includes smoking. Just remember girl...smoking IS NOT a disease. It's a matter of choice. Go ahead...smoke 'em if you can afford 'em! ;-) cdrxo
@commanderxo (1494)
• Canada
15 Mar 09
If I recall my dear...all our sins were forgiven? Go ahead...smoke'em if you got'em!!! (Or, if you can afford them, that is.) :-) cdrxo
@P_Ahman (72)
• Russian Federation
14 Mar 09
Smoking and religion, very big question. We have to realise that what we choose to do is our choice and if smoking is one of them and it makes us happy while at the same time we are not disturbing others from living their own choices, then i see no reason why anybody should condemn u of sinning.