In this time of widespread human trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to remember that there are other, voluntary pandemics of evil that are far more dangerous and deadly. One of these pandemics of death, consciously and willingly triggered by humans, is smoking. The fact that this addiction is widespread and socially accepted does not make it any less sinful and fatal.
According to official data from the World Health Organization, “the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing more than 8 million people each year worldwide. More than 7 million of these deaths result from direct tobacco use, while around 1.2 million are the consequence of non-smokers being exposed to secondhand smoke.”
These staggering and devastating statistics show that, in terms of the number of victims, it is as if we experience a new World War II every 8–9 years.
Furthermore, the WHO report states: “Around 80% of the world’s 1.1 billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest. Smoking contributes to increased poverty by redirecting household spending from basic needs such as food and shelter to cigarettes. This consumer behavior is difficult to reduce because smoking is highly addictive. The economic costs of tobacco use are substantial, including significant healthcare costs for treating tobacco-related diseases and the loss of human capital resulting from smoking-related mortality. In some countries, children from poor households work in tobacco production to increase family income. These children are particularly vulnerable to ‘green tobacco sickness,’ caused by nicotine absorbed through the skin from handling wet tobacco leaves.”
“Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful, and at least 69 are known to cause cancer.”
“Each year, 65,000 children die from diseases caused by secondhand smoke.”
Alternative forms of smoking, such as electronic cigarettes, are no less harmful, as they contain aerosols and toxic chemicals.
This is the statement from the world’s most authoritative health institution. Now, let’s briefly look at what the Church says about smoking.
The Church’s Stance on Smoking
Several Holy Fathers of the Church, such as Saint Nectarios of Aegina and Saint Silouan the Athonite, have addressed the issue of smoking. From them, we learn that man should control his passions, not be controlled by them.
Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite addresses smoking in two of his works: “Spiritual Exercises” and “Manual of Counsel.” In these, he refers to smoking as the “incense of the devil.” In both works, he emphasizes how serious a sin smoking is, considering it guilty not only for the spiritual and physical health of a person but also for the negligent fulfillment of Christian duties.
He emphasizes that no one from the Church clergy, without exception, should smoke, as smoking corrupts moral character and reputation, contradicts the exalted calling of the priesthood, and damages bodily health.
Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis (Aegina) calls smoking “the fornication of the body.” The great Abba Piterim in the Gerontikon notes that to drive out demons, one must first conquer their passions, after which the demons will flee. Just as the Lord says that demons can only be cast out through fasting and prayer, this passion is also overcome with fervent and heartfelt prayer, during which the money saved can be used for acts of charity. This is how this evil, which enslaves men, women, and children, is driven away.
Elder Sophrony Sakharov, in his work on Saint Silouan the Athonite, recounts how the Venerable one considered smoking an obstacle to prayer and spiritual life in general. His stance was deeply theological and came from experiential and prayerful theology, which is the core of the teachings of the Fathers of the Orthodox Church. The mind and heart of man must always be free for prayer. Any human action that cannot be performed alongside prayer should not be done. Everything that hinders pure prayer should be avoided. Sinful pleasure is not overcome by deprivation and harsh struggles alone but by progressing in one’s communion with God, by entering the space where that communion is realized – in prayer. Essentially, Saint Silouan’s message is that the love and desire of the soul for God are the most effective antidotes to harmful and sinful addictions.
Addressing Common Objections
Some may argue that unhealthy and excessive eating is equally dangerous and harmful to the human body. Yes, this is true. Gluttony and the consumption of excessively unhealthy food are also sinful passions, but this in no way justifies the sin of smoking, which not only harms the practitioner but also affects the people around them and the entire environment. We should not be hypocritical, condemning one sin while allowing another.
“Everything is permissible for me,” says Saint Paul, “but not everything is beneficial; everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Undoubtedly, smoking is a powerful addiction. Furthermore, he says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Through smoking, not only is God not honored, but the temple of His Spirit—the human body—is deliberately destroyed, and thus, this pernicious addiction is akin to the sin of suicide and incurs the wrath of God.
In conclusion, we present a documentary on the consequences of smoking. For Macedonian subtitles, press CC.
