Church and smoking- riddle me this?

Question

Hi,Folks,
Apologies if this question should be under health, or moral issues,but anyway,here goes....
The no smoking ban comes into force in the UK on July 1st- Churches have been exempted from having to display 'No smoking' signs on their buildings. However,according to a report in the 'New Scientist' magazine,August 2001,burning incense during church rituals produces smoke containing carcinogens,so you're exposing the congregation to nasty chemicals.
Am I missing something here,or is there a moral issue? I know incense isn't used that often,but they keep telling us only 1 cigarette is 1 too many.
Your thoughts please.
Many thanks,
Mister Viv

By the way 'C'- I'm not pathetic. I'm a practising Roman Catholic who has probably breathed in a lot more incense than you have, but I put this question forwards on behalf of someone (smoker) who wouldn't get off my back about the smoking issue in the Pub today. Maybe I should have mentoined that in the question,since incense doesn't ,and never has bothered me. When God wants me,I'm sure he'll get me,and I'm not concerned as to when that will be,since I acknowledge Jesus as my Lord and saviour and live in hope of the resurrection.
Just thought I'd clear the 'Pathetic' issue up.
Nothing personal.
God bless.

Answer 1

Incense smells divine, tobacco stinks. I'll take the chance that incense is bad for me.

Oh my God, that reasoning makes me sound like a smoker.

Answer 2

I don't think it is the same. The incense is part of a religious ritual. There are a lot of harmful carcinogens in the air. Step outside the church and breathe the automobile exhaust, for example. It is not like the priest is lighting up a smoke during the ceremony. Or the person next to you, that is rude. ( I am an ex-smoker and I did not smoke where others didn't)

Answer 3

I think it hath gone too far is what I think about this. Love the smell of incense. I am getting a little "incensed" excuse the pun at the commotion. The air we are breathing in our cars ,in our living rooms is full of the same chemicals with out smoking even being considered or incense for that matter. Me thinks the gov should backith offith. I do not believe everything they tell me either , but they are good aren't they. O_-

Answer 4

Interesting question.

Of course, no one is inhaling the incense directly into their lungs... it it diluted in the air, so you're getting the equivalent of one cigarette among the entire parish. It's not like every person has their own incense stick. I think the effect is probably so minute that it's a moot point. Like lipstick being carcinogenic if you eat 5 tubes a day for a decade.

Answer 5

The Law says every public building has to have a No Smoking notice and that goes for churches also.
As for the incense, never heard of that one, it's not like rolling up a cig with incense powder and smoking it.

Answer 6

ALL smoke has carcinogens; it is just that tobacco is the worst – especially since you deliberately stick it in you mouth and inhale. Incense is diffused throughout the building, and has different chemicals than tobacco. I assume that driving a car probably introduces more carcinogens into the air than burning incense (unless it is REALLY smoky), but you don’t complain about the smog.

Answer 7

the 1st 2 solutions i've got seen listed under are desirable suited. the entire e book is a code that the Jews might comprehend. It grew to become into an allegory of the autumn of Rome and dying of Nero (the "Antichrist") It had to be written as religious allegory to stay away from the authors from being performed for treason/sedition. The activities defined in Revelation have already occurred some 2000 years in the past, plus or minus. it is not approximately what's going to ensue, that is approximately what HAS occurred. advantages on your experience!

Answer 8

Don't know why I am answering this, but I don't know why any church would be burning incense. The church I belong to doesn't do this. However if what you are saying is true, and it could be, I can't imagine that incense would have any where near the amount of carcinogens, toxins, and poisons than smoking has.

Answer 9

As far as I know, no one has ever gotten lung cancer from breathing in incense. There isn't a Surgeon General's Warning on a package of incense. 1) It isn't used often as cigarrettes, and it's probably a small amount... 2) Not all churches use incense. Mine doesn't...

Answer 10

Double Standards