You've threaded a fine line here, but largely successfully. Clearly you've put a lot of thought into it!
The truth is that we are all ultimately answerable to God as individuals, and the pride we can take from aligning with our current culture's definition of 'health' or 'wellness' or 'body image' can be a worse cancer on a spiritual level than the health impacts of certain lifestyle choices.
Thanks for taking the time to explain and open up a tricky topic for consideration and discussion.
Yes, and the superiority is the key. For someone could truly decide that abstinence is the most virtuous and God-pleasing course to take on anything: smoking, drinking, phone use, internet use, etc. But if they do it so as to feel superior and prideful or egotistical, they are actually worse off than before they abstained…
Love this thread of comments. This is a great article and want to share with my husband. As this is how he has communicated with me about smoking and helped me understand that fine line
I've certainly seen photos from bygone eroas of baptist conventions/revivals in which everyone pictured has a cig dangling. You did an excellent job threading the needle between what's culturally moral and actually sinful.
That being said, every time I see someone taking a smoke break outside in sub-freezing temps or in the rain, I thank God I'm not a smoker.
This is a really careful and generous piece. I appreciate how you refuse both the moral panic response and the shallow “neutral pleasures” framing, and instead press the question back into formation, freedom, and attention.
What especially struck me was your implicit recovery of sobriety as wakefulness rather than mere abstinence. That feels deeply faithful to the Christian tradition — where the issue is not risk or pleasure per se, but whether a practice trains us toward presence or fragmentation. Your point that temples were full of smoke, fire, and sacrifice quietly dismantles a lot of modern, hygienic moralism without romanticizing excess.
One thought your essay stirred for me: in an age where so many of our habits are engineered for compulsion, the deeper ethical question may no longer be “Is this permitted?” but “What kind of person does this make me over time?” Smoking becomes less the issue than whether our practices habituate gratitude, restraint, and prayer — or whether they narrow our capacity for love and attention.
Grateful for the clarity and restraint here. This feels like the kind of writing that helps people examine their lives honestly without fear, which is no small gift.
Cigars and Philosophy are two of my largest passions, but I am not religious by any means. Kindly take these facts into consideration.
A gentleman I respect and look up to *is* religious, and the way he describes his thoughts to me are such (paraphrased):
The Lord and His light are in everything we interact with in the natural world, including plants such as Nicotiana Tabacum. Just as the trees, the ferns, the single blade of grass is a gift from the Lord to us, so is the tobacco plant, so when I get to sit down and enjoy a cigar I get to enjoy this gift with all of my senses and think about my connection to God.
There is also the thought of getting to enjoy something hand-rolled and touched by about 300 people, most of which being strong believers in God due to nature of their culture in places like Nicaraguan, Honduras, DR, etc.
Cigars are a good way of connecting us across humanity in a way not a lot of other experiences do.
This helps me put my Diet Coke habit into perspective. Thanks for a useful and thoughtful read.
Some years ago I drove a friend to her court-mandated AA meeting. While she was in it I loitered around the lobby reading the stuff on the walls. There was a "you might have an alcohol problem" checklist posted--you know, "you always have a supply and a backup supply in the house; you always plan for how to get it when you travel; you are embarrassed at how much you consume," that sort of thing. I was a little taken aback at how most of them applied to me and Diet Coke. Still that way, some quarter century later.
While smoking cigars, I've asked myself, "Why did we start doing this? This burning of leaves to taste them?"
And my initial conclusion has been just that: It's to experience the world's aromas in a different way; it's to stop and smell the flowers. We can walk through a garden and enjoy the smells of countless flowers. We can start a dockside fire beneath the stars and savor that maple and pine smoke, letting it elevate our minds to the skies above a bit like incense does during the Mass. We can have our lungs soothed by eucalyptus and mint while sweating in a sauna. And we can taste the countless flavors contained in a single tobacco leaf with every puff of a finely wrapped, perfectly humid cigar.
And if you think I'm exaggerating, take it up with the monks making chartreuse!
So well written! I often think how frustrating Jesus is because he is after our hearts not our external behaviour or performative actions. He’ll have none of our reductionism yet invites us on the slow, thoughtful path of virtue. Continually inspired by your work Josh!
You've threaded a fine line here, but largely successfully. Clearly you've put a lot of thought into it!
The truth is that we are all ultimately answerable to God as individuals, and the pride we can take from aligning with our current culture's definition of 'health' or 'wellness' or 'body image' can be a worse cancer on a spiritual level than the health impacts of certain lifestyle choices.
Thanks for taking the time to explain and open up a tricky topic for consideration and discussion.
it’s a tough line to talk about honestly, without a quick appeal to abstinence as superiority.
Yes, and the superiority is the key. For someone could truly decide that abstinence is the most virtuous and God-pleasing course to take on anything: smoking, drinking, phone use, internet use, etc. But if they do it so as to feel superior and prideful or egotistical, they are actually worse off than before they abstained…
bingo. the pursuit of embodied virtue as the foundation to the good life.
Man what an interesting way to wrestle with this idea. I'm sure someone could spin this to be you justifying "bad behavior". But that's not it.
You peel back the black and white. Not to make everything shades of gray but to expose the root.
A lot of our assumptions run deep but they're often tied to roots that aren't all that well tethered.
So we need to string them to a new root, or cut them off.
totally tried to expose that first principles and the pursuit of true virtue forms the basis for all of life.
Which is not easy to do. Especially since many of us haven't been taught to process topics this way.
Many people see the question of "why" as oppositional rather than insightful.
I know I wasn't given the tools to wrestle well in this way for a while.
Tread firmly into an uncomfortable space and find the gold nuggets in the river.
Love this thread of comments. This is a great article and want to share with my husband. As this is how he has communicated with me about smoking and helped me understand that fine line
Glory to God!
I've certainly seen photos from bygone eroas of baptist conventions/revivals in which everyone pictured has a cig dangling. You did an excellent job threading the needle between what's culturally moral and actually sinful.
That being said, every time I see someone taking a smoke break outside in sub-freezing temps or in the rain, I thank God I'm not a smoker.
aaahahahah dude i think the same
This is a really careful and generous piece. I appreciate how you refuse both the moral panic response and the shallow “neutral pleasures” framing, and instead press the question back into formation, freedom, and attention.
What especially struck me was your implicit recovery of sobriety as wakefulness rather than mere abstinence. That feels deeply faithful to the Christian tradition — where the issue is not risk or pleasure per se, but whether a practice trains us toward presence or fragmentation. Your point that temples were full of smoke, fire, and sacrifice quietly dismantles a lot of modern, hygienic moralism without romanticizing excess.
One thought your essay stirred for me: in an age where so many of our habits are engineered for compulsion, the deeper ethical question may no longer be “Is this permitted?” but “What kind of person does this make me over time?” Smoking becomes less the issue than whether our practices habituate gratitude, restraint, and prayer — or whether they narrow our capacity for love and attention.
Grateful for the clarity and restraint here. This feels like the kind of writing that helps people examine their lives honestly without fear, which is no small gift.
Cigars and Philosophy are two of my largest passions, but I am not religious by any means. Kindly take these facts into consideration.
A gentleman I respect and look up to *is* religious, and the way he describes his thoughts to me are such (paraphrased):
The Lord and His light are in everything we interact with in the natural world, including plants such as Nicotiana Tabacum. Just as the trees, the ferns, the single blade of grass is a gift from the Lord to us, so is the tobacco plant, so when I get to sit down and enjoy a cigar I get to enjoy this gift with all of my senses and think about my connection to God.
There is also the thought of getting to enjoy something hand-rolled and touched by about 300 people, most of which being strong believers in God due to nature of their culture in places like Nicaraguan, Honduras, DR, etc.
Cigars are a good way of connecting us across humanity in a way not a lot of other experiences do.
Love this perspective. Tell me what park and when.
might be in nashville
This helps me put my Diet Coke habit into perspective. Thanks for a useful and thoughtful read.
Some years ago I drove a friend to her court-mandated AA meeting. While she was in it I loitered around the lobby reading the stuff on the walls. There was a "you might have an alcohol problem" checklist posted--you know, "you always have a supply and a backup supply in the house; you always plan for how to get it when you travel; you are embarrassed at how much you consume," that sort of thing. I was a little taken aback at how most of them applied to me and Diet Coke. Still that way, some quarter century later.
While smoking cigars, I've asked myself, "Why did we start doing this? This burning of leaves to taste them?"
And my initial conclusion has been just that: It's to experience the world's aromas in a different way; it's to stop and smell the flowers. We can walk through a garden and enjoy the smells of countless flowers. We can start a dockside fire beneath the stars and savor that maple and pine smoke, letting it elevate our minds to the skies above a bit like incense does during the Mass. We can have our lungs soothed by eucalyptus and mint while sweating in a sauna. And we can taste the countless flavors contained in a single tobacco leaf with every puff of a finely wrapped, perfectly humid cigar.
And if you think I'm exaggerating, take it up with the monks making chartreuse!
I smoke Cigars as well and have also heard all the same things from people. You've articulated my thoughts on the matter better than I could!
I read this while smoking a cigar.
Had us in the first half, not gonna lie.
You really drove the point home though.
(Also, Vegeta in the gravity chamber is 🔥)
Need the deets for that next book meet up 🚬
would love to see your views on christianity and modesty!! beautiful essay btw
I enjoyed reading this. thank you
So well written! I often think how frustrating Jesus is because he is after our hearts not our external behaviour or performative actions. He’ll have none of our reductionism yet invites us on the slow, thoughtful path of virtue. Continually inspired by your work Josh!
Great post, Josh. Hope we can enjoy a cigar and some sardines together one day.