Some Theological (and other) Thoughts on Vaping

[Penn]

The reason why they never end well is because some just can't resist posting when they shouldn't.

Government politics aka (I hate Obama, please discuss) posts and the politics of vaping in general as in state/local bans, Casaa stuff and other topics that revolve around vaping are completely different things. Religion is just religion.

On one hand, there is a subforum for christian vapers on ECF. On the other, I can clearly see this as advice for ANY vaper to deal with fundamentalist christian mentality.

When I first came to the conclusion I am not christian it was in a different time. People would be taken aback by it and many would be hostile about it. I don't get that anymore and I am even in the bible belt now. Instead, it is the atheists that are hostile towards christians these days and almost every time I see a religious debate these days, that is where it starts (and retired1 hopefully did a good job diffusing that).

No need to criticize decency and morality, which is really the base of the OP, no matter where it comes from. That statement can be directed at either side of the debate.

 

[JMarca]

This is my problem with some Atheists while I agree religion can and is used for not so good means, just because you don't believe dose not mean it should go away.

Expecting Christians to not voice their beliefs while at the same time voicing yours is just as hypocritical as most atheists claim Christians are.

Our differences are our strength. One of the true undeniable evils is intolerance. That one little word is a source of daily grief for people all over the world.

Ive kind of lurked threw this thread since it started and IMO it seems to be positive for the most part.

Good for you as well as the OP's "beliefs"... question is do they belong in the general discussion forum?

On one hand, there is a subforum for christian vapers on ECF.

Would have been much more appropriate.

 

[retired1]

Last. Warning. I start swinging next.

 

[djeaton]

As fellow vapers we should never attack a poster about his reason to vape, whatever his reason may be. This IS about vaping, not about religion. Even if he finds his reason to vape is based on his beliefs, he deserves our respect as a fellow vaper. He did not ask for your beliefs to be the same as his own, or for any commitment on your part. Any attack on the poster is purely selfish and hateful.

I wasn't trying to make a faith-based argument FOR vaping. Just show a faith-based response to those with faith-based objections. It would REALLY be interesting though if we (or say Native Americans who smoke in their ceremonies) claimed a faith-based reason for vaping. The religious participants here are likely to catch this pun, but isn't vaping like steam-cleaning the "temple"?

 

[Ramjet]

God bless America...amen.

 

[djeaton]

On one hand, there is a subforum for christian vapers on ECF. On the other, I can clearly see this as advice for ANY vaper to deal with fundamentalist christian mentality.

You pegged me. This was general advice for EVERYBODY. It isn't just Christians that know judgmental Christians. I'd love the link to the Christian vapers subforum though. Didn't know there was one.

 

[retired1]

Ask and ye shall receive!

Christian Vapers

 

[eHuman]

Christian Vapers

 

[SissySpike]

I think it was Gods plan along for us to extract nic from tobacco and vape it. Thats why it feels so good to be a vapor all vapors are doing Gods will;-) Vape on and God bless us all!

 

[djeaton]

I think it was Gods plan along for us to extract nic from tobacco and vape it. Thats why it feels so good to be a vapor all vapors are doing Gods will;-) Vape on and God bless us all!

My dad used to use that same logic with vegetarians. If God didn't want us to eat meat, he wouldn't have made it taste so good! LOL

 

[SissySpike]

My dad used to use that same logic with vegetarians. If God didn't want us to eat meat, he wouldn't have made it taste so good! LOL

Yea I can talk my self in to most anything;-)

 

[eHuman]

I think it was Gods plan along for us to extract nic from tobacco and vape it. Thats why it feels so good to be a vapor all vapors are doing Gods will;-) Vape on and God bless us all!

All things are lawful for me, not all things are good for me...

 

[Ref Minor]

I think it is very much a US thing, in the UK no one would consider talking about God or faith at work or in a public setting and politicians try to avoid mention of their religious beliefs at all costs, no one would ever use their religion to try and justify a decision, they would need to be able to use logic and reason. To someone from the UK it seems very strange when we see public figures in the US getting their religion on in public. Faith is treated as a private thing here, I can only presume those of faith discuss it when actually attending church.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Oh boy.



I hope it never comes to the day where you are required to sign pages of waivers of things not to talk (or post) about for fear of offending someones fragile psyche which is rife with emotionally driven baggage. It's crazy and unreasonable (as well as impossible) to guess what tangent of conversation is "safe enough" not to offend every aspect of society. People are going to have opposing feelings and thoughts about life, life has many intersections and aspects. We ought to stop taking offense at every imagined slight and act as the adults we are supposed to be.

This man presented a vaping issue. It is still a vaping issue, way I see it.

Interestingly, what I got about the original post was a simple and well written presentation of a man who vapes for health reasons (for a reason I'd never thought of) and how his social circle is reacting (or could react) to it.

If his social circle is religious, fine. Political, fine. It was and still is about vaping.


Okay a metaphor for clarity:

I offered up an appropriate pair of "tools" that would be understood by his social circle. (Biblical verses)


If he was an avid R/C hobbyist I might tell him about the likeness of battery tech in vaping which is congruent with Radio control hobbies.

A fisherman? I would extol the virtues of not needing to fear soggy cigarettes in a boat.

Sports fan? Maybe how you could vape at an indoor event.


Now, if you come along and insert yourself into what a man posted about his regular day to day life and get all "uppity" about it because:


Someone smashed your R/C car as a child and 40 years later you are still not "over" it.
or
You fell off of a boat and it's all those "nasty fisherman's" faults for not telling you about the balance factor in a rowboat.
or
Some rotten "jock" threw a baseball at your face when you were ten, so now all sports and sports related subjects are to blame...

or whatever...

Get over it, already.

It's still about vaping and the OP was more than clear about it. Strangely he is encountering here a greater degree of what he asked about occurring in his non-digital life, albeit for slightly different reasons.

People jumping to conclusions because of how something looks, not what it really is. Sheeeeeeesh!


So, VAPE on, man!


And that is my

 

[eHuman]

I think it is very much a US thing, in the UK no one would consider talking about God or faith at work or in a public setting and politicians try to avoid mention of their religious beliefs at all costs, no one would ever use their religion to try and justify a decision, they would need to be able to use logic and reason. To someone from the UK it seems very strange when we see public figures in the US getting their religion on in public. Faith is treated as a private thing here, I can only presume those of faith discuss it when actually attending church.

Ironically, if faith is not the core driving influence of every decision and action you make, then it probably isn't real faith to begin with. True faith can be seen on someone even if they don't mention God or preach about Him. You might not understand what "it" is, but you recognize there's something there that is different than the norm. What I see largely in modern day Christianity in the US is fanaticism from people who think they follow God, to condemning pharisees, to combat Christianity. Not that it's all that's here, they just have the loudest voice.

True Christianity must share faith, but if it looks like combat or condemnation you are probably seeing immaturity at best, or false Christianity at worst. Take the crusades in the dark ages by "Christianity". Anyone with 1/2 understanding of what the Bible actually teaches can plainly see that those responsible were not following God (love God, love your neighbor) but their own selfish and Godless motives. God did not come to condemn for we all stand condemned already, God came to save that which was already lost.

Don't think that if it becomes politically correct (by man's standards) in a country to be silent about your faith that it is a good thing. If you are ashamed of God before men, can you expect Jesus to confess you before His Father?

People think that Christianity is a crutch or an easy cop-out when nothing could be further from the truth. It is harder to walk as a Christian in this world, ridiculed for your faith, ostracized and seen as fairy-tail duped simpletons. And still walk in faith loving even those who hate you, hoping some will come to a saving grace and knowledge of the truth. What the world typically sees in it's stead does not represent God or truth.

Ok, tie it to the OP:
Do we really need an argument to counter Christians who condemn vaping? I would counter with, "Examine your own heart and see if you are truly in the faith." We only appear (to ourselves) better than others when we compare ourselves to each other. If we stop and compare ourselves to the standard, none of us are good. So we charge others to elevate ourselves? Who's example does that sound like?

Sorry, it is Sunday and this conversation caught me thinking.

Don't worry about what Christians or non Christians tell you is right or wrong, as long as you genuinely seek to walk in love and truth and your conscious is clean before the counsel of God.

 

[Ramjet]

Just because you are offended it doesn't mean you are right.

That right there is precious...

 

[djeaton]

Just because you are offended it doesn't mean you are right.

That right there is precious...

It's amazing how my entire novella of an OP can be so easily summarized in that one little statement.

 

[SissySpike]

Just because you are offended it doesn't mean you are right.

That right there is precious...

But you can be rightly offended;-)

 

[r77r7r]

It's amazing how my entire novella of an OP can be so easily summarized in that one little statement.

Or here- "Don't worry about what Christians or non Christians tell you is right or wrong, as long as you genuinely seek to walk in love and truth and your conscious is clean before the counsel of God."


Our sermon today was on this........

 

[HauntedMyst]

All things are lawful for me

Think people who bungee jump.

All things are lawful for me, not all things are good for me...

Think people who bungee jump and the cord snaps.