Tobacco Free Initiative 'Meeting on Tobacco & Religion' 1999 - a report

Produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO):

A Summary

Background: Religious & Historical Features of Tobacco

The history of tobacco use is fascinating and shows how this 'drug' has found its way into our society today. Ties between tobacco & religion began with the native Americans and was intertwined with mythology. They believed that the tobacco plant was first given to man by the Gods who needed smoke as a food. The Gods vowed to protect their people if they would smoke this tobacco. The idea of addiction exists even here. Tobacco use by the Gods is also noted in the Mayan's belief that thunder and lightening was the result of the Gods rubbing rocks together to 'spark' a flame for their cigars. (It is believed that the word 'cigar' came from the Maya who are thought to have invented the cigarette). Shamans used tobacco to bring on a trance enabling the recipient to experience supernatural powers or knowledge. Aztec priests carried tobacco with them to perform ritual sacrifices. Some of these practices can be seen today, in the popular "peace-pipe" ceremonies of the native North Americans. The Mayans from the Yucatan use tobacco in healing ceremonies to treat fever and protect against evil spirits. Clearly, the use of tobacco has been widely accepted as a religious medicinal function over the years, leaving many people seductively addicted. The key here is to avoid addiction by targeting educational programs for our world's youth.

Introduction

Religion is seen as a new frontier for public health where partnership and education opportunities exist in the fight against tobacco. Many religions have a similar underlying belief that the body is sacred and that we as human beings have a responsibility to one another in that we must treat others as we would wish to be treated. Dr.Yach, Programme Manager for the WHO Tobacco Initiative, stated the importance of religious groups in tobacco control and the potential for them to contribute to preventing tobacco-related diseases at global, country, community and individual levels. Representatives from 7 different faiths spoke out on the issue of tobacco and how it is perceived by their specific religion.

Summaries of Presentations

Baha'i: Baha'i teachings do not prohibit smoking but it is "discouraged as unclean and unhealthy". A particular concern is tobacco advertising directed at children and youth. The Baha'i combat this with education through health care workers at the community level and in schools . They believe that religious communities could play a significant role in health education as they "give structure to community life and are important sources of encouragement, motivation and support for behavioural change".

Buddhism: Buddhism teaches the path of freedom, and a clarity of mind and body that comes without addiction. "The Buddhist follower practices introspection and understanding the cause of the problem within himself, and the effect of his actions on others". There is respect for the smoker and the non-smoker. They believe the smoking problem must be attacked differently. Concentrating on positive encouragement towards non-smoking is felt to be a more constructive angle to take. Changing the image of the smoker from "cool" to "gross" is a suggestion and taking the emphasis off the connection to smoking and weight loss would also be beneficial. Buddhist's believe that prohibition is not very effective once the smoking habit has been formed. They also have a problem with the false positive image pro-smoking advertising inflicts on their population.

Hinduism: Tobacco is traditionally seen in India as a vyasana i.e. "a dependence which is not necessary for the preservation of health". Hindus have a great respect for those who lead an exalted life such as poet Kalidas who said, "The first among all spiritual practices is the care of the body". Hinduism places great importance on the human heart which is also a symbol used in meditation. "Since smoking induces cardiac disease, it should be seen as an aggression on this holy seat of God". It is felt that one should not smoke out of consideration for others which is reflected in the words of the sage Vyasa in all the Vedas, in all the scriptures: "Doing good to others is an act of merit; harming others is a sinful act". This idea speaks loudly for the rights of the passive smoker.

Islam: One of the 5 essential principles on which Muslim law is based is the duty to protect the "integrity of the individual". Anything which might harm the life or health of a person is thought to be "contrary to the Spirit of Islam". The Koran prohibits the consumption of alcohol and would have included tobacco had it existed at that time. Muslims believe that the body is a gift from God and it their responsibility to protect this gift and keep it in good health. They also believe that education based on a clear message of "awareness, responsibility and justice" is the best way to prevent future smokers and that this must be done at a very early age. "Accusatory statements, denigration, and messages designed to inspire feelings of guilt are fruitless and serve only further to relegate 'religious issues' or 'religion' to a role of 'prohibition'".To effectively eliminate the problem of tobacco consumption the issue must be addressed globally. The fact cannot be ignored that millions of small farmers and whole societies depend on the tobacco industry for their economic well-being. "The issue must be tackled from both ends: upstream, with production, and downstream, with consumption". It is felt that religions have a contribution to make here.

Judaism:Maimonides, the greatest Jewish theologian of the Middle Ages states that "preservation of health is an absolute imperative and that it is one way of imitating the paths of God". The Jewish people believe that we are created by God and that we have a responsibility to our body to keep it healthy. As tobacco consumption is known to be harmful to the body, it is our obligation to keep tobacco away from our system. The famous principle of the Torah is "love your neighbour as yourself" . With the knowledge that passive smokers are at risk it the smoker's responsibility to leave the air clean for breathing. The Jewish people believe that there should be no limit to tobacco control. In March 1996, the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) made strong recommendations that "everything be done within our communities, schools and institutions to develop programmes to combat tobacco consumption, especially by young people". They were also in support of restricting any tobacco advertising where young people may be affected. Again, the belief in our right to exercise free will is fundamental and that positive education for our youth is the right plan of action. "Prohibition is reductive while education is constructive".

Orthodox Christianity:Churches that developed from the Protestant tradition , such as the Evangelical churches, the Quakers, the Salvation Army, the Mennonites, the Seventh Day Adventists or the Mormons have always "proscribed the use of tobacco, considering it to be a waste of time and money, a distraction from the ideal of a pure and simple way of life and above all, a violation of the body, regarded as the temple of the Holy Spirit". There are a range of attitudes towards smoking in the almost 300 distinct groups of Protestantism, from relaxed, to one of outright prohibition. Generally, it is felt that prohibition is not successful. If someone makes a conscious decision to smoke they will find a way to succeed, against the law, or not. It is felt that a much more worthwhile strategy is education; both to the smoker, to be sure the health hazards are known and understood, and to the non-smoker; particularly at a young age. Religion can play a large part in this education of smoking adults, young smokers and non-smokers.

Roman Catholicism:The Roman Catholic Church has taken an official position on the ill effects of smoking. The Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health-Care Workers launched the initiative for "A no tobacco day in favour of the victims of HIV/AIDS" which was in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. All men and women of good will were invited to abstain from smoking for one day and all the money which would have been spent on cigarettes was donated to the HIV/AIDS control fund or to "a fund to assist persons directly or indirectly affected by the epidemic". It was a way in which the Church could contribute to the urgent efforts of WHO "to draw the attention of the international community to the ravages caused by smoking to the health of smokers and to all those in their immediate surroundings".

Conclusions/Recommendations

Many religions believe that the human body is sacred, to be kept healthy and free of contaminants which inhibit true spirituality and clear thinking. Another common belief is that we need to treat our fellow human being with consideration as we would like to be treated by others. This means the right to breathe clean air and the right to free will in making educated decisions, healthy or otherwise. The route to a smoke free world is clearly with a positive message through educational programmes(religious and otherwise), for our children and youth on the harmful effects of smoking. Once addicted, no amount of negative advertising about the health dangers to smokers will be effective due to the addictive nature of tobacco. The key is to create non-smokers from the start.The last item to consider is the economic benefits of tobacco plantations. Many communities rely on the tobacco industry for their livelihood. New/ alternative crops must be found to replace tobacco.Addicted smokers will inevitably and literally become a 'dying breed' leaving the educated and enlightened youth to follow in a world of fresh air.

List of Participants

Swami Amarananda, Mr Giovanni Ballerio, Pastor Jean-Claude Basset, Ms A.M. Colandrea, Rev. Professor Athanasios Hatzopoulos, Ven. Dr Tawalama Dhammika, Rabbi François Garai, Mr M. Kurian, Mr Tariq Ramadan

WHO Secretariat

Dr M.H. Khayat, Deputy Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO)

Tel: +203 48 20 223

Fax: +203 48 38 916

Dr A. Landi, Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI)

Tel: +41 22 791 4554

Fax: +41 22 791 4832

Dr D. Yach, Project Manager, TFI

Tel: +41 22 791 2736/2108

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