I've wondered about this also. When I first was leaving the JWs I got a cigar and puffed on it and thought OMG this is so sinful but it was actually fun bc it had a great taste and was "forbidden". But if no inhaling occurs and very little damage is done to your body then they really don't have a Biblical leg to stand on.
I read that article by the MD and personally can't swallow the argument that it is just as harmful as cigarette smoking. Most smokers dont do just ONE cigarette but many in a day. Cigars are usually just a once in a while thing so the amount smoked would generally be radically less. And at the end of the article he concedes that there is usually way less consumption with cigars, thereby invalidating most of his argument IMO.
My friend Greybeard got called up on the phone awhile back by an elder that said they wanted to meet with him regarding his "apostate leanings". He ripped the guy apart verbally and one of the things he said was,
"You guys DF people for smoking bc it's harmful to your body. Well your belly is enormous, you are huge and you are OBESE and that is way more harmful to your body than if a person was to smoke a few cigarettes!" (It was kinda mean but true he is a very heavy guy)
So it is a good, logical point he made. But since when is the WT logical? Mainly it goes back to appearances with the JWs, so as to "not give a bad Witness" and that's what they would use as a reasoning point to try and "help you see the light". If you don't see WT light, then of course they will DF you in short order for chomping a stogey.
