Does gambling conflict with Christian beliefs?

Sweet Marissa

Sweet Marissa

www.Bella-Muse.com
There is an interesting discussion in Charlie Bryant's forum regarding gambling and being a Christian. I was hoping to get others' opinions for those who haven't seen this thread...

Gambling Christian??
 
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Hey Sweetie,
I read your posts on the Charlie Bryant thread and I think YOU may be confusing a few things.
Competition- Ok by christian belief to my way of thinking including a prize purse.
Wagering- Generally not ok by christian beliefs but then again the catholics love their bingo. Guess it depends on how friendly the wager is or if it's in a good cause.
Hustling- Not ok by christian beliefs (to much like theivery). Maybe this is the repugnant aspect of wagering to christians?
These are my views of how "good christians" think about gambling and not in all cases how I feel about gambling. My beliefs on gambling and religion are my own and not a subject for discussion.

Terry
 
I am a Big Fan of the T.V. Doctor Show on Fox, Tuesday Night, Called “House”.

Dr. House was trying to find out what was wrong with a NUN a couple of Episodes Back.

He and the Nun got into a discussion about Religion & Beliefs, when the Nun said someting about rerady for the lord to take her. Dr. House asked the Nun why look both way when crossing a street, if God was protecting you.

I think Crossing the Street without looking is Gambling. I am AGNOSTIC, but not much of a Gambler....
 
I think the basis for the reason the I'm not a big gambler comes from my background in religion. But that doesn't seem to stop me from a small game. I said 'background in religion', but I doubt that the reasoning is what your thinking when I say that. I couldn't stand it if I found out at a later date that a person I was gambling with was using money that should have been feeding his children. Yes it would have been his fault for not making the decision to not gamble with that money, but it would have been me that gave him the opportunity.
 
I have went the Religion route & I can honestly say that there are not many true Christians about. I have been a Board member on several different Church Boards & I know the facts. Even the Preachers were up to skullduggery that would make this Board blush. The best thing for everyone including myself is just try to do the right thing & be honest with people..I think that this makes a true Christian. :cool:
 
Sweet Marissa said:
There is an interesting discussion in Charlie Bryant's forum regarding gambling and being a Christian. I was hoping to get others' opinions for those who haven't seen this thread...

Gambling Christian??
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Marisa I don't gamble because I don't enjoy it so that may make my opinion less valuable, but here it is. I'm not much of a Christian, but I was raised Christian and spend a fair amount of time with my nose in the bible. I think traditional Christianity would say gambling is wrong. Charlie tried to make the distinction that it wasn't gambling because he was relying on skill, well I think that would actually be worse because he is planning to rob somebody. If it isn't gambling, what's the other guy doing, making a charitable donation to Charlie? Gambling is gambling even when you know you'll win because you're better at the game. Saying it is not gambling under those circumstances is just symantics.
JMHO.
 
I guess I'll ad this. I have a very close friend that is having some hard times right now. Back when he wasn't having hard times we use to play some small races for 10 or 20. I would be more interested in having fun than winning so I guess I would win only 60 percent of the time. This wouldn't be all the time though, most of the time we just played for fun. Now when he brings up playing a small race I still say OK. He wins most of them. I only have to dog a shot here and there. Then I figure it is time for me to leave. He doesn't even have a computer so I don't have to worry about him seeing this. Just my little way of buying his beer for the evening without hurting his pride.
 
cut shot said:
I have went the Religion route & I can honestly say that there are not many true Christians about. I have been a Board member on several different Church Boards & I know the facts. Even the Preachers were up to skullduggery that would make this Board blush. The best thing for everyone including myself is just try to do the right thing & be honest with people..I think that this makes a true Christian. :cool:
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Aaaaameeeen brother! :D

I just really hate it when someone tries to "hustle" me, maybe this is a little un-christian but when I spot a hustler and know I can hustle them (not talking pool per se) I just can't resist the temptation to turn the tables.

Terry
 
I'm curious as to whether this forum would find a character like Robin Hood moral. For the sake of not getting into what is Christian and what isn't, I'll stick to calling it morality and I'll view the church as the role of organized religion.

In my opinion, the establishment has an obligation to set an example to its followers. With that said, I think it's wrong for someone of moral standing to promote gambling BUT assigning gambling a degree of morality wouldn't necessarily be fair. I feel something like this should be judged individually.

If the pool hustler has set standards to only gamble with those that can afford it and is using the money to fund his child's education and pay for his mother's surgery, although his methods might not necessarily be viewed as moral, he is still of moral character. Simply put, I feel there are times when it is important to refer to the general laws of humankind and there are times when they may be put aside and judgment reserved. It really isn't always that simple.
 
I'm about as Agnostic as they come,.. But from what I've observed, it's all in your own perception of what you've read. The Bible may not mention something directly. But indirectly, you can make it say basically whatever you want.

I keep hearing, it doesn't say this, and it doesn't say that. OK, maybe not, but it's a pretty old book written by people who didn't even know what the word gamble means.

One of my favorite quotes of all time came from the West Wing TV Show. It's the President addressing a lady who runs a Radio Program.

"I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleaned the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be?"

"My chief of staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police?"

"Here's one that's really important cause we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7 If they promise to wear gloves can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point?
 
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Jude Rosenstock said:
If the pool hustler has set standards to only gamble with those that can afford it and is using the money to fund his child's education and pay for his mother's surgery, although his methods might not necessarily be viewed as moral, he is still of moral character. Simply put, I feel there are times when it is important to refer to the general laws of humankind and there are times when they may be put aside and judgment reserved. It really isn't always that simple.
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No Jude. A person who does as you descibe is considered "amoral". A person who is neither moral or immoral. Lacking in moral judgement or distinctions. Not saying it's right or wrong.

Terry
 
Coop1701 said:
"Here's one that's really important cause we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7 If they promise to wear gloves can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point?[/I]
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Redskins-yes
West Point- yes
Notre Dame- no, they they haven't been playing football for awhile....with or without gloves. :D

Terry (geaux Tigers)
 
Tbeaux said:
No Jude. A person who does as you descibe is considered "amoral". A person who is neither moral or immoral. Lacking in moral judgement or distinctions. Not saying it's right or wrong.

Terry
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But that's pretty much the direction I'm going in. You're getting into semantics. My point is that it's not immoral. It's the same as killing. Obviously, killing is usually immoral but is the soldier immoral?
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
But that's pretty much the direction I'm going in. You're getting into semantics. My point is that it's not immoral. It's the same as killing. Obviously, killing is usually immoral but is the soldier immoral?
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Soldier- depends on the cause. US soldiers fighting terrorist-Yes, moral. Some African nations soldiers commiting genocide-No,immoral. Mercenaries working for a good cause- ?,amoral.

Terry
 
Sweet Marissa said:
There is an interesting discussion in Charlie Bryant's forum regarding gambling and being a Christian. I was hoping to get others' opinions for those who haven't seen this thread...

Gambling Christian??
Click to expand...

Yes. The litmus test for this is to imagine Jesus playing pool with someone trying to win some money. It just wouldn't happen, at least not according to anything I've ever read about him.

That being said, I have much more respect for someone who walks into a room and makes it known that he/she can play some and would like to match up with the best player in the house for a nominal amount over someone who tries to sneak in under the radar.
 
Tbeaux said:
Hey Sweetie,
I read your posts on the Charlie Bryant thread and I think YOU may be confusing a few things.
Competition- Ok by christian belief to my way of thinking including a prize purse.
Wagering- Generally not ok by christian beliefs but then again the catholics love their bingo. Guess it depends on how friendly the wager is or if it's in a good cause.
Hustling- Not ok by christian beliefs (to much like theivery). Maybe this is the repugnant aspect of wagering to christians?
These are my views of how "good christians" think about gambling and not in all cases how I feel about gambling. My beliefs on gambling and religion are my own and not a subject for discussion.

Terry
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Terry, my hotdog hunny :p, I'm not carrying an opinion on hustling in this thread, but am wondering what is the general consenus on gambling itself among pool players, Christian and otherwise. If two people agree to terms and stakes, is there a moral dilemma? As a Christian, I think there is nothing wrong with gambling. What in life isn't a gamble? As far as hustling goes... that's another thread lol But I've been known to be on both ends of that - in pool and my personal life!
 
Tbeaux said:
Soldier- depends on the cause. US soldiers fighting terrorist-Yes, moral. Some African nations soldiers commiting genocide-No,immoral. Mercenaries working for a good cause- ?,amoral.

Terry
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However, the soldier is going to do what he is told, regardless as to whether it's right or wrong. Just because he happens to be on the moral side, does that automatically make HIM moral? The Americans were fighting the Nazis yet interning Japanese Americans on the westcoast. How is their morality defined?

In specific regards to this thread, there's a part of me that thinks gambling is the business of adults. It's been going on for eons and morality really plays no role so long as both parties enter into the wager willingly. In fact, I think for the most part, people enjoy the concept that God might actually influence some results.
 
Rickw said:
That being said, I have much more respect for someone who walks into a room and makes it known that he/she can play some and would like to match up with the best player in the house for a nominal amount over someone who tries to sneak in under the radar.
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I agree with you completely on this. In my mind I have always thought of someone who plays well/great and makes no bones about why they want to play and intend to win as a "Shark" as opposed to someone who as you say "tries to sneak in under the radar",know as a "Hustler".

Terry
 
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