Does gambling conflict with Christian beliefs?

Sweet Marissa said:
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!
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Exactly! Let morality speak on the behalf of other issues that are far more serious in nature. When two adults enter into a wager, morality should be cast aside.
 
Tbeaux said:
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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Bonafide hustlers are few and far between. Having spent countless hours in poolrooms over the years, I can honestly say that the overwhelming majority of those I've encountered have played on the level.
 
Sweet Marissa said:
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!
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Marissa my angel,

Just seemed on the other thread you might be confused,sorry sweet potata pie.

Terry
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
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.
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I will never understand why people can't agree to have a difference of opinion. No one wants to entertain that religion is something you believe in, not something you fight over. There I go being naive again :rolleyes:

Marissa << still wants to believe that good exists in the world
 
Tbeaux said:
Marissa my angel,

Just seemed on the other thread you might be confused,sorry sweet potata pie.

Terry
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All this talk about food between you two . . . I think I'm gaining weight and getting a cavity. :rolleyes: :p
 
Sweet Marissa said:
I will never understand why people can't agree to have a difference of opinion.
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Amen to that!!! Your thread just asks the question whether gambling is something that would be in line with Christian beliefs. I personally don't think it is but my opinion is just that, my opinion.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Bonafide hustlers are few and far between. Having spent countless hours in poolrooms over the years, I can honestly say that the overwhelming majority of those I've encountered have played on the level.
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Then what is your opinion of this. I have had 7 professionals (Both men and women) try to get me into a game for money. I had no idea at the time who four of these pros were. All four of these pros were aware I was clueless about their identities,all four were playing no better than me at the time (setup?) and I was playing absolutely lousy since I hadn't played in several years. I avoided loosing any money 1) partly because I didn't have much on me, 2)because my game sucked, 3) my instincts were screaming "something about this stinks". 5 of these 7 pros are in top 10 (mens/womens),3 of the ones trying to hustle me are top 10. I don't think 3 (men) of the hustlers would have given a damn if they took the kiddies tuition,house payment or my last buck.

Terry
 
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Jude Rosenstock said:
I'm curious as to whether this forum would find a character like Robin Hood moral.
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This is a different question than the gambling topic IMO. Robin Hood is an interesting case study. In general, it is clearly wrong to take things by force. It is also wrong to take things from others for altruistic purposes. This is why welfare is utterly immoral, because money is taken by force and given to people under an altruistic philosophy. Robin Hood in that regard was immoral. OTOH, the people he stole from in that era were criminals who had no right to keep their propery. (Royalty who used force and mystical belief to rob people) So it is kind of hard to say. Generally speaking, altruism is itself immoral, but the discussion of that is a topic for another thread I think.

I tend to agree with you that gambling isn't a moral question between consenting adults. Who cares. Gamble or not, your call. If you lose money you need to feed your family you are scum of course. But gambling for entertainment when it only hurts you if you lose is just fine. It may be a poor choice in many ways, but people make bad choices with money all the time.
 
Tbeaux said:
I don't think 3 (men) of the hustlers would have given a damn if they took the kiddies tuition,house payment or my last buck.
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And why should they? IMO, if you are dumb enough to put it up then I would have no qualms about taking it. Is it the drug dealer's fault for selling crack to the crack head who begs an pleds for it at 3 am? IMO, they are both scumbags...but I am surely not gonna expect a crack dealer to try and save the crackheads soul.

IMO, people who gamble when they can't even afford to feed themselves are STUPID, and that has nothing to do with religion...that is common sense. I say if you can afford to do something do it..it's your life. But I don't care if you are my mother, I am not gonna give you dollar after dollar to watch you give it to someone else... even 50% of the time. I don't care what LL and Tupac say....YOU AREN'T GONNA MAKE A DOLLAR OUTTA FIFTEEN CENTS!!! But if you have the fifteeen cents to throw away then more power to you...I hope you make a buck.
 
landshark77 said:
And why should they? IMO, if you are dumb enough to put it up then I would have no qualms about taking it. Is it the drug dealer's fault for selling crack to the crack head who begs an pleds for it at 3 am? IMO, they are both scumbags...but I am surely not gonna expect a crack dealer to try and save the crackheads soul.

IMO, people who gamble when they can't even afford to feed themselves are STUPID, and that has nothing to do with religion...that is common sense. I say if you can afford to do something do it..it's your life. But I don't care if you are my mother, I am not gonna give you dollar after dollar to watch you give it to someone else... even 50% of the time. I don't care what LL and Tupac say....YOU AREN'T GONNA MAKE A DOLLAR OUTTA FIFTEEN CENTS!!! But if you have the fifteeen cents to throw away then more power to you...I hope you make a buck.
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All true but you're missing the point of my post. 1) They knew I didn't know who they were at the time. In the main instance three players 2 men who are argueably in the TOP 5 players of all time and 1 women who is generally considered the greatest womens player of all time made the challenge. I was asked if I knew them ,I didn't (then),I begged off not having any money on me, they asked to play for what I had, I refused ,they challenged me to play the woman ( she didn't seem interested), I refused, I go to break on my table and one of these pros fires the cueball between my legs as a challenge (when I was younger I'd have put him in the hospital for that), I ignored it.
THEY didn't care that I wasn't up to their level of play or that I might be on my last dollar.And by the way I still respect their skill but I won't ever play the two men from that night recreationally or for money.

Terry
 
basics

Basics ... from another writer:

What does the Bible say about gambling?

Archaeological and historical evidence shows that dice playing and other forms of gambling were practiced in Biblical times. The only mention of gambling in the Bible, however, is when Roman soldiers cast lots to see who would get Jesus' clothing after He was crucified (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:24).

Casting lots was not primarily a gambling method, but a way of making a decision, similar to drawing straws (Leviticus 16:8, Numbers 34:13, Jonah 1:7, Acts 1:23-26). It was often assumed that God would make His will known in the outcome. The "lots" mentioned in the Bible may have been a form of dice, but that is not certain.

The Bible does not give any direct guidance on whether gambling is right or wrong. According to the Bible, however, some of the motivations and actions that may accompany modern gambling are sins:

Greed, obsession with money (Mark 7:20-23, 1 Timothy 6:10)
Exploitation of people (Leviticus 25:16-17, 1 Thessalonians 4:5-6)
Not providing for one's family (1 Timothy 5:8)
Bad habits, compulsions (John 8:34, Romans 6:16-18)
A life of dissipation (1 Peter 4:1-4)
 
christian's disagree!

I am a christian pool player, and my opinion is that playing for money is sinful if you are being reckless by gambling more than you can afford to lose, or if you are motivated by greed. Also, the Bible is clear that WORK is the way for a christian to gain money needed for life, not swindling or hustling.

But Christians disagree on so many things and there are so many opinions and interpretations among Christians. Many christians believe that drinking alcohol is a sin, wheras the bible says that drunkeness is a sin. Many christians also believe that by having my occasional cigar at the pool hall, I am sinning. And like myself, some would disagree.
That said, I think playing for money is a great way to get ready for tournament play. I rarely have the extra money to do it, because my responsibility is to provide for my family, and not lose funds on pool.

I can go on, but back to work I go!
 
Sweet Marissa said:
Whatever one's opinions or beliefs are, I don't think anyone is in a position to judge another.
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You are correct again. I believe, according to the Bible, that we will all be judged some day but it won't be by any of our peers.
 
Sweet Marissa said:
Whatever one's opinions or beliefs are, I don't think anyone is in a position to judge another.
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Marissa honey bunny,

Read my post above. I have my opinions. I personally don't mind gambling. I'm selective about who I gamble with and on what. But as my post shows if someone makes it your business you are free to judge them and their actions based on your experience,opinions and beliefs.

Terry
 
Sweet Marissa said:
Whatever one's opinions or beliefs are, I don't think anyone is in a position to judge another.
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That depends. Are we talking about morality or politics because I think Bush is a moron because of his opinions! :p
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
That depends. Are we talking about morality or politics because I think Bush is a moron because of his opinions! :p
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Oh Jude! You're stirring the shit now!!!
 
Tbeaux said:
Marissa honey bunny,

Read my post above. I have my opinions. I personally don't mind gambling. I'm selective about who I gamble with and on what. But as my post shows if someone makes it your business you are free to judge them and their actions based on your experience,opinions and beliefs.

Terry
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Terry, my nugget of knowledge, I wasn't pointing my finger at you. :)
 
Rickw said:
You are correct again. I believe, according to the Bible, that we will all be judged some day but it won't be by any of our peers.
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Well I have news for you buddy, you better hope Heaven's judicial system is a little better than New York's. Otherwise, you might find yourself in clerical purgatory for so long, you'll forget why you're even there!
 
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