The modern concept of gambling by transferring something of worth (generally money) from one person to another based on chance is not supported by the Scriptures (see below). The 21st century concept of gambling at the TAB, casino, pokies or on Powerball is foreign to biblical thinking.Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has stated, “I hate poker machines and I know something of their impact on families.” Former premier of Queensland, Wayne Goss, whose party introduced poker machines to that state, has been doing some rethinking. He told the Brisbane Courier-Mail, "I wish I'd never brought in poker machines, I think they're a scourge. . . The problem with poker machines in my view is that the people who mainly play them are the people who can least afford to do so. I wish I hadn't done it.''
[1] Don Tom, Christian Fellowship Forum, Contentious Brethren, “Don won’t pray – don’t ask him,” #111, available from: http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=101&nav=messages&webtag=ws-fellowship&tid=119539 [23 August 2009].
I thought it was well written, but there is a lot of good done from gambling too, which wasn't mentioned there. So it seemed a bit biased as I would expect from a Christian who is trying to make a point.
I would find it interesting to compare the problems caused by drinking booze. And of the two, I think gambling does less harm and more good than drinking. Gambling is one way for governments to get a voluntary tax. For an example, in CA, they have a state lottery and all the profits go to schools. People can choose to not gamble (if they have decent programming!) but there is no choice involved in mandatory taxes. Gambling also provided countless jobs. Especially here in Reno, NV where we are now. Reno is a small old gambling town, just not as fancy as the Las Vegas strip.
But I think it would be easier to pass laws against gambling than against drinking. Laws against drinking was tried here once (from 1920 to 1933) in the USA and that proved to be a disaster.
But when there is big money being made, it is very difficult to get any big changes when the cat is once out of the bag.
And for the big impact on families, we can say that about almost everything. It's possible for humans to make a big problem out of almost anything. Even Christianity. Andra Yates, for one example.
The real problem is people who make gambling (and other stuff, such as booze) into a big problem. People have to learn how to deal with their problems. IMO, we cannot blame legalized gambling or drinking. These things are only part of the big pricetag of freedom.
"The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it." --John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes."--Thomas Huxley
Sincerely, -Don Quoteman
<<I would find it interesting to compare the problems caused by drinking booze. And of the two, I think gambling does less harm and more good than drinking. Gambling is one way for governments to get a voluntary tax. For an example, in CA, they have a state lottery and all the profits go to schools. People can choose to not gamble (if they have decent programming!) but there is no choice involved in mandatory taxes. Gambling also provided countless jobs. Especially here in Reno, NV where we are now. Reno is a small old gambling town, just not as fancy as the Las Vegas strip. >>
<<I thought it was well written, but there is a lot of good done from gambling too, which wasn't mentioned there.>>
ALCOHOL TOLL – We are all sick of the alcohol-fuelled violence. Did you know that it costs Australia $16 billion a year to mop up after excessive alcohol consumption AND that 40 per cent of policework is alcohol related? Binge drinking is a cultural problem, not a tax problem. Learn more here<http://www.stevefielding.com.au/news/details/ready_aim_drunk/> and here.<http://www.stevefielding.com.au/images/press_room/090813_Alcopops2.pdf>
<http://www.stevefielding.com.au/news/details/ready_aim_drunk/> and here.<http://www.stevefielding.com.au/images/press_room/090813_Alcopops2.pdf>
<<But the gambling disease is spreading, but so are places for them to get help, such as your business. But that only works for those who really want help and can admit they need it. I bet you have more success with problem gamblers than with gays <g>.>>
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:9-11 New Living Translation).
Don,
I have updated my article, “God and gambling,” to include a section on “What about the “good” that gambling does?” Thanks for your input to help me think through a few more issues.
<<I just think the good and bad about everything has to be weighted. IOW, which way causes more problems and which way causes less problems for society. For an example, laws against abortion certainly will cause more problems than it solves but it will make little difference, if any, in the number of abortions. When it comes to gambling, it's hard to say which way is best. The real problem is those individuals who misuse it. Does that mean gambling should be made illegal? Imagine what that would do to places like Las Vegas and how many people would be unemployed. >>
Yours is a utilitarian ethic, the end justifies the means, and that is not what the Scriptures support. Rules determine the results. When results influence the rules, we are heading into deep, dark waters.
Laws against abortion, if practised consistently, would help to heal a nation. Don’t you understand the link between abortion and breast cancer? Yes, there may appear to be more temporary problems when an unplanned pregnancy happens but human life begins at conception and those who murder anybody suffer the consequences, whether as individuals or as a nation.
This week I counselled a couple who agreed to abort their child 33 years ago. They are still experiencing the trauma (guilt) of what they did to a new human life. The guilt can be devastating, but you seem to want to write that off as causing <<less problems for society>>.
Gambling is the antithesis of the work ethic. A society that believes in gaining a BIG amount for a small investment will create a new kind of people. Could it be that deserts are not the place for inhabitants? We don’t have large cities built in the deserts of Australia, relying largely on gambling revenues to exist. We do have a casino in Alice Springs on the edge of the desert.
"All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:32).
<<No doubt you would do just as well with those who wish to change their heterosexuality, when they are commuted to change.>>
I have no desire to help heterosexuals change to homosexuals or bisexuals. Heterosexuality is God's norm and I would not dare flaunt God's absolutes. This is the difference between your utilitarian ethics and my ontological ethics. Mine are based on God's laws and yours seem to be based on your rules (laws).
Sincerely, Spencer
"Mine are based on God's laws and yours seem to be based on your rules (laws)"
No, mine are pure logical, based on what causes the least amount of problems. Laws do NOT solve all of society's problems. And there are many bad laws that cause more problems than they solve. Such as some of our drug laws. It's just Prohibition all over again. However, there is a good side here too. Many times the money is spent on law enforcement of illegal drugs than the street value of all the illegal drugs that exist. That also means a lot of jobs. But here, I think the law causes more problems than it solves. IMO, misuse of drugs should be considered more of a health problem than a legal problem.
"Don’t you understand the link between abortion and breast cancer? "
I never said abortion was good. I only said making it illegal will cause more problems than it solves. Making it illegal does NOT stop abortion anywhere. In fact, it doesn't even reduce it in places that have made it illegal. In many countries where abortion is illegal, they have more abortions than in countries where it is legal.
"I have updated my article, “God and gambling,” to include a section on “What about the “good” that gambling does?” Thanks for your input to help me think through a few more issues."
I think it's better to have a few maxed out credit cards than to lose your job! And there would be a lot of job loses in some areas if gambling was made illegal. Even technicians like me who fix things! There are many slot machine technicians in areas where slot machines are made and repaired. You might even lose your job if gambling wasn't so wide spread. You wouldn't have any problem gambler customers! There's a lot more jobs related to gambling than most people realize. Perhaps most of them are not even near the casinos.
But I don't think you mentioned if you think gambling should be illegal. Perhaps that was never your point. In fact, we might even totally agree on this issue, the real problem are those who gamble until it's a problem. And the problems can be more than money, as I am sure you realize.
But humans have countless ways to make almost anything into a real problem. Some people are too afraid of boredom and get themselves in trouble. But, IMO, a life of boredom is a great life. A lot better than dealing with countless frustrations, that perhaps MOST people have to deal with in one way or another because of themselves.
"Boredom is a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half of the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it."--Bertrand Russell
-Don Quoteman
<<No, it's because man creates god in his own image and whatever the majority of people thinks is right is what creates that god.>>
<<It is illogical to say that sinful man would create a sinless God in man's own image; A God (of the Bible) that requires man to be perfect to live with Him in heaven, then, knowing man could never be perfect or sinless, sends His Son to make the Way for man to be declared perfect by exchanging man's sin for Christ's perfect sinlessness. Those who know the words of the sinless, perfect Jesus know that no man created this God in man's own image. That is the illogic of it all. God created man in His own image. God gave man the free will to obey Him or disobey Him. Man chose to disobey (sin) and thus lost His relationship to God. Jesus Christ came to restore that relationship with God by paying the pardon price for our sins by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Those that put their trust in Him and His work are given eternal life. No other religion claims this, only the Christ of the Bible could and did perform this most unselfish of acts ever witnessed. Jesus is our Redeemer!!>>
It is against Islam to rape Muslim women, but Muhammad actually encouraged the rape of women captured in battle. This hadith provides the context for the Qur’anic verse (4:24):
The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them. They defeated them and took them captives. Some of the Companions of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Qur’anic verse: (Sura 4:24) "And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess." (Abu Dawud 2150)
Some of the Companions of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Qur’anic verse: (Sura 4:24) "And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess." (Abu Dawud 2150)
