[RogueScholar]

I know we have some Muslim posters, and they've seemed to find a certain peace with gambing despite the Qur'an's exhortations against the behavior. I'm curious if we have members of Christian sects that similarly prohibit gambling, such as some Baptist congregations and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) do.

As a bisexual Catholic I've had to devote a lot of thought to what it means to belong to a group which professes some beliefs/constraints that I find personally incompatible with a happy and meaningful life. I'd be interested in hearing how others are able to deal with this conundrum.

[GETMONEYKID]

gambling is my religion

[InTheHole]

I guess but isn't the stock market or an insurance policy gambling?

[Mikail]

Originally Posted by InTheHole

I guess but isn't the stock market or an insurance policy gambling?

Good point!

[jellobiafra]

I always have found it humorous when people pick and choose which tenets of their religion they will follow and which they will blatantly disobey. It's the epitome of disingenuity. No offense to anybody who may fall under that umbrella. I just think it clearly demonstrates their inherent lack of belief in the religion itself. The fact that they pretend to believe (and convince themselves even of this belief) by abiding to the principles that are most convenient is the part that I find funny. As if this type of selective adherence will be "good enough" for the God they purport to have sent down a book of rules on edict.

[Mikail]

Originally Posted by jellobiafra

I always have found it humorous when people pick and choose which tenets of their religion they will follow and which they will blatantly disobey. It's the epitome of disingenuity. No offense to anybody who may fall under that umbrella. I just think it clearly demonstrates their inherent lack of belief in the religion itself. The fact that they pretend to believe (and convince themselves even of this belief) by abiding to the principles that are most convenient is the part that I find funny. As if this type of selective adherence will be "good enough" for the God they purport to have sent down a book of rules on edict.

Jello, it is one thing to believe and another to follow the tenants of that belief. To adhere to a religion is different than belief. One could be strong in faith, but weak at heart. Just because one doesn't follow his religion 100% doesn't make him a disbeliever. A hypocrite.... maybe.

[jellobiafra]

Originally Posted by Mikail

Jello, it is one thing to believe and another to follow the tenants of that belief. To adhere to a religion is different than belief. One could be strong in faith, but weak at heart. Just because one doesn't follow his religion 100% doesn't make him a disbeliever. A hypocrite.... maybe.

Mikail, the crux of the issue for me is that if people really believed there will be a judgment day then they would make more of an effort to adhere to said tenets. The fact that they don't tells me that somewhere in their conscience (or sub-conscience as it may be) they understand that these rules were written by men... that they are not in fact in any way associated with the ultimate juror (if they actually believe there is one at all).

The weakness you alluded to is there, but as I see it is is found in the need to maintain an illusion of structure and piety. I will never understand why just being a good person, knowing right from wrong, acting in accordance and hoping for the best is not good enough for these people. In the end, that's all any of us do anyway. Some feel a primal need to associate it with rules and laws written in books that contain stories of unbelievable occurrences that we know are simply not in accordance with what we as a race of people have to come know as scientifically possible. If you can't believe some of what was written, and you don't adhere to all of which is commanded, how can you really say you believe any of it?

[20Four7]

I"m Catholic and used to go to the racetrack with my Priest after Mass. If gambling is good enough for him it's sure as F*ck good enough for me...... BTW the 1 6 daily double is alway good.

[LT Profits]

Is the Pope Polish?

[lakerboy]

Religion is nonsense- follow your own rules and you will be fine- if you arent retarded that is

[20Four7]

Originally Posted by LT Profits

Is the Pope Polish?

Not anymore LT, the Vatican killed that guy off.

[RogueScholar]

Originally Posted by LT Profits

Is the Pope Polish?

Not so much, anymore.

[Mikail]

Originally Posted by LT Profits

Is the Pope Polish?

I think the current Pope is german. A former nazi soldier.

[LT Profits]

Then the answer is NO, it is not directly prohibited.

[lakerboy]

[quote=Mikail;2348671]I think the current Pope is german. A former nazi soldier.[/quote]


- no he is just a nazi holocaust denier

[SamsNCharge99]

where's PACO in this thread, is he avoiding this

[Mikail]

Originally Posted by GETMONEYKID

gambling is my religion

[pirate]

Religon is the problem, the answer is a RELATIONSHIP with your creator.
IF it is simply a matter of being "good" then How good do you have to be. The Bible is very clear...God loved the world so much he gave his own son for our sins. It's a free gift...not earnable...Kinda like a freeplay!!
Nowhere in the Bible does it say Thou Shalt Not Gamble..The only reference is in proverbs which states the folly of seeking easy money

[pimike]

Originally Posted by pirate

Religon is the problem, the answer is a RELATIONSHIP with your creator.
IF it is simply a matter of being "good" then How good do you have to be. The Bible is very clear...God loved the world so much he gave his own son for our sins. It's a free gift...not earnable...Kinda like a freeplay!!
Nowhere in the Bible does it say Thou Shalt Not Gamble..The only reference is in proverbs which states the folly of seeking easy money

the LOVE of MONEY!

[jellobiafra]

Originally Posted by pirate

Religon is the problem, the answer is a RELATIONSHIP with your creator.
IF it is simply a matter of being "good" then How good do you have to be. The Bible is very clear...God loved the world so much he gave his own son for our sins. It's a free gift...not earnable...Kinda like a freeplay!!
Nowhere in the Bible does it say Thou Shalt Not Gamble..The only reference is in proverbs which states the folly of seeking easy money

Now this would have the potential to set me off in an entirely different direction - the humanization of God. The Bible says that God created man in his image, but I would argue that it's in fact the exact opposite. With everything from physical features to emotions, we assign uniquely human characteristics to our deities.

I also might point out how this line of thought is an example of the arrogance of man - the belief that GOD should for some earthly reason have the time or inclination to have a "relationship" with every soul on the planet. The idea that GOD, the creator and overseer of an entire universe and beyond, is up there listening to every prayer (and arbitrarily granting and denying them) and has a hand in the mundanities of life on earth is not surprising from a self-centered, ego driven race. The essential belief that we, in our rudimentary state of being, are empowered enough to even comprehend "God's plan" and are for some reason endowed with the inalienable right to know it is often a point of contention for me as well.

But I digress....

[Mikail]

There is only one God. God begets not nor is he begotton and their is nothing which can be compared to god. God is the creator and everything else is creation. God has power over all things. The promise of god is true. If God chooses disbelief for someone, than nothing but God can make that person believe. If God chooses belief for someone than none other than God can make that person disbelieve.

[jellobiafra]

Originally Posted by Mikail

There is only one God. God begets not nor is he begotton and their is nothing which can be compared to god. God is the creator and everything else is creation. God has power over all things. The promise of god is true. If God chooses disbelief for someone, than nothing but God can make that person believe. If God chooses belief for someone than none other than God can make that person disbelieve.

So carrying that theme to it's logical conclusion, none of us our responsible for anything. If that's true, then what were all those commandments for? If God chooses you to follow them you will follow them. If he chooses you not to, you will not.

Seems counterproductive, and another in a list of misguided and irrational religious proclamations in my humble opinion.

[Mikail]

Acutally it isn't counterproductive or misguided. We all have free will to do and think as we please, but never forget that God gave us that free will and to God we will return and will answer for all we did in this life.

[mmike032]

opiate for the masses...

[jellobiafra]

Mikail, we're obviously not going to come to any agreement where religion is concerned...which is fine with me. I respect your opinion a great deal, though.

[Mikail]

Originally Posted by jellobiafra

Mikail, we're obviously not going to come to any agreement where religion is concerned...which is fine with me. I respect your opinion a great deal, though.

I respect your opinion as well. You seem like an intelligient person.

[SCRAGGS]

no

[jellobiafra]

Originally Posted by Mikail

I respect your opinion as well. You seem like an intelligient person.

Seem would be the key word there. I'm actually not, but I play one on the internet.

[pirate]

Originally Posted by jellobiafra

Now this would have the potential to set me off in an entirely different direction - the humanization of God. The Bible says that God created man in his image, but I would argue that it's in fact the exact opposite. With everything from physical features to emotions, we assign uniquely human characteristics to our deities.

I also might point out how this line of thought is an example of the arrogance of man - the belief that GOD should for some earthly reason have the time or inclination to have a "relationship" with every soul on the planet. The idea that GOD, the creator and overseer of an entire universe and beyond, is up there listening to every prayer (and arbitrarily granting and denying them) and has a hand in the mundanities of life on earth is not surprising from a self-centered, ego driven race. The essential belief that we, in our rudimentary state of being, are empowered enough to even comprehend "God's plan" and are for some reason endowed with the inalienable right to know it is often a point of contention for me as well.

But I digress....

Why would a God who wants a personal relationship with his creation be unimagineable for a being capable of creating a universe

[Jimmy0607]

Originally Posted by GETMONEYKID

gambling is my religion

Amen!

[jellobiafra]

Originally Posted by pirate

Why would a God who wants a personal relationship with his creation be unimagineable for a being capable of creating a universe

Just seems arrogant to think God wouldn't have bigger things on his plate than the trivial matters which occupy our lives. I mean, if life is really eternal then the sliver of time we spend in this form is practically meaningless anyway, right? When I imagine the possibility of a God, and try to rationally consider the depth of his presence, I can't for a second imagine he'd concern himself with anything to do with me and this puny world. I'd be less to him than an ant is to a human. I'd be an ant on Pluto.

[Wilforth]

Originally Posted by jellobiafra

I always have found it humorous when people pick and choose which tenets of their religion they will follow and which they will blatantly disobey. It's the epitome of disingenuity. No offense to anybody who may fall under that umbrella. I just think it clearly demonstrates their inherent lack of belief in the religion itself. The fact that they pretend to believe (and convince themselves even of this belief) by abiding to the principles that are most convenient is the part that I find funny. As if this type of selective adherence will be "good enough" for the God they purport to have sent down a book of rules on edict.

You made my day with this post. I can now go to bed.

[pavyracer]

There is no god. We are all humans.

[pirate]

Originally Posted by jellobiafra

Just seems arrogant to think God wouldn't have bigger things on his plate than the trivial matters which occupy our lives. I mean, if life is really eternal then the sliver of time we spend in this form is practically meaningless anyway, right? When I imagine the possibility of a God, and try to rationally consider the depth of his presence, I can't for a second imagine he'd concern himself with anything to do with me and this puny world. I'd be less to him than an ant is to a human. I'd be an ant on Pluto.

I guess that's why he is GOD..His love pure and infinite

[paco]

Gambling and drinking both prohibited in Islam , I'm guilty of both