A religion/bible/gambling question.

[dibbs]

I figure this was better suited here than in NVG. Also, searched but couldnt find this, if anyone has a link, thank you.

Was reading Daniel Negreanu's 2nd to latest blog entry and after he explained his most recent tournament win he stated he just felt like he has been living right recently, focused, reading some chapters of the bible every night etc.

I don't know much about religion really since I haven't been since childhood and funerals, but I don't understand, doesn't the bible absolutely look down upon gambling as a sinful act? I know people pick and choose what they want to believe lots of time in any religion, but for anyone familiar with the bible, does it make any sense to be somewhat of a devout follower and make a living taking peoples money through a sinful act? Is this totally hypocritical of him or is it just accepted that you take what good you can from the source and that's that? Maybe gambling isn't as sinful as I think it is.

Not looking to rag on Daniel as I find him to be interesting and charismatic, I'm not interested in making judgements on anybody for that matter, I'm just curious how this works really. Thanks for any thoughts or insight.

[BCPVP]

I know this has been discussed here many times.

[RJT]

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I know this has been discussed here many times.

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Yep, I recall two threads on this. Not too far back - if you can't find the threads, let us know.

RJT

[malorum]

The best place to find a view that represents the doctrinal position of the various christian denominations, is clearly not on a Gambling forum. What you will find here are primarily pro-gambling apologetics. If you need some links to some christian material let me know, or you could always speak to your pastor or rabbi.

The bottom line is that you will not find a direct condemnation of Gambling itself in the Bible, but that most christain, Jewish and Islamic traditions are rather negative about gambling, usually citing various vices associated therewith.



Rather unsurprisingly most christian poker players see no problem at all.

[miketurner]

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The bottom line is that you will not find a direct condemnation of Gambling itself in the Bible

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True. From what I have read in the Bible, it kinda warns us of the “slippery slope” that gambling can be.

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Rather unsurprisingly most christian poker players see no problem at all.

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I am a Christian poker player, and I’d say the warning in the Bible is pretty spot on.

[ShakeZula06]

Compare gambling when the bible was written to present day poker. Yes Poker is gambling, even if your a pro, bla bla bla, but I don't think the God's word interpretted in the bible is warning us against playing poker. It's more about not becoming a gambling attic, and not risking your grocery (or IDK what they called it back then, bread money maybe) on -EV bets, and being consumed with the lifeslyle.

Buisness is a gamble too, ask a Christian eutreapreneur if he thinks he's sinning.

Hell, walking across the streets gambling, you might get hit by a car, you think that's what the bible is against too?

[chrisnice]

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It's more about not becoming a gambling attic, and not risking your grocery (or IDK what they called it back then, bread money maybe) on -EV bets, and being consumed with the lifeslyle.


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This is the correct answer. It is against most religious to make -EV bets. Blessed are those who jam multiway pots with 4 flushes

[ShakeZula06]

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It's more about not becoming a gambling attic, and not risking your grocery (or IDK what they called it back then, bread money maybe) on -EV bets, and being consumed with the lifeslyle.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. It is against most religious to make -EV bets. Blessed are those who jam multiway pots with 4 flushes

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm guessing that this is sarcasm, if not disregrad this:

I guess I could turn the question around and say Why does the bible say gambling is wrong? What reasons could they have? Possibly b/c it will lose you money(in speaking of house games)?

Any idea whether it be a religion etc is about leading a +EV life. What do you think the correlation is with people that say they are Christians and there addictions? I'm possitive that if you belong to a faith such as Buddism or any of 3 major monotheistic religions you have a much samller chance of being an attic at anything such as gambling, drugs, alchohol, porn, etc. Why, b/c the bible tells us not to be consumed with such things, hence livng a +EV lifestlye.

[NotReady]

Previous threads on this topic:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showth...amp;sb=5&o= (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3363023&page=&view=&s b=5&o=)

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showth...amp;sb=5&o= (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=2716105&page=&view=&s b=5&o=)

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showth...amp;sb=5&o= (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3430321&page=0&view=c ollapsed&sb=5&o=)


http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showth...amp;sb=5&o= (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=3569071&page=0&view=c ollapsed&sb=5&o=)

[TStoneMBD]

considering that a life without sin is being a complete servant of god, id say that trying to win other people's money for material gain is sinful. daniel seems like a role model christian in that he doesnt appear to judge others and only tries to spread the word through other people taking interest in his life. although there have been some instances where he tried to get jesus and the unabomber to change their names because it was against the will of god or something. basically what im saying is that daniel doesnt seem to judge others, as he shouldnt, since judging people is a sin. why judge him for what he does in turn?

[LadyWrestler]

Hi! The way I play it, poker is not gambling...it is investing in a very good "company": me! Have a great day! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[dibbs]

Many thanks for the links, and thank all of you for the discussion.