Religion And Poker

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Doug
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Religion And Poker

Post by Doug »

Alright, so this is a question that has come up in a number of poker circles with no real answer among us players. Personally, I've played for the last year and I've done pretty well for myself in regards to making money. But, is this moral? I mean, there are players that are out there playing because they're addicts and people playing with savings and stuff like that. Can you be a Christian and be a poker player?



I've had it explained to me by a christian poker player that they're going to lose their money anyway, they'd might as well lose it to someone that's going to do something good with it (my money goes towards my tuition, some donate their winnings to charity).



Does God frown on this? I can't recall any Bible passages against this. Any help would be appreciated.
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by archers_angel »

Gambling in general is frowned upon in the Bible, though very little of it is ever mentioned, and I'm not surte theres a definite answer to your question.



(The passage where gambling is frowned upon is where there is gambling and "selling of birds" in a temple, and Jesus knocks over all the tables and gets really really angry, and tells them all they're sinning. Then he says he will tear down their temple, and build it in in 3days. I don't know the actual reference, but to the best of my memory, thats the gist of it.)



But, I do the lottery, and things like that, and I don't think they cause harm. I think that the reason the Bible frowns upon it, is because they don't want anything to get in the way of your love for God, and addictions very often do that.

Poker is just a way of relaxing, and its not hurting anyone, so I don't think its a sin.



I think you most definitely CAN be a Christian and a poker player.
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by SirPostAlot »

:rolleyes: Hun, put down the bible and listen to your heart...



You like poker so play poker...honostly why should you care if god frowns on you, not that i think he does or anythign ~ if he exsists...



I mean wouldn't god be happy to see you happy, despite what you are doing??



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Doug
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by Doug »

Angels-Archer - I know that passage you're talking about. But, the reason it upset Jesus is because they were doing all of this in a Church, which is completely disrespectful to God. I'dve been pissed off too. :P



Also, the difference between the lottery and poker is that, when I'm playing poker, I'm taking other people's money from them.
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by SirPostAlot »

Originally posted by OnlyInside@Mar 5 2005, 03:14 PM

Also, the difference between the lottery and poker is that, when I'm playing poker, I'm taking other people's money from them.

[right][/right]





your taking peoples money in the lottery too, hun...



cuz all the other people that payed that $2 for a ticket, that money is going to the "big bank" where money is drawn out of to pay for the one that wins the lottery...



so in both, you are taking peoples money, hun



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Re: Religion And Poker

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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by PurplePoemPuppet »

Originally posted by SirPostAlot@Mar 5 2005, 12:16 PM

your taking peoples money in the lottery too, hun...



cuz all the other people that payed that $2 for a ticket, that money is going to the "big bank" where money is drawn out of to pay for the one that wins the lottery...



so in both, you are taking peoples money, hun



~Jeff~

[right][/right]

It's not like you're paying taxes on your poker money though. When you win the lottery or something, you're paying for it too.



I think on the whole, gambling chronically is bad. Doing anything chronically is usually pretty bad. I think playing poker is not a bad thing. You put in a little pool (or a slightly large considering being teenagers) amongst some friends, have a good time hanging out and you walk away with a bit of money. On the whole, not so bad. What gets bad is when you think you need to use this as a source of income or if your job just suddenly flops or something "oh, I know I can just go make some money playing it up in poker." Don't ever get to that point... then you're hitting dangerous territory.
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by SirPostAlot »

But you are supposed to file gambeling earnings, hun...but usually people don't because its such a minute amount of money...



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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by Jaegermeister »

I don't think it's wrong to be a Christian and gamble. It can be addictive so watch out for that, but in an understated parallel between Buddhism and Christianity, seek the middle path. The Bible to me is all about the extremes. Don't do these things, do do these things. Any life lived exactly in accordance with it would be insanely screwed up. With the Bible as your overarching guide to how you should live your life, I think gambling is fine.



I think the law prohibiting gambling is found in the Daddy of all do not books, Leviticus.



tJ
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Doug
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Re: Religion And Poker

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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by PurplePoemPuppet »

Filing for taxes on poker money when you're just having a good time with friends isn't any sort of valuable income. The IRS would probably rather you not waste your time. So in Doug's case, yeah, there'd be no reason for him to file. Haha, it's like babysitting... no one files taxes on babysitting.
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Doug
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by Doug »

Originally posted by PurplePoemPuppet@Mar 5 2005, 11:34 PM

Filing for taxes on poker money when you're just having a good time with friends isn't any sort of valuable income. The IRS would probably rather you not waste your time. So in Doug's case, yeah, there'd be no reason for him to file. Haha, it's like babysitting... no one files taxes on babysitting.

[right][/right]



PPP - I'm not talking about playing with friends. I'm talking about playing online and in casinos. If I'm with friends, yeah, it's just for fun and I know my religion won't have any problem with that. But, I'm talking about playing with addicts and people that (unfortunately) aren't any good, but take large sums of money in there expecting to win. Does that affect your answer at all? I'm thinking maybe you thought I was just talking about playing with my friends.
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by archers_angel »

I thought you were referring to playing with friends, but even knowing that you sometimes play seriously, I don't think it changes my answer as long as it stays a hobby, not an addiction.



God just doesn't want anything to detract from the importance of him in your life, and any addiction would do that, but if you're not addicted, and you really could just drop it at any time, I wouldn't think religion has a problem with it.



But I think you're possibly treading a fine line right now, remember how many more important things there are in your life than poker.
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Re: Religion And Poker

Post by silvertears »

i myself think it is a sin... unless u just play the game and not for money...



and rather somethin is in one book of the bible or the other... it dont make n e difference to me, its still IN the bible..
I'm a poor wayfaring stranger

While traveling thru this world of woe

Yet there's no sickness, toil, or danger

In that bright world to which I go

I'm going there to see my Father

I'm going there no more to roam

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home



I know dark clouds will hang 'round me,

I know my way is rough and steep

Yet beauteous fields lie just before me

Where God's redeemed their virgils keep

I'm going there to see my mother

She said she'd meet me when I come

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home




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