Balancing our Personal Believes, Religion and Gambling

[Pandu Geddon]

Most religions has got some standards for which they use to maintain their  moral compass, and so this also affects their senses of judgment with matters like this and so you get to hear of divers perception as it regards this, some will say its okay to accept the money and condemn the source meanwhile with others they will condemn all of it, both the source and the money hence they are not going to accept the money. I think since this persons didn't steal or hurt someone to get the money,  it's a healthy one morally to accept.

I think it isn't something extraordinary for a gambler to give or donate some of their winnings from gambling for the development of a particular religion. I mean, the role of the gambler in his social environment is also good, as is a good conscience. Even those who may have a large source of income from a normal job do not necessarily set aside their money for such interests. As you said, gamblers do not steal or hurt others. Even when they lose, they feel it themselves. There is nothing wrong with the money. But will the recipient also ask where the money came from? I don't think so. There is good intention from someone, so why should we think negatively about the source?

[mcdouglasx]

Everything depends on the type of religion and our own values. For example, there are many religious people who are bad and have inappropriate and unethical behaviors. Many will say that tithing is a scam and that the gold in the Vatican could end hunger. In the end, it depends on each person's perspective whether they think it's right to donate part of their gambling winnings or not, and how it makes them feel about themselves. In my opinion, as long as you're not stealing or putting your family's economy at risk, anyone can do whatever they want with their money.

[Frankolala]

I feel no one is in the position to criticize gambling money if it's dirty or not. The clergy did the right thing to condemn gambling, because he knows the consequences attached to gambling when you don't have self control over your gambling activities. It's not that gambling is bad and condemned by religious leaders, but they know can you can easily get addicted and that will lead to an irresponsible lifestyle.

[Sandra_hakeem]

Knowing that the money was gotten from gambling fortune, the Clergy accepted the money but condemn gambling.

Okay, It's quite simple -- them rules were created to guide the entire system/ body, thereby stressing the entire essence of understanding truth and evil, which will only end in eternal retribution -- that's what the scripture says right? That's it!
Which verse/portion of the Bible blatantly warns against GAMBLING??

In whatever you do, your conscience is all you got to know if you're in the right track, or not.

Everything depends on the type of religion and our own values.

is there any religion that doesn't sugarcoat some part of their scriptures/holy book to suit it selfishness/biased interpretations?? I could decide that I wanna be worshiped by people from centuries to come -- wouldn't make much sense to you, but it sure will to people that only prays with a crucifix that has my picture on it (a sexy one at that )
Ps: people can choose to believe anything, don't always forget this.

[Fiatless]

I feel no one is in the position to criticize gambling money if it's dirty or not. The clergy did the right thing to condemn gambling, because he knows the consequences attached to gambling when you don't have self control over your gambling activities. It's not that gambling is bad and condemned by religious leaders, but they know can you can easily get addicted and that will lead to an irresponsible lifestyle.

The OP said that the clergyman accepted the funds from gambling and later criticized betting. I might be wrong, I see such action as hypocrisy. I thinks gambling is evil but the money gotten from wins is not? Maybe the religious organization needs the funds to take care of pressing issues.

This thread reminds me of a religious organization in my country that forbids members from gambling and drinking alcohol, but they collect revenue raised from the taxing of the activity and product. Since he collected the money, he should just advise the member to gamble responsibly.

[jcojci]

We don't know if Clergy men gamble or not because that is their secret life. Everybody have their secret thing in their live which other people will not know. If that Clergy men accept donation from gambling from someone, that will be up to them although they condemn gambling. Maybe they tell that in his congregation in the church not to playing gambling but they don't minds accepting the money from gambling.

But in the other side, some Clergy men will not accept the donation from gambling because they will say that is prohibit in their religion. They don't want to get the sin by accepting the money so they will not tolerate if they know from where the money comes.

[retreat]

People will find it very difficult to balance their religion with gambling, because most religions forbid gambling. And each person who gambles is responsible for what they do, meaning they are fully aware that what they do is actually against their religion, but each person may be different in responding to it, so it is left to each person's choice whether they want to gamble or not.

Just a short story I will like to tell before the main discussion, I was opportuned to listen on a telephone conversation between a man and a Clergy, what he ask was that if it is right for someone to gamble and won a jackpot, then bring a percentage of the winning to the Clergy, will he accept such as a sacrifice for the growth and developments of the religion? Knowing that the money was gotten from gambling fortune, the Clergy accepted the money but condem gambling.

And what the pastor did was just hypocrisy. He condemned gambling, but at the same time he accepted money from gamblers. That makes him no different from the gamblers he condemned. If he is really a pastor he should understand that the money is not his to receive. But we do not know whether the money went into his personal pocket or for the construction of the church as he said.

[satscraper]

~

Jugging to quantum mechanics God does play the dice with us, thus why restrict ourselves from gambling if we have some personal believes and follow faith traditions. Being inside gambling pits I saw many people that belong to different religious  confessions  and they were not fast and loose there even they mentioned the names of their prophets playing the fruit  machines. ^{I noticed that people do this more than often pulling off the hands of those slots.}

[rachael9385]

Just a short story I will like to tell before the main discussion, I was opportuned to listen on a telephone conversation between a man and a Clergy, what he ask was that if it is right for someone to gamble and won a jackpot, then bring a percentage of the winning to the Clergy, will he accept such as a sacrifice for the growth and developments of the religion? Knowing that the money was gotten from gambling fortune, the Clergy accepted the money but condem gambling.

Secondly, some of us have been arguing on this before time, but I want us to go wide on this discussion using different approaches over it, which may includes the religious, political, economical and social believes to why Clergy men should gamble or not, lets sight examples where necessary, prove our point and learn from each other's opinion.

Be informed that this is a general discussion, not a threat to take attacks on each other, drop your own perspective and state some reasons to back them up, let's make it more of being fun and informative with our actual facts.

Moderation should be applied in everything we do, gambling in the right way shouldn't interfere with your religion or personal believes. A lot of people take gambling to the extreme and that's where it becomes a challenge. There's nothing wrong with religious leaders gambling to ease tension or to have fun as long as you are not addicted to it. I don't think it's against anyone's religion to gamble, some people are over religious that's why they think gambling is a taboo, like I said earlier gambling can only become a vice when it becomes an addiction issue so learn to keep things balanced.

[AGULIS]

Just a short story I will like to tell before the main discussion, I was opportuned to listen on a telephone conversation between a man and a Clergy, what he ask was that if it is right for someone to gamble and won a jackpot, then bring a percentage of the winning to the Clergy, will he accept such as a sacrifice for the growth and developments of the religion? Knowing that the money was gotten from gambling fortune, the Clergy accepted the money but condem gambling.

Secondly, some of us have been arguing on this before time, but I want us to go wide on this discussion using different approaches over it, which may includes the religious, political, economical and social believes to why Clergy men should gamble or not, lets sight examples where necessary, prove our point and learn from each other's opinion.

Be informed that this is a general discussion, not a threat to take attacks on each other, drop your own perspective and state some reasons to back them up, let's make it more of being fun and informative with our actual facts.

From an ethical standpoint, it seems to me that accepting money from gambling, even for the purpose of furthering a religion, raises questions about moral responsibility. The problem is not the money, but the source of the money. If we accept funds from a practice that can destroy people's lives, we may be complicit in that destruction, albeit at the level of good intentions.

[kotajikikox]

When comes to religion and gambling, there is no such a problem about both topics here in my country. I am sure there would be priests within the Catholic church who would not mind to accept money which originated from gambling, as long as it helps to make their church bigger and attract more followers.

To be fair, according to catholicism gambling only becomes a sin when it is excessive already. They say that if the money you are using for gambling is one that could have been needed by your family then that is a sin since you are putting your personal greed over your family's needs which makes sense.

Though, in the case of the clergy who accepted the money and yet condemned gambling, it sounds rather hypocritical coming from a man who is not only supposed to preach and preach, but also practice what he preaches and teach with his own example.

I wouldn't really be surprised. Many religious leaders only use their religion to take advantage of people's beliefs. Many priests are sinners themselves.

[_act_]

I feel no one is in the position to criticize gambling money if it's dirty or not. The clergy did the right thing to condemn gambling, because he knows the consequences attached to gambling when you don't have self control over your gambling activities.

From common sense, people should know that gambling money is not dirty money at all. The gamblers worked for it and in the process he can lose his own money too. As long as the gambling is done appropriately, just like as it is done on the gambling sites, there is nothing bad about it.

It's not that gambling is bad and condemned by religious leaders, but they know can you can easily get addicted and that will lead to an irresponsible lifestyle.

Gambling is condemned and deemed bad by some religions, most especially the Muslims.

[serjent05]

Just a short story I will like to tell before the main discussion, I was opportuned to listen on a telephone conversation between a man and a Clergy, what he ask was that if it is right for someone to gamble and won a jackpot, then bring a percentage of the winning to the Clergy, will he accept such as a sacrifice for the growth and developments of the religion? Knowing that the money was gotten from gambling fortune, the Clergy accepted the money but condem gambling.

Secondly, some of us have been arguing on this before time, but I want us to go wide on this discussion using different approaches over it, which may includes the religious, political, economical and social believes to why Clergy men should gamble or not, lets sight examples where necessary, prove our point and learn from each other's opinion.

Be informed that this is a general discussion, not a threat to take attacks on each other, drop your own perspective and state some reasons to back them up, let's make it more of being fun and informative with our actual facts.

Whether it is right or wrong to accept gambling profit for donation is dependent on the person or the church belief.  If one is a Christian and wanted to follow the teachings that is stated on the Bible. then he should abide what is written or what is the message conveyed on the scripture.

I believe there is no question about Islam belief, it is obvious that gambling is haram so there should be no room for Muslims to accept donations coming from gambling profit.  When it comes to Christian, some passages discourage activities coming from greed (do not explicitly say gambling) and accepting any profit coming from it.  I think the passages:

Exodus 20:17 – "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s."

Luke 12:15 – "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

1 Corinthians 8:9 – "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak."

1 Timothy 6:10 – "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

and others have context that discourage gaining wealth hastily through an unhonest means, or activities govern by greed.  Accepting such donation by a Christian church leader means supporting such action and condoning greed because of the financial benefits.

From an ethical standpoint, it seems to me that accepting money from gambling, even for the purpose of furthering a religion, raises questions about moral responsibility. The problem is not the money, but the source of the money. If we accept funds from a practice that can destroy people's lives, we may be complicit in that destruction, albeit at the level of good intentions.

I highly agree, this is more on the moral responsibility.  But whether gambling is 100% rooted in greed is still highly debated since no one but himself can tell the reason why a person is engaged in gambling. 

[2Pizza410000BTC]

There's a difference between gambling considered as a sin but not prohibited and gambling is prohibited.

In Cristian, gambling isn't explicitly prohibited, but it's just a sin, so Christian people are allowed to gamble. So, in @OP case, there's nothing wrong to share the winnings to Church because Christian people are required to share 10% of their monthly income which called as tithe.

This is difference with Islam, you're not allowed to gamble and there's no thing like if you share your winnings, you will be forgiven. No, it will be considered as haram and you will not get any merit, even you donate $1 Billion, it's still haram.

Although I do not know exactly how gambling is viewed in other religions, gambling is considered a complete sin in Islam. Our religion, Islam, never allows gambling, but even if we use gambling, we participate in gambling very secretly behind the scenes. If people find out about our gambling, people will raise various questions about us. So if we win lakhs of taka by gambling, even if we give some of the winnings to the mosque or the imam of the mosque, our gambling will still not be considered right. Because we believe that our religion and our religion do not allow such gambling.

[Frankolala]

I feel no one is in the position to criticize gambling money if it's dirty or not. The clergy did the right thing to condemn gambling, because he knows the consequences attached to gambling when you don't have self control over your gambling activities.

From common sense, people should know that gambling money is not dirty money at all. The gamblers worked for it and in the process he can lose his own money too. As long as the gambling is done appropriately, just like as it is done on the gambling sites, there is nothing bad about it.

The casino paid you your win, and it's not like you stole other people's money to scammed them. You got lucky and got the funds from a legitimate source. Imagine if a responsible gambler, who gambles once in a while just to try his luck. He won big and decided to pay his tithe from his wins, it means that he is giving God the money and not the pastor.

[junder]

From an ethical standpoint, it seems to me that accepting money from gambling, even for the purpose of furthering a religion, raises questions about moral responsibility. The problem is not the money, but the source of the money. If we accept funds from a practice that can destroy people's lives, we may be complicit in that destruction, albeit at the level of good intentions.

Winning is not really a matter of money but it is a matter of where the money comes from, some people who have a religion that opposes gambling may reject money given from gambling sources but this is a case that often occurs in my country they say that those who reject money from gambling are too hypocritical, actually in my opinion if you win and don't want to accept it, it's better to talk about it properly so that there is no conflict.

The good intention of giving money from gambling will be a problem in my opinion, therefore we should just use it ourselves for our needs, after all we have to gamble using our own money.

[Cryptomultiplier]

I feel no one is in the position to criticize gambling money if it's dirty or not. The clergy did the right thing to condemn gambling, because he knows the consequences attached to gambling when you don't have self control over your gambling activities.

From common sense, people should know that gambling money is not dirty money at all. The gamblers worked for it and in the process he can lose his own money too. As long as the gambling is done appropriately, just like as it is done on the gambling sites, there is nothing bad about it.

It's not that gambling is bad and condemned by religious leaders, but they know can you can easily get addicted and that will lead to an irresponsible lifestyle.

Gambling is condemned and deemed bad by some religions, most especially the Muslims.

There is often a huge biase associated with clergy men accepting cash gifts despite the source of income, but then they get to condemn openly, any source of income that may have provided the cash gift.
I don't think there was any blood spilled during gambling except for the fact that humans would have to rack their brains to come up with sustainable predictions that win and that's why I don't think gambling is evil as many label it to be.

The ability to not be disciplined in life could be very predominant in one's life choices and it could be greatly visible during gambling activities that may have become the new norm for indisciplined folks. That's why I believe many groups, associations, religious or non religious bodies see gambling as bad, because it obviously has a lot to do with ones financial life and when isn't able to control this aspect of their life's, their  everyday human relationships is vasly affected.

[Dave1]

We don't know if Clergy men gamble or not because that is their secret life. Everybody have their secret thing in their live which other people will not know. If that Clergy men accept donation from gambling from someone, that will be up to them although they condemn gambling. Maybe they tell that in his congregation in the church not to playing gambling but they don't minds accepting the money from gambling.

Lol, but that is a topic for another discussion, we have known already that many clergy men are involved in controversies, even the Pope already acknowledge it but I won't also talk about it.

But in the other side, some Clergy men will not accept the donation from gambling because they will say that is prohibit in their religion. They don't want to get the sin by accepting the money so they will not tolerate if they know from where the money comes.

Or they can reason out that they don't know that source of the money, or they could have blessed it already. But there are still moral and ethical issues. But I guess if you have the clean of heart and just wanted to donate with the money that you have won in gambling then no one can stop you.

[Jody.Drummer]

I feel no one is in the position to criticize gambling money if it's dirty or not. The clergy did the right thing to condemn gambling, because he knows the consequences attached to gambling when you don't have self control over your gambling activities.

From common sense, people should know that gambling money is not dirty money at all. The gamblers worked for it and in the process he can lose his own money too. As long as the gambling is done appropriately, just like as it is done on the gambling sites, there is nothing bad about it.

The casino paid you your win, and it's not like you stole other people's money to scammed them. You got lucky and got the funds from a legitimate source. Imagine if a responsible gambler, who gambles once in a while just to try his luck. He won big and decided to pay his tithe from his wins, it means that he is giving God the money and not the pastor.

The problem in my opinion is that everyone has a different view of gambling, some of them think gambling is a bad thing so no matter what, gambling is one thing that will not be easily accepted in all views of society. With the example you gave with just one try and being able to win because you are lucky, I will not change their perspective on gambling which considers it wrong and maybe because it is against their religion too.

[tsaroz]

Just a short story I will like to tell before the main discussion, I was opportuned to listen on a telephone conversation between a man and a Clergy, what he ask was that if it is right for someone to gamble and won a jackpot, then bring a percentage of the winning to the Clergy, will he accept such as a sacrifice for the growth and developments of the religion? Knowing that the money was gotten from gambling fortune, the Clergy accepted the money but condem gambling.

Secondly, some of us have been arguing on this before time, but I want us to go wide on this discussion using different approaches over it, which may includes the religious, political, economical and social believes to why Clergy men should gamble or not, lets sight examples where necessary, prove our point and learn from each other's opinion.

Be informed that this is a general discussion, not a threat to take attacks on each other, drop your own perspective and state some reasons to back them up, let's make it more of being fun and informative with our actual facts.

I might be more of into Scientism and could be called an atheist. Religion in 21st century is just a tradition and custom we follow. It could remain as a culture in society.
But anyone who believes there's a higher being who needs to be praised, worshiped, provided favors in return for his/her protection or reward and claims the higher being tells you to do or not do something is plain stupid. These are the things human made and the rules were a way of controlling the society. Morally discussing, gambling could be considered a bad thing that's not suited for society but making it a religious rule is not good.