Struggling with Moral Issues in Poker from a Christian Standpoint

RJT · #1 10-03-2005, 10:36 PM

Being Christian and a competitive poker player are not mutually exclusive in my opinion. (Theoretically, I suppose any form of competition is not Christian.) If your poker games is suffering because you have “guilt” about targeting (only) the weakest of the weak, I suggest you work on your game instead of your Christianity.

#2 10-03-2005, 10:54 PM

I think Jesus is pretty clear on this one: "whatever you do unto the least of my brothers, you do unto me". So if you bust a fish, you've busted Jesus.

jcaesar · #3 10-04-2005, 02:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I think Jesus is pretty clear on this one: "whatever you do unto the least of my brothers, you do unto me". So if you bust a fish, you've busted Jesus.

[/ QUOTE ]

I feel like a lot of times the "weaker brethren" blanket classification is hazy in poker. A fish in 100/200 may be a shark in 5/10. I've been the "least of my brothers" in many of the games that I've played in, but by no means regard myself a fish.

I think what I'm trying to change is more of my approach towards the game(i.e. making the right decision rather than looking at the result, which is what good poker is supposed to stem from).

I get the feeling I'm missing your point. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

MCS · #4 10-04-2005, 02:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
So if you bust a fish, you've busted Jesus.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty funny. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I would ask if you're applying the same rigor to your other endeavors, e.g., your job. Like, do you work at a for-profit corporation?

jcaesar · #5 10-04-2005, 02:28 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Being Christian and a competitive poker player are not mutually exclusive in my opinion. (Theoretically, I suppose any form of competition is not Christian.) If your poker games is suffering because you have “guilt” about targeting (only) the weakest of the weak, I suggest you work on your game instead of your Christianity.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the quick response. I was trying to bring up in my post a specific Christian principle that condemned a specific poker maxim, thereby speaking to their mutual exclusivity.

If I want to follow Jesus, and Jesus teaches that taking from the weak is wrong, and in poker I take from the weak, then it follows that poker is wrong to me.

What I seek to do is reconcile the two areas of my life, rather than twist Christianity into fitting my lifestyle. If anything's going to change, it's the way I view what I'm doing in poker, not my faith.

Thanks again for the response, and am interested in hearing what else you have to say.

RJT · #6 10-04-2005, 09:50 AM

Since you clarified (for me) your position then I have to restate what I already posted.

Theoretically, I suppose any form of competition is not Christian.

I really think I can delete the words “I suppose” from the sentence. I’d have to give that some more thought to be certain, before I would want to go on record with advice to you. If you read NotReady’s post, I think he gives some good advice.

I would be happy to give you any more help with your discernment. But, I think a PM would be more appropriate. (Feel free.) Until this forum’s name is either changed to add Religion to the Science, Math, Philosophy or the word Philosophy is dropped from it, I think it inappropriate to discuss (here) subjective issues such as yours. I’ll leave the hypocrisy to the atheists.

jcaesar · #7 10-05-2005, 12:07 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Until this forum’s name is either changed to add Religion to the Science, Math, Philosophy or the word Philosophy is dropped from it, I think it inappropriate to discuss (here) subjective issues such as yours. I’ll leave the hypocrisy to the atheists.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not too clear on why you think my topic is any less appropriate than any of the other religion-based questions in this forum. I consider faith a part of life's philosophy, a set of guidelines and decisions by which people make decisions to live their lives. Just because I set forth my faith as a given doesn't make my argument irrelevant. Many philosophers including Descartes, Hume, discussed God and their beliefs in God. Could you clarify this point for me?

RJT · #8 10-05-2005, 12:42 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Until this forum’s name is either changed to add Religion to the Science, Math, Philosophy or the word Philosophy is dropped from it, I think it inappropriate to discuss (here) subjective issues such as yours. I’ll leave the hypocrisy to the atheists.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not too clear on why you think my topic is any less appropriate than any of the other religion-based questions in this forum. I consider faith a part of life's philosophy, a set of guidelines and decisions by which
people make decisions to live their lives. Just because I set forth my faith as a given doesn't make my argument irrelevant. Many philosophers including Descartes, Hume, discussed God and their beliefs in God. Could you clarify this point for me?

[/ QUOTE ]

I do indeed think it appropriate actually. But the politically correct folk who run the forum deemed (or forgot) to add religion to the title. Until they do, I decide not to give subjective opinions here. Philosophy is deemed intellectually honest here. When in reality it is merely a set of moral guidelines at best. Well, its use as exercise in logic is a good thing too.

Until the forum gives the status of religion that philosophy has or deletes the philosophy word from the forum’s title, I take a pass on giving subjective opinions.

Perhaps, I will give you a subjective opinion, maybe later or tomorrow. I am really only being self-righteous about some of the hypocrisy on the forum. It gets exasperating at times.

Good Idea · #9 10-06-2005, 11:04 PM

You seem to be hung up on the "Taking from the weak". I think that is flawed logic. If there were a few sheep minding their own business and a wolf came and took their money it would be a case of the strong taking from the weak. It would be a completely different matter if the sheep came to take the wolf's money and instead lost their own. You're not rolling bums on the streets. You're engaging in competition with others who are there voluntarily. I don't see the problem. And I don't think people are losing their homes because of you.

I have a question. Where in the bible does it say not to gamble?

Regards,
G.I.

#10 10-21-2005, 12:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I have a question. Where in the bible does it say not to gamble?

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Gambling is a sin. Here are some resources for you:

http://www.peapac.org/guide_98/98_sb_gambling.asp
http://www.biblestudyguide.org/bible...s/gambling.htm
http://www.rpc.org/morals/gambling.htm
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-acb/acb-g001.html

So, I guess the real question, then, is whether you care more about what God says, or playing poker. Easy choice for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't have to say 'thou shalt not gamble.' Just like it doesn't have to say 'thou shalt not jerk off to naked pics of Asia Carrera.'

Follow the spirit of the bible, not the word.

I think the above links pretty much put the nail in the coffin about gambling being a sin. Unless this is one of those convenient disagreements between Christians that allow them to rationlize behavior others look down on.