Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Much I have read in this forum, written by religious people, reminds me of people I have met while gambling...
I will admit to being a gambler. One who very much enjoys craps and black jack in particular. Not a problem gambler, because I always only allot about $300 for a night of gambling enjoyment and if/when that's gone, I stop. Last two times at the tables I won, however. That's most certainly my preferred outcome.
Not what this thread is about though. What I read from religious people in this forum reminds me of the many people I have met gambling who strongly believe their little gambling rituals actually help them win money and/or keep them from losing. I've played black jack with these people who don't really know how to play according to the odds. Instead they play with some sort of "sense" about what to bet. Completely against the odds, but because they can and do sometimes win, they continue believing they can somehow know better, sense better and beat the odds. These people can be frustrating because they often can cause others around them to lose money. There's no talking to these people either. They believe what they believe no matter the odds to the contrary. Almost like they don't want to know better!
At the craps table also for example. People will blow some sort of wish onto the dice before they roll. Pick up the dice before rolling in a very specific way they also believe will help them roll a good number. Others place bets based on some sort of weird notion "it's time" to do so. The worst bets according to the odds, but still, they "have faith" their system or belief works. In particular they hang on to those times when winning supports their beliefs despite the odds. Conveniently forgetting the losses.
Is it just me or is this dynamic not very similar to how people describe their belief in how God operates?
In the gambling world, you know the results right away.
In the gamble of life, no one knows who won and who lost, not even you, the expert and calculated gambler, simply because no one has returned back after death and told us who were the winners?
In the gamble of life, we can only try our best, till our destiny is revealed to us.
Much I have read in this forum, written by religious people, reminds me of people I have met while gambling...I will admit to being a gambler. One who very much enjoys craps and black jack in particular. Not a problem gambler, because I always only allot about $300 for a night of gambling enjoyment and if/when that's gone, I stop. Last two times at the tables I won, however. That's most certainly my preferred outcome.Not what this thread is about though. What I read from religious people in this forum reminds me of the many people I have met gambling who strongly believe their little gambling rituals actually help them win money and/or keep them from losing. I've played black jack with these people who don't really know how to play according to the odds. Instead they play with some sort of "sense" about what to bet. Completely against the odds, but because they can and do sometimes win, they continue believing they can somehow know better, sense better and beat the odds. These people can be frustrating because they often can cause others around them to lose money. There's no talking to these people either. They believe what they believe no matter the odds to the contrary. Almost like they don't want to know better! At the craps table also for example. People will blow some sort of wish onto the dice before they roll. Pick up the dice before rolling in a very specific way they also believe will help them roll a good number. Others place bets based on some sort of weird notion "it's time" to do so. The worst bets according to the odds, but still, they "have faith" their system or belief works. In particular they hang on to those times when winning supports their beliefs despite the odds. Conveniently forgetting the losses.Is it just me or is this dynamic not very similar to how people describe their belief in how God operates?
so then the post above is written by a gambler (his words, see bold above)
who is describing his own system, which he has faith in.
in words of the post above in bold he "has faith his system or belief works." he admits to regularly losing $300 a night. his system is to lose $300 a night and then stop. he notes two times where he won. he describes his belief in his gambling system.
also in the words of the post above, he believes what he believes no matter.
a gambler with faith in his own system of gambling.
i don't see that this has anything to do with religion and spirituality. a path of religion and spirituality is not gambling nor is it a game of playing the odds. the post seems to be admonishing others, for something he himself also actively does. what he describes is what he himself is also doing.
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 03-12-2022 at 10:15 PM..
so then the post above is written by a gambler (his words, see bold above)
who is describing his own system, which he has faith in.
in words of the post above in bold he "has faith his system or belief works." he admits to regularly losing $300 a night. his system is to lose $300 a night and then stop gambling. he notes two times where he won. he describes his belief in his gambling system.
also in the words of the post above, he believes what he believes no matter.
a gambler with faith in his own system of gambling.
i don't see that this has anything to do with religion and spirituality. a path of religion and spirituality is not gambling nor is it a game of playing the odds.
If we walked into any gambling casino in the United States and approached each person and asked "Are you a christian?", my prediction is that about the same percent of people in the overall society who are christians and the percent of our sample who said yes would be about the same.
Much I have read in this forum, written by religious people, reminds me of people I have met while gambling...
I will admit to being a gambler. One who very much enjoys craps and black jack in particular. Not a problem gambler, because I always only allot about $300 for a night of gambling enjoyment and if/when that's gone, I stop. Last two times at the tables I won, however. That's most certainly my preferred outcome.
Not what this thread is about though. What I read from religious people in this forum reminds me of the many people I have met gambling who strongly believe their little gambling rituals actually help them win money and/or keep them from losing. I've played black jack with these people who don't really know how to play according to the odds. Instead they play with some sort of "sense" about what to bet. Completely against the odds, but because they can and do sometimes win, they continue believing they can somehow know better, sense better and beat the odds. These people can be frustrating because they often can cause others around them to lose money. There's no talking to these people either. They believe what they believe no matter the odds to the contrary. Almost like they don't want to know better!
At the craps table also for example. People will blow some sort of wish onto the dice before they roll. Pick up the dice before rolling in a very specific way they also believe will help them roll a good number. Others place bets based on some sort of weird notion "it's time" to do so. The worst bets according to the odds, but still, they "have faith" their system or belief works. In particular they hang on to those times when winning supports their beliefs despite the odds. Conveniently forgetting the losses.
Is it just me or is this dynamic not very similar to how people describe their belief in how God operates?
How are they causing you to lose money by not "playing the right odds" or not using the correct strategy? Do you mean like when they take a hit in blackjack with an inappropriate card because that card should have gone to you to beat the dealer? That's where luck comes in, maybe you should bring a lucky horseshoe with you and pray you aren't stuck at a blackjack table with a player taking your winning card because they didn't play the odds.
Nothing wrong with gambling in moderation. I know quite a few people that gamble. They only take so much with them and then they quit. Sometimes they take home much more than they brought. The people that gamble more than they can afford to lose are a minority, just like the number of drunks of all the people that drink.
Good points.
I don’t mind a punt here and there, but it’s never been a problem for me.
I’ll put $5 in a poker machine, but happy to walk away once it’s game over.
Dunno where it says in the Bible you can’t gamble, or it’s a sin.
so then the post above is written by a gambler (his words, see bold above)
who is describing his own system, which he has faith in.
in words of the post above in bold he "has faith his system or belief works." he admits to regularly losing $300 a night. his system is to lose $300 a night and then stop. he notes two times where he won. he describes his belief in his gambling system.
also in the words of the post above, he believes what he believes no matter.
a gambler with faith in his own system of gambling.
i don't see that this has anything to do with religion and spirituality. a path of religion and spirituality is not gambling nor is it a game of playing the odds. the post seems to be admonishing others, for something he himself also actively does. what he describes is what he himself is also doing.
Selectively highlighting words in his post, you have managed to twist what he said into something entirely different. For example, he didn't say "he" believes what he believes no matter. He was obviously talking about some other gambler. Why not just take what he says at face value and believe what it says?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
