赌博是“罪”吗

wanbet-bc518

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.p ... &subCategoryID=

Is gambling a sin?
Voters' faith may impact casino issue
Saturday, October 25, 2008
BY CHARITA M. GOSHAY

CANTON Next month, Ohioans will vote on Issue 6, a proposal that if approved, will open the door to gambling casinos in the state.

Be it bingo or blackjack, should people of faith be engaged in gambling? Is gambling a mere matter of economics...or ethics?

"That's a hard one," said the Rev. George Dunwoody, founding pastor of LIFE Ministries International Church. "People make their own decision on what they think is good, or not. But if it doesn't glorify God, it can only cause people to become lovers of money. I would say that it's not a good situation. We ought to do what the Bible says and 'bring all tithes into storehouse' and trust God to provide."

Americans spend an estimated $30 billion a year on gambling. More than 75 percent of all American adults have placed a bet in some form. More than 4 million people are considered "problem" gamblers who have higher suicide, divorce, and bankruptcy rates than casual players.

"(It's) neither," writes Dave Ramsey, a Christian finance expert and founder of Financial Peace University, a debt-reduction course offered to churches, and author of the best-sellers "More than Enough" and "Financial Peace."

"It's not legit, and parts of it are evil," he said. "It has no positive effect except for the profit that the companies make. The whole operation is not intrinsically evil, it's just driven by greed. The big money that's made there is the housewife that runs down to a casino on the weekend and comes back $400 lighter. If you think that losing money is entertaining, you need to look at that. Why not give away money instead of losing it?"

JUST BUSINESS

Jim Sinay is not a gambling man, but for 30 years, he made his living from those who do. The Plain Township man worked in the Las Vegas gaming industry until his retirement in 1999. Tall and gregarious, it's easy to see why Sinay, who worked as a dealer, pit boss, and floor supervisor, met with success in Las Vegas.

Sinay admits that he's leery of Lyle Berman, the Las Vegas millionaire who's leading the charge on Issue 6, so he may not even vote for it, but he isn't opposed to gambling in principle.

"My feeling is, a casino would be great anywhere, provided that 80 percent of the people they hire live in the area," he said, adding that maintaining the integrity of a casino's gaming system is paramount.

Sinay noted that when he lived in Las Vegas, it had more churches per capita than any city in the U.S. Crime increased in the later years, he said, due to drugs and gangs, not gambling.

"In the '50s and '60s, up to the '80s, the 'boys' controlled the town," he said. "You had some crime, but they kept a clamp on the high-profile stuff. The only bad element of people came in from out-of-town; people from Florida, Chicago, Detroit and Atlantic City who were looking for an easy way out. ... More people in Las Vegas are addicted to drugs and booze than gambling."

A devout Catholic, Sinay is skeptical about the objections to gambling voiced by some religions.

"They're saying that because they're afraid of losing customers," he said bluntly. "My mother liked to play church bingo."

A number of Catholic and some Orthodox churches embrace bingo and "Monte Carlo Nights" as a way to raise funds.

SOCIAL COSTS?

In response to Issue 6, lay members from the East and West Ohio Conferences of the United Methodist Church have organized an Anti-Gambling Task Force. A "pastoral letter" signed by Bishops John L. Hopkins and Bruce R. Ough states in part:

"Gambling is addictive. Gambling thrives on tricking people into believing that they can get something for nothing. This is not a Midwestern sensibility. Gambling is far more than recreation; it is far more than a moral issue; it is far more than an escape from responsible daily living. Gambling is bad economics and irresponsible government."

A report commissioned by the task force claims that the estimated revenues promised by the initiative are grossly exaggerated, due in part to an overall decline in gambling; that the social costs will outweigh any benefits; and that it actually could result in job losses because local businesses can't compete with casinos.

"I think it depends on the individual and the particular situation," said the Rev. David Cleaver-Bartholomew, the associate minister for the Eastern Ohio Association for the United Churches of Christ. "Gambling is a complex, multi-faceted issue which defies an easy, simple response. For example, there is a great deal of difference between me throwing 25 cents into a slot machine on the spur of the moment with no attachment to winning or to the 25 cents, and me spending our mortgage/rent money in a slot machine or at a card table with a great emotional and financial investment in the outcome. Or is my gambling sporadically for fun liable to lead into a habitual, uncontrollable activity?"

Because of its autonomous structure, the UCC does not hold an official position on gambling. However the denomination's Justice and Witness Ministries offers research to churches and members to help them make informed decision on the issue.

"I think gambling is something that should not be entered into unreflectively or unadvisedly, but rather should be seriously and thoughtfully considered," Clever-Bartholomew added. "When it comes to casinos, I think all the pros and cons should be weighed, including but not limited to: The complete/total/overall economic and social costs and benefits, as well as the impact on the particular community and its cultural values and traditions. Another question which needs to be addressed is: How will this affect the poor and the disenfranchised, the 'least of these' in our society? Is God's economic and social justice promoted by this?

"Since Jesus was on the side of, in solidarity with, and advocated for the poor, the disenfranchised, the powerless, the voiceless, the 'least' in his society, and advocated for God's justice and righteousness and worked for the bringing in the kingdom of God, as a disciple of Jesus, I believe that I should approach this question from this 'Jesus' perspective. In other words, given what I understand about Jesus and his ministry, how do I think Jesus would respond to Issue 6?"

WRONG WAY

The Rev. Randy Newcomer, senior pastor at Central Baptist Church in Perry Township, views gambling as a lose-lose proposition for any community, and that it goes against biblical principles for acquiring wealth.

"We're against having legalized gambling around us," he said. "It's pretty much a waste of money. Generally, the poor get poorer. People spend money they don't have, hoping for a get- rich-quick scheme."

Newcomer said his church doesn't rely on raffles or bingo to raise money.

"We believe in God's principle of supporting his church through the faithful giving of his people," he said. "There are biblical principles on how to use and make money."

While acknowledging that people gamble willingly, Newcomer almost likens gambling to stealing, saying, "You're making money from someone's else's loss."

God's provisions for making money, Newcomer said, include hard work, inheritance and benevolence.

"Gambling," he said, "Is the wrong way to go."

Thirty-seven states, including Ohio, have lotteries. Under Gov. Ted Strickland, the Ohio Lottery has expanded, through more instant games and Keno in bars and restaurants. In 2007, the state reported gross sales of $2.26 billion, with a prize payout of $1.35 billion.

Ohio also permits betting on horse racing at eight tracks.

Sinay said he opposes lotteries because, unlike poker, roulette or blackjack, which all require skill, lottery players have virtually no chance of winning.

Sinay said he does not view gambling as a "sin," provided it doesn't adversely affect one's life and family. He said that in 30-year career, he encountered about four problem gamblers.

"Define 'sin,' " he said. "Sin is doing something against God's nature. Anybody who has money, who wants to make a bet, should be able to. If you don't like casinos, don't go there."