by minimus 20 Replies latest jw friends
I never did! I thought it was in the long run, dumb to do, but I never felt a person should be expelled from the congregation for "greediness" just because a person buys lottery tickets or raffles.
(By the way, I enjoy moderate gambling. Keno is a favorite pastime).
Personally I viewed it as a waste of $$$. I didn't really think much about whether it was a "sin" to the JW's, since it wasn't that prevalent among the JW's I knew.
But I can see why the WTS would outlaw it. First they'd rather have people put their spare change into the Kingdom Hall contribution box rather than spending it on lottery tickets at the stop-and-shop. Secondly, if one of the JW's would happen to win millions, they'd be "materialistic" and might have fun with the money rather than spending more time in the field misery.
I think, like drinking, it's ok when done in moderation. I do think it's something people can get themselves into a lot of trouble over. You can lose far more than money. There are people who should just avoid it altogether. But I don't think it's a sin to buy a lottery ticket or to blow a couple hundred dollars in a casino.
I don't personally gamble, but I have seen a lot of people become very addicted to it...There are a few I've been told that
spend the day at the local lounges/pubs here and sit and play on the VLT's all day....A lot of wasted money that could
have paid for groceries...some spend their whole pay check. We seem to have a lot of Casino's popping up here, with gambling brings
crime...not looking forward to its completion nor are the local police.
h4o
I worked for a coach company that did daily trips to the three casinos in the Province. I loved my job, loved the people I talked to, our regular customers etc, but always had it in the back of my mind that I probably shouldn't be doing this job because of the gambling issue. There was only one customer we had that was finally not allowed in the Casino's anymore because of his bad gambling habits/addiction (the Casinos regularly watch out for people like this). Most of our regulars were seniors, it was an affordable outing for them, they had only a certain amount of money they'd spend after it was gone, it was gone, no more gambling. Some of the incentives they got were either free tokens or a free meal for coming on the coach, so it was a social thing, plus we had tour guides that provided games, movies etc on the drive. All in all, a very affordable, fun way to spend a day.
BB
As a JW I had no issue with not being able to gamble. I think it can cause a lot of problems in society and in general we are better not doing it. That said I do the lottery now which I enjoy and consider harmless.
Yeah. I believe that we rationalize what is sin and what isn't based on our desire's(ie how much we like that activity.)
I remember when I was a dub I had no problem going to nudie bars. I remember one time my brother (never a dub but raised in) a friend of his and I all went over to canada for the 'ballet'. I had a ball. After we left the 'ballet' my brother says 'the night is young and I feel lucky, lets hit the casino'. This is where my dub sensabilities kicked in. I'm like ohh no I cant go to a casino?!? Sad.
Now I feel I have a more rounded view of such things(meaning I feel free to go to the ballet and gamble.)
As a dub i thought it was a sin, I thougth thats what the society taught.
Until the day I heard a group of bros (elders among them) talk about gambling on vacation.
I stood there stunned as bro after bro talked about stopping at a casino playing slots etc. as if there was nothing wrong with it at all.
It was wierd.
I never thought of it as a "sin" unless a person allowed it to become too big a part of their life. If a kid misses out on a decent meal because dad spent too much money on the lottery, then it's a big problem. That can be applied to anything, not just gambling. People need to have a sense of priorities. I'm thinking of the bitch I bought my house from. She could afford to drive to work downtown every day even though the subway is steps away from the house, pay for parking, have high speed internet, have cable TV in every room of the house, but she wouldn't pay her water bills - which the city is now adding to my property taxes.
W
..Lots of Dubs secretly gamble....."What happens in Las Vegas,Stays in Las Vegas".....Even more so,if your a JW..LOL!!....................
...OUTLAW
