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Do Baptists play cards?

Discussion in 'Travel Forum' started by WisdomHunter, Jun 4, 2001.

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  1. WisdomHunter

    WisdomHunter New Member

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    The movie question brings up another. I have often heard that Baptists aren't supposed to play cards. Is this merely a reference to gambling only or does it exclude all cards and card games? Also, what is the scriptural backing on this topic?
     
    #1 WisdomHunter, Jun 4, 2001
  2. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Gambling of any sort (based on coveting that for which you have not worked) is not condoned in the Bible. Until recent times, 99% of "cards" dealt with the 52-deck used in gambling (gaming). Hence, "cards" (by association) are guilty.

    Faulty logic, but logic nonetheless. Problem is you can gamble with dice, but dice are not "evil" (although I heard a sermon on Yatzee once).

    And you can play cards without gambling.

    Biggest falacy comes from not understanding the origin of our modern playing cards. Some have linked them to tarot or fortune telling, but certainly these use a different set of cards completely.

    Playing cards originated in Judaism as picture lessons for telling the story of Esther!<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>King = Xexerxes<LI>Queen = Hadassah (Esther)<LI>Knave (Jack) = Haman<LI>#1-10 = Ten Sons of Haman<LI>Joker = Mordecai[/list]Just as we use "Flash Cards" to tell Bible stories in Children's Church, Jews for hundreds of years have used the playing cards. And it's not surprising that many "games" then developed around the cards - the four "suits" came into vogue in the Middle Ages.

    BTW, I still don't play cards either, for I was raised to be a Pharisee and I didn't even know it!

    [ June 05, 2001: Message edited by: Dr. Bob Griffin ]
     
    #2 Dr. Bob, Jun 5, 2001
  3. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Dr. Bob,

    That is sooo cool. I never knew that. May I ask where you learned that...I would be interested in studying it some more. Is that something from Ancient Old Testament Judaism (does the 52 card deck really go that far back), or is it from modern day times?

    Joseph
     
    #3 Joseph_Botwinick, Jun 5, 2001
  4. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    I personally enjoy Hearts--especially "Dirty Hearts," which they haven't converted into a computer game yet.

    (in Dirty Hearts, the Queen of Hearts is worth 10 points)
     
    #4 Don, Jun 5, 2001
  5. BWSmith

    BWSmith New Member

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    For more information on the history of playing cards, check out the following site:

    Playing-Card FAQ
     
    #5 BWSmith, Jun 5, 2001
  6. WisdomHunter

    WisdomHunter New Member

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    Dr. Bob,

    I agree with Joseph. I have never heard that before and it is quite interesting. Thank you.
     
    #6 WisdomHunter, Jun 5, 2001
  7. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    YAHTZEE???????
    Now thats a stretch, isn't it?
    Wonder what scripture thay used on that one.
     
    #7 donnA, Jun 5, 2001
  8. baylor52279

    baylor52279 New Member

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    Dr. Bob,

    With your logic, then someone who takes inheretence money is also a sinner, correct?
     
    #8 baylor52279, Jun 5, 2001
  9. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    I play cards, and I am a Baptist. And I am a Christian.
     
    #9 SaggyWoman, Jun 5, 2001
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Answers:
    (1) I grew up in a nominally Jewish home and neighborhood, so learned many of the things I share as a matter of course in shabbat talmud-torah school. Many books on Jewish holidays will have this information on cards (under Purim - the feast of Hadassah or Esther)

    (2) Many ifb colleges in the 50's-70's banned ANY card games (this was pre-Uno). At my school, we could not even play monopoly because if you were holding the "deeds", someone walking by the dating lounge - on the second floor - might think you were playing cards.

    And we had to use a spinner, not dice. Yes, Yatzee was a sermon subject in Chapel and I still have trouble when I play craps at the casino. (I'm joking) [​IMG]

    (3) An inheritance is earned money. A father lays up for his children and children to support their father. This is Biblical, not risk-taking and plying money unearned by your family from others who did earn it.

    Now, I only wish my IRA investments were not in that risk-taking category with all the mess the Market has been in the last 16 months. ;)
     
    #10 Dr. Bob, Jun 6, 2001
  11. baylor52279

    baylor52279 New Member

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    Dr. B--

    Long time listener, first time caller.

    Ok, so you say inherited money is earned, via the 23 chromosomes from either mom or pop. (b/c a family member who earns the money is an exception or at least acceptable.)

    However, the following issues (and corrct me on any of these if I am mistaken or assumed too quickly) ARE acceptable:

    1) Playing the stock market. Seems to me that it is the same as gambling. You have the potential to lose all of your money, the sole interest is to covet a profit, and it is not earned in the sense that you are not working for it.

    2) Taking out a loan. You also have not earned that money as of yet, and are coveting that which you do not have. I can certainly whip out a verse on taking out loans, i'm sure you are aware of it! Explain that if the bible does not condone it, then how is it ok (if it is ok). I know many churches (yes, even baptist, yes and even my parents' fundy baptist church, who take out loans to build)
    BTW- my father is a loan officer.

    3) Credit cards. Once again, spending money that you do not have.

    Thanks--

    sic'em 01

    ...once again, please excuse any grammatical errors. I just skim over a message after i type it.
     
    #11 baylor52279, Jun 6, 2001
  12. Will

    Will New Member

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    baylor52279,

    Investing in the stock market is not at all like gambling. It's the mechanicism that drives our economic structural growth as a nation. Companies use this influx of capital to expand and grow. Also, gambling is a zero sum game. Someone always wins, someone always loses. The stock market is not. It can keep growing and expanding. The only thing similar in investing to gambling are futures (you know the thing Hillary did with Tyson chicken executives to turn $5000 into $100,000 in one day.) It's a zero sum game, someone always wins, someone always loses.

    It's true if you invest in a poorly run company or shrinking market you can lose money, that's why it's best to do your research beforehand.

    Seriously, you ask on another thread whether science teaching was adequate in people's school experiences. I would ask you if you feel that your business education has been adequate (i.e. do you feel that you have a proper education on basic marketplace economics?)

    Also, please provide the verses that say credit cards and loans of any kind are wrong.
     
    #12 Will, Jun 6, 2001
  13. ROBERTGUWAPO

    ROBERTGUWAPO Member

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    But is it gambling when you are employing a blackjack system that gives you an edge over the casino? I'm sure you've heard of "card counters" being banned from playing in Las Vegas because they employ complex mathematical systems that give them an edge.
    Is it still gambling when you have the edge???
     
    #13 ROBERTGUWAPO, Jun 6, 2001
  14. Contender

    Contender New Member

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    Never hear Dr. Bob's interpretation. What I heard was that the King was Satan and the Joker was Jesus; and the numbers 1-10 had something blasphemous about the 10 Commandments. Let alone the association with gambling and worldliness, that analogy alone should be revolting enough to make any true Christian not want to participate. As a child I grew up learning cards, card tricks, and family gatherings of gambling, a smoke filled room and drunkenness. Anyone can justify what he does.
     
    #14 Contender, Jul 9, 2001
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