The problem with gambling is that the house never loses, and when they are losing, they can kick you out and call you a cheater. At the very least, there needs to be severe restrictions on what casinos can do to people who are winning, and rein them in so that they don't use their money, power, influence, and heavy-handed security, in ways that are grossly unfair to the consumer. The power is too much in the hands of the casino, and really needs to swing back towards the consumer, otherwise people get taken for a ride, literally and figuratively.
Which is why the optimal play is usually to bet it all on the first play. Then walk away, win or lose.
Nobody can claim with a straight face that the "Christian Right" movement in the US can be classified as wholesome love-thy-neighbour Christianity. Because from where I'm standing, it's far from it.
From my own experience of someone who practices regularly, there is a minority of people who really follow it. They show up to the daily Mass, perform Works of Mercy, do charitable work, etc. The truth is that Christianity demands _a lot_ from you, including saying no to greed, lust and gluttony.
How many people are willing to say no to an extra 200k so that someone less fortunate might benefit? Or open their homes to strangers, so that they may not freeze in the cold?
I think that one of the worst thing that has happened to our faith is its hijacking by the government for political gain (some lower Churches like Evangelicals are currently _heavily_ suffering due to this).
I'm a Catholic but when I speak to my Protestant friends, they feel the same about their communities. Luckily, we still have each other and Christ to help guide us.
There are much bigger fish to fry at the moment. Gambling does wreck families, though.
We do not have any fish to fry. We want to live free from opression from the ones that beieve they should turn others to the Truth.
Maybe think about it, see if there are some fish you could pick up.
Helping in these areas is what makes us human. If you need to invoque a deity to explain the action, good for you. The most important part is that help is provided.
Now, unexpected pregnancies is not the strong part of Christianity. When you start to promote teaching about sex and birth control we can talk.
About the sex ed., the clinic I volunteer at offers pregnancy related information, including pamphlets that explain pros and cons of things like the ‘day after’ pill. Of course the preferred option is always ensuring good parenting for the newborn child. Clients can take video classes on parenting skills to earn reward points good for diapers, baby food and clothing. It’s really a good program, provided free to the people who need it.
> About the sex ed., the clinic I volunteer at offers pregnancy related information, including pamphlets that explain pros and cons of things like the ‘day after’ pill. Of course the preferred option is always ensuring good parenting for the newborn child. Clients can take video classes on parenting skills to earn reward points good for diapers, baby food and clothing. It’s really a good program, provided free to the people who need it.
I volounteered for a long time at an organization that provided the same services. We provided information about abortion, pills, medical facts. Everything was on the table, from an abortion to raising your child.
Do your pamphlets address abortion as one of the solutions, making it at par with giving birth? I unfortunately know about "help centers" for pregnant women who were in fact driving them away from some solutions (mostly abortion). They were fortunately made illegal in France because everyone should have a neutral, unbiased access to information and help (including abortion).
For reference, Total Fertility Rate in France is 1.66 vs 1.60 in the US.
Teen pregnancy is four times lower in France - because we do serious sex ed and people have sex knowing what to expect.
What made you stop volunteering at the clinic?
... when in public view. Vanity and all this. Non-religious people are happy to keep their generosity to themselves.
> What made you stop volunteering at the clinic?
I started to travel the world. This was also a time where I experienced first hand how religion impacts people. So far in France we were shielded from that.
I’m glad to hear you’re getting to see the world. I hope your journeys are enjoyable.
No, the point is that they mostly do this publicly. The others do the same, but without the need for an audience to witness their gesture.
There are people who need help. They need food, clothing, counseling.
The people getting help don’t care about why somebody gives. They just need things and are glad when they get them.
The studies ( and they are many ) show that religious people give more.
You were trying to argue about why religious people give more, now you abruptly switch course to saying they don’t.
I will respond no more, it makes no sense to continue this discussion.
I provided you a meta research covering several thousand cases. Feel free to provide yours.
> You were trying to argue about why religious people give more, now you abruptly switch course to saying they don’t.
Absolutely not - my point was that everybody gives the same, no matter the religiosity (and the research says so). Religious people just make it public. Why this is the case is left to them and their conscience.
If you want to have an informed discussion, you must be ready to face the numbers. But science and logical thinking is exactly the opposite of religion so if you are blinded by it, well that's it.
I have had numerous discussions over the years about religion (including a well-known radio program). Whenever it came to facts, suddenly there was a lot of hand waving and trying to move the discussion elsewhere.
But you are right - we got to a final point. Happy Christmas and New Year (yes, I am happy Christmas is there even though the religious part is irrelevant -- I like the family traditions)
Also, I don't see why caring about the homeless prevents also fighting rampant gambling addictions?
There are limited resources. That’s why you see churches feeding the hungry and clothing the needy, but probably not fighting gambling so much. People are only able or willing to give so much.
Why make assertions that even a cursory search can disprove?
Women are still more of indirect ones - harmed more by having relationship with gambler and ending responsible for debt due to marriage.