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Religions: Perceptions on Gambling
Religion is one of the core institutions in a country. It is also considered influential because it always states its position in different social institutions such as the legalization of gambling establishments in the different regions of the world. The legalization of casinos in various nations caused several religious institutions to create public debates and gain support from people to oppose such legislation.
Despite the criticisms raised by religious groups on the legality of gambling, many social experts believe that these two elements have similarities. There are researches conducted which proved that gamblers have faith a superior being will allow them to increase their winnings in any gambling event where they participated.
Another similarity between gamblers and believers is their perception towards gambling establishments and churches. As soon as gamblers enter casinos, they have high hopes that these establishments may offer them opportunities to improve their financial state. On the other hand, the regular attendance of believers in masses and church services is believed to be a manifestation of hopes of believers that their service to their gods will be rewarded. This reward may come in the form of material things
Islam is one of the most popular religions in the world. According to social analysts who conducted studies about the doctrines and practices of Islam believers, Islam does not approve the support of its followers for any form of gambling. One of the teachings of Islam is that gamblers should be condemned because they believed that gambling is a form of sin. This belief is supported by the sections in Koran which mentioned that placing bets in any event is a sin.
There are also researches published in different journals which found that animistic religions do not have teachings that criticize the legalization of gambling in indigenous communities. In addition, the studies showed that the support of Confucianism and Taoism for modifications in religious practices manifest their approval of legalized gambling.
Just like the Islam, the early followers of the Roman Catholic Church showed their opposition to gambling, whether legalized or not. However, this particular belief was changed when the Reformation of Catholic Churches happened. After this historical event, Catholic believers learned to assess the issues related to gambling before stating their judgment. At the present time, their main argument against legalized gambling lies on the knowledge that excessive gambling can yield negative social consequences.
These religions may have different views on gambling, but what is important is their concern for the welfare of their members. It is heart-warming to know that these religious institutions, whether they support or oppose legalized gambling, only hope that their followers do not experience problems associated with excessive gambling.
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