Bible Bahasa Melayu: Di Antara Kepimpinan dan Ketuanan

Khalid Samad

Saya mengikuti isu ini dengan penuh kehairanan. Alasan-alasan yang diberi hanya menunjukkan betapa Pemimpin UMNO begitu keliru dan tidak memahami Islam. Apa yang lebih memburukkan ialah dalam kekeliruan ini mereka turut mengelirukan masyarakat Melayu melalui sikap-sikap mereka yang ekstrim dan songsang. Mari kita kaji alasan-alasan ini satu per satu dan memikirkan bersama sejauhmana ianya munasabah.

Alasan Pertama – Penggunaan Kalimah Allah

Sepertimana yang sering saya jelaskan sebelum ini, tidaklah menjadi satu kesalahan bagi orang bukan Islam menggunakan kalimah Allah untuk merujuk kepada Tuhan pencipta dan pemilik alam. Hakikat ini terbukti berdasarkan begitu banyak ayat-ayat Al-Quran dan juga Hadith-hadith Rasulullah (SAW).

Alasan Kedua – Haramnya Ungkapan 'Al-Masih (Isa) Anak Allah'

Ini merupakan alasan yang lagi dangkal! Dari kecil lagi kita semua sudah difahamkan bahawa kepercayaan orang-orang Nasrani adalah Nabi Isa (AS) merupakan anak Tuhan. Dan oleh kerana Allah adalah Tuhan maka ini bermaksud bahawa Nasrani menganggap Isa adalah anak Allah. Itu adalah kepercayaan mereka dan memanglah sebagai orang Islam kita tidak bersetuju. Tetapi kita tidak boleh melarang orang Kristian atau Nasrani berkepercayaan sebegitu. Itulah yang dikatakan kebebasan beragama.

Ianya bertambah pelik apabila kita tahu bahawa di dalam Al-Quran sendiri kepercayaan ini disebut Allah supaya ummat Islam faham apa yang membezakan kepercayaan Nasrani dengan kepercayaan orang Islam. Malahan, lebih dari itu, Al-Quran juga menyentuh kepercayaan-kepercayaan lain orang Nasrani dan Yahudi berhubung Allah. Saya senaraikan tiga contoh disini untuk rujukan pembaca.

“Berkata orang Yahudi, “Uzair anak Allah” dan berkata orang Nasara “Al-Masiih anak Allah”…..
(Surah At-Taubah ayat 30)

“Telah menjadi kafir mereka yang berkata “Sesungguhnya Allah adalah Al-Masih anak Maryam”..
(Surah Al-Maaidah ayat 72)

“Telah menjadi kafir mereka yang berkata “Sesungguhnya Allah adalah yang ketiga dari tiga”….
(Surah Al-Maaidah ayat 73)

Ayat-ayat di atas menunjukkan kalimah Allah digunakan oleh orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani dan bahawa kepercayaan mereka itu yang ditolak Allah, telah wujud sebelum zaman datangnya Rasulullah (SAW).

Maknanya kita membantah orang Nasrani menyebut sesuatu yang Allah sendiri nyatakan dalam Al-Quran sebagai fahaman dan kepercayaan orang Nasrani. Sekiranya kita ingin ungkapan itu diharamkan, silap-silap ianya akan melibatkan ayat Al-Quran yang turut menggunakan ungkapan yang sama!

Lagipun, dengan dinyatakan sebegitu oleh masyarakat Nasrani, ia sebenarnya mengesahkan apa yang dinyatakan dalam Al-Quran berhubung kepercayaan mereka itu.

Alasan Ketiga – Ianya akan Menyebabkan Orang Melayu Ramai Murtad

Ini bagi saya satu penghinaan terhadap ummat Islam. Inilah yang sedang digambarkan oleh UMNO. Saya pernah menyebut di dalam satu majlis bahawa UMNO menganggap keimanan ummat Islam adalah senipis kulit bawang!

Mereka membuat andaian ini, mungkin, kerana mereka merujuk kepada diri mereka sendiri! Andaian bahawa orang Islam akan berduyun-duyun memeluk agama Nasrani apabila Bible Bahasa Melayu wujud merupakan satu andaian yang tidak berasas. Lebih-lebih lagi apabila diambil kira bahawa Bible tersebut adalah untuk kegunaan orang Nasrani dan bukan untuk edaran dikalangan orang Islam.

Tanggapan begini mungkin juga disebabkan kesedaran UMNO bahawa mereka telah berusaha dan agak berjaya menjadikan ummat Islam jahil agama. Ummat Islam tidak mengenali dan memahami Islam dengan sebaik mungkin, hasil dasar sekular UMNO BN selama 54 tahun, maka dirasakan ummat Islam akan mudah terkeliru. Kekhuatiran UMNO adalah bukti bahawa UMNO sendiri menyedari pengkhianatan yang mereka lakukan terhadap ummat Islam dengan menjadikan ummat Islam lemah kefahaman agaman mereka sendiri. Yang kerap diajar para ustadz UMNO adalah bab Taharah, Solat, Saum, Zakat dan Haji. Diselang selikan dengan bab Haid dan Nifas serta mandi Junub. Bagi mereka itulah Islam.

Sekiranya kukuh kefahaman ummat Islam berhubung Aqeedah Islam dan kebenaran Tauhid, disebut Al-Masiih anak Allah dalam apa bahasa dan berapa ribu kali sekalipun, ianya akan hanya menambahkan keyakinan ummat Islam akan kebenaran Islam.

Dengan menggambarkan keimanan ummat Islam senipis kulit bawang, UMNO telah menghina ummat Islam dan Islam itu sendiri. Mereka menggambarkan Aqeedah Islam rapuh, tidak mampu dipertahankan dan mudah dimusnahkan oleh agama lain. UMNO seolah-olah menggambarkan bila nampak kuil, ummat Islam akan jadi Hindu, kalau nampak Gereja, ummat islam akan menjadi Kristian! Demi mempertahankan Aqeedah Islam, tiada pilihan selain terpaksa menyekat dan melarang kebebasan beragama ummat lain!

Sebenarnya di negeri-negeri seperti Sabah dan Sarawak, di mana Bible berbahasa Melayu telah lama wujud, kita tidak melihat perkara yang seperti yang diramalkan berlaku. Malahan jumlah ummat Islam di kedua-dua Negeri ini semakin bertambah.

Apa Sebenarnya yang Dihajati?

Oleh itu, apakah sebenarnya yang dihajati UMNO. Sebenarnya mereka ingin memberikan gambaran kepara rakyat bahawa merekalah yang memperjuangkan dan membela Islam. Bukan dengan menghayati Islam, mengamalakannya dan membenarkannya mencorakkan perwatakan dan keperibadian mereka, tetapi dengan menunjukkan kesamsengan atas alasan mempertahankan Islam. Larang orang bukan Islam dari melakukan ini dan itu sebagai bukti orang Melayu bawah UMNO ada kuasa, walaupun yang dibuatnya dilarang oleh Islam sekeras-kerasnya. Mereka ingin menunjuk Melayu berkuasa dan meraka adalah tuan di bumi ini!

Ini bagi saya adalah di antara seruan zaman Jahiliyyah.

Itulah yang dibezakan Tuan Guru Ustad Haji Abdul Hadi Awang dalam ucapan membahas titah di raja di Parlimen baru-baru ini. TG Ustad A.Hadi menyebut, UMNO memperjuangkan ‘ketuanan’, PAS memperjuangkan ‘kepimpinan’.

Bila ‘tuan’ maknanya kehendaknya dipaksa atas masyarakat dan walaupun sesuatu tindakan itu buruk, ianya terus dilakukan kerana dia berkuasa, dia tuan. Perjuangan ‘tuan’ ini perjuangan yang berasaskan nafsu dan biasa dikalangan manusia yang tidak mempunyai akal yang waras apatah lagi petunjuk.

‘Kepimpinan’ sebaliknya adalah diperolehi atas sebab dia yang terbaik; menjadi ikutan kerana keadilannya dan kebenarannya. PAS memperjuangkan kepimpinan Islam, berusaha menzahirkan kelebihan dan kebenaran Islam sehingga manusia melihatnya dan meyakini mereka akan selamat di bawah naungannya, samada mereka Muslim atau bukan Muslim.

Sememangnya, inilah yang membezakan kami.

Bible Bahasa Melayu (Indonesia) Dikembalikan

Akhirnya, selepas kecoh berbulan-bulan lamanya, Bible Bahasa Melayu diserahkan kembali kepada masyarakat Kristian.

Saya yakin ianya adalah atas sebab Pilihanraya Negeri Sarawak sudah menjelang tiba. Dari segi sikap UMNO, ianya tetap tidak berubah. UMNO masih tidak faham dan tetap menganggap ‘ketuanan’ adalah apa yang perlu diperjuangkan. Ummat Islam kekal dikelirukan dan diapi-apikan dan dikatakan pula bible berkenaan telah dirosakkan oleh mereka yang menyimpannya setelah ianya disitar. Inilah akibat semangat samseng yang dihasilkan ‘ketuanan’. Mereka tidak ingin ‘kepimpinan’ iaitu membuktikan dan menzahirkan keadilan Islam, mereka tidak sedar pun bahawa Islam menuntut mereka bersikap adil. Oleh itu mereka tidak sama sekali mengambil peduli sekiranya tindakan mereka merosakkan imej Islam dan menjadikannya kelihatan zalim dan tidak mampu berdaya-saing.

Adalah diharap ummat Islam akan keluar dari kejahilan mereka terhadap ajaran agama Islam itu sendiri dan memahami, tugas kita sebagai ummat Islam adalah untuk mendapatkan ‘kepimpinan’, bukan ‘ketuanan’.

http://www.harakahdaily.net/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31529:bible-bahasa-melayu-di-antara-kepimpinan-dan-ketuanan-&catid=96:fokus-khas&Itemid=134

Alkitab: K'jaan berlembut soal cop, nombor siri

Alkitab: K'jaan berlembut soal cop, nombor siri

Mac 22, 11 7:39pm

Kerajaan persekutuan bersetuju syarat meletakkan nombor siri dan mencop mohor kementerian dalam negeri pada semua alkitab Injil berbahasa Melayu tidak lagi akan dikuatkuasakan kata, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

Sebaliknya kerajaan hanya mensyaratkan perkataan 'Untuk Agama Kristian' dicetak dengan huruf Arial, bersaiz 16 dengan jelas. Sebarang perkataan lain tidak lagi dibenarkan untuk dicop dalam Injil.

Cadangan itu dikemukakan kepada perwakilan Persekutuan Kristian Malaysia (CFM), Konsul Gereja-Gereja Malaysia (CCM), kumpulan Kristian yang berkaitan bersama penasihat undang-undang masing-masing pada mesyuarat 18 Mac.

Hadir sama pada mesyuarat itu adalah Idris dan peguam negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

Berikut kenyataan penuhnya:

Kerajaan Malaysia ingin mengulangi kenyataan yang dikeluarkan sejak Mac 15 lalu, bahawa Kerajaan telah memberi arahan untuk mengeluarkan semua Kitab Injil yang diterjemahkan dalam Bahasa Malaysia di Pelabuhan Klang dan Kuching.

Namun demikian, sehingga kini, kumpulan penganut agama Kristian yang mengimpot Kitab
Injil masih belum lagi mengutip buku-buku Kitab tersebut oleh kerana mereka tidak bersetuju dengan meletakkan cop atau nombor siri pada Kitab yang dikeluarkan.

Menurut Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, Menteri Dalam Negeri, tindakan untuk meletakkan cop atau nombor siri adalah menurut piawaian; contohnya Kitab Al-Quran yang diimpot ke dalam negara juga disemak sebagai salinan yang dibenarkan dan telah diletakkan cop serta nombor siri sebelum diedarkan. Kitab Al-Quran yang tidak dibenarkan pengeluarannya akan disita dan dimusnahkan.

Maka, tindakan untuk meletakkan cop atau nombor siri untuk Kitab Injil dalam Bahasa Malaysia mahupun Kitab Al-Quran tidak sepatutnya dilihat sebagai penghinaan ke atas kesucian Kitab tersebut. Disertakan adalah salinan cop atau nombor siri yang telah dicetak pada Kitab Al-Quran.

Sebuah jawatankuasa khas Kabinet telah ditubuhkan berasaskan perkara ini, ianya diketuai oleh Perdana Menteri, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Menteri Dalam Negeri, Menteri Perpaduan, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Bahagian Undang-Undang dan Hal-Ehwal Parlimen), Menteri Hal-Ehwal Agama dan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri / Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PEMANDU yang telah berbincang pada Mac 17, 2011 tentang isu-isu yang ditangani demi mencari jalan penyelesaian.

Jalan penyelesaian mesti memanfaatkan kedua-dua belah pihak dalam menangani perbezaan
pendapat antara penganut agama Kristian dan Islam, terutamanya dalam konteks undang-undang yang berkaitan di negara ini.

Lantaran itu, pada Mac 18, 2011, Datuk Seri Idris Jala dan Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Peguam Negara Malaysia telah bertemu dengan wakil-wakil dari Persekutuan Kristian Malaysia (CFM), Konsul Gereja-Gereja Malaysia (CCM), kumpulan Kristian yang berkaitan bersama penasihat undang-undang masing-masing.

Dalam mesyuarat ini, Idris berkata, “Saya dan Peguam Negara mewakili pihak Kerajaan telah pun membincangkan jalan penyelesaian yang kami percaya akan memanfaatkan kesemua pihak yang terlibat.”

Jalan penyelesaian yang telah dibentangkan oleh Kerajaan adalah seperti berikut:

1. Kitab Injil yang sekarang masih ditahan di Kuching dan Pelabuhan Klang akan dikeluarkan dengan perkataan “Untuk Agama Kristian” yang akan dicop secara jelas menggunakan huruf cetak “Arial / Saiz 16 dengan jelas / Bold.” Sebarang perkataan selain dari yang tersebut di atas tidak dibenarkan untuk dicop dalam Kitab Injil.

2. Bagi memastikan bahawa tiada sebarang gambaran yang salah dalam proses implimentasi oleh penjawat-penjawat awam yang terlibat, Kerajaan akan mengeluarkan arahan dari pejabat Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri. Begitu juga dengan arahan yang berkaitan, kegagalan menepati perintah serta arahan akan dijatuhi tindakan disiplin di bawah Perintah-perintah Am.

3. Untuk menerangkan usaha Kerajaan yang penuh komited dalam menangani isu secara telus dan ikhlas, Kerajaan telah menerima tawaran dari penderma Kristian yang sanggup membayar kos Kitab Injil yang telah dicop atau diberi nombor siri. Kerajaan juga sedia memberi pilihan untuk buku Kitab Injil ini dikeluarkan (dengan cop atau nombor siri yang dicetak) ataupun menggunakan pelekat /stiker dengan perkataan “Untuk Agama Kristian.”

Pilihannya adalah terpulang kepada pengimpot Kitab Injil tersebut. Sekiranya pengimpot Kitab Injil tidak berminat untuk mengambil balik Kitab Injil yang masih disita di Pelabuhan Klang dan
Kuching, penderma Kristian sanggup membayar kos membawa Kitab Injil baru yang telah dicetak atau dicop dengan perkataan “Untuk Agama Kristian.”

Sebagai penutup dalam sesi perbincangan ini, wakil dari kumpulan Kristian telah memohon agar diberi masa untuk membincangkan perkara ini dengan lebih lanjut, dan juga telah menasihati Kerajaan agar jawapan atau keputusan yang diambil akan dikemukakan secepat mungkin.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/159385

KDN pertahankan cop pada Al-Kitab

KDN pertahankan cop pada Al-Kitab

Mac 17, 11 3:47pm

Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) mempertahankan keputusannya meletakkan cop KDN pada Al-Kitab yang ditahan di Pelabuhan Klang dan Kuching, dengan mengatakan bahawa ia adalah satu amalan lazim.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein berkata ia berdasarkan amalan sebelum ini yang dilakukan termasuk semasa pentadbiran bekas perdana menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan Tun (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi).

Oleh itu, katanya, tiada sebarang niat untuk merosakkan kitab Injil
tersebut, sambil menegaskan bahawa pihaknya tidak akan melayan cakap-cakap seperti itu.

Bercakap dalam satu sidang akhbar di lobi Parlimen hari ini, Hishammuddin juga menafikan dakwaan Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), bahawa cop nombor siri pada kitab suci itu adalah satu amalan baru.

[Baca berita penuh]

http://malaysiakini.com/news/158912

CFM: 'Isu kitab Injil belum selesai'

Aidila Razak
Mac 17, 11
2:58pm

Surat mengenai pelepasan kemasukan kitab Injil dalam bahasa Melayu ke Malaysia mungkin telahpun dikeluarkan, tetapi bagi pengerusi Persekutuan Kritian Malaysia (CFM), Bishop Ng Moon Hing, ceritanya masih belum selesai.

"Jika ianya hanya mengenai mempertahankan gazet 1982, maka tidak akan berlaku episod seumpama itu (melibatkan rampasan 35,000 salinan kitab injil). Ada orang yang tidak patuhi (gazet tersebut).

"Pada masa depan, mungkin ada pemimpin lain dan arahan yang berbeza pula, jadi kami merasakan yang cerita ini tidak akan tamat," katanya ketika dihubungi pagi ini.

Dalam kenyataan akhbar lewat petang Selasa lalu, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Idris Jala mengumumkan keputusan Putrajaya untuk melepaskan kitab Injil dalam bahasa Malaysia yang ditahan di Pelabuhan Klang dan di Kuching.

Idris (kiri) berkata ia dibuat mengikut gazet 1982 di bawah Akta
Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, yang membenarkan import kitab Injil dalam bahasa Melayu untuk kegunaan penganut Kristian di Sabah dan Sarawak.

Katanya, keputusan itu dibuat selepas nasihat Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail bahawa ia tidak akan prejudis terhadap rayuan kerajaan terhadap penggunaan perkataan 'Allah' oleh akhbar Katolik, Herald.

Pada 31 Disember 2009, Mahkamah Tinggi membuat keputusan yang menyebelahi rayuan Archbishop Roman Katolik Kuala Lumpur, yang difailkan pada 22 Disember 2007, terhadap larangan kerajaan berhubung penggunaan istilah 'Allah' oleh Herald.

Dalam kenyataan beliau, Idris juga menyifatkan keputusan itu satu "kompromi yang munasabah", dan kenyataan itu tidak boleh diterima oleh Ng.

"Ini ialah cara Idris mengendalikan perkara itu. (Kerajaan) mahu ia nampak seperti ia yang mengalah, sedangkan ia sepatutnya, dari awal lagi, mematuhi gazet tersebut. Malah, yang banyak rugi adalah kami," kata Ng.

Ng juga berkata, dengan meletakkan gazet itu di bawah Akta

Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, ia bermaksud kitab suci itu dianggap sebagai satu isu keselamatan negara.

"CFM sentiasa berpendirian bahawa kitab Injil bukan satu ancaman dan kandungannya tidak mengancam keselamatan negara.

"Selama ini, penganut Kristian tidak pernah mahu ambil pendekatan konfrontasi, dan telah merayu terhadap (pengklasifikasi kitab Injil di bawah ISA), tetapi ia telah lama berlanjutan," tambah Ng.

[Baca berita penuh]

http://malaysiakini.com/news/158898

Mufti S'gor larang Injil guna kalimah Allah diedar

Mufti S'gor larang Injil guna kalimah Allah diedar

Mac 17, 11 9:45am

Mufti Selangor, Datuk Tamyes Abd Wahid berkata 5,000 naskah kitab Injil berbahasa Melayu akan dilarang pengedaran di negeri itu kerana ia tertakluk kepada Enakmen Islam Selangor bersabit penggunaan kalimah Allah di dalam kitab suci Kristian itu, lapor Tv Selangor.

Tamyes sekali gus mengesahkan kenyataan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz bahawa tindakan kerajaan memansuhkan penahanan naskah Kitab Injil berbahasa Melayu tidak sah di sisi undang-undang syariah di Selangor.

Mufti Selangor itu berkata kebimbangan utama pihaknya terhadap arahan kerajaan pusat menarik balik penahanan itu adalah kesannya ke atas generasi muda umat Islam.

"Saya tetap berpandangan bahawa memang sewajarnya (pengedaran kitab Injil itu) dihalang, kerana terjemahannya mengandungi kalimah God yang diterjemahkan kepada Allah (dan) ini adalah bahaya dan mengelirukan kepada anak-anak muda khususnya," katanya kepada Tv Selangor.

Sepuluh negeri kecuali Sabah, Sarawak, Pulau Pinang dan Wilayah Persekutuan mempunyai undang-undang syariah yang menghalang penggunaan kalimah “Allah” sama ada secara lisan ataupun bertulis.

Selain 5,000 naskah di Pelabuhan Kelang, penahanan 30,000 naskah Kitab Injil yang sama di Kuching turut ditarik balik, mengikut pengumuman Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Idris Jala petang Selasa lalu.

Kenyataan bercanggah

Kenyataan Nazri dan Tamyes bersabit pengedaran Kitab Injil itu dijangka menambah kemelut susulan kenyataan-kenyataan yang bercanggah oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Muhyiddin Yassin bersabit isu itu.

Tamyes sendiri melahirkan rasa kesal kerana tidak ada penyelarasan dalam menangani isu kitab-kitab Injil berbahasa Melayu yang diimport dari Indonesia itu.

"Sepatutnya kita ni kalau nak buat keputusan biarlah ada persepakatan, kenapa pula seorang mengatakan boleh seorang mengatakan tidak," katanya.

Ahad lalu, Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein mengeluarkan kenyataan mendakwa pihaknya menunggu keputusan Peguam Negara sama ada penahanan 35,000 Kitab Injil di Pelabuhan Kuching dan Pelabuhan Klang boleh ditarik balik.

Menurut Hishamuddin, keputusan itu berkait dengan kes penggunaan kalimah Allah yang masih belum dibicarakan di Mahkamah Rayuan yang berlarutan sejak 2010.

Namun pada pagi Selasa, Muhyiddin berkata isu itu akan dibincangkan pada mesyuarat mingguan Kabinet esok. Katanya, Menteri harus membincangkan perkara itu sebelum sebarang keputusan dibuat.

Syarat KDN satu penghinaan

Ironinya, sebelah petang hari sama Idris Jala mengumumkan kesemua 35,000 naskah yang ditahan di Pelabuhan Kelang (sejak 2009) dan Pelabuhan Kuching (sejak Januari 2011) akan dibenarkan masuk ke negara ini.

Bagaimanapun KDN meletakkan dua syarat iaitu setiap naskah kitab suci itu harus mempunyai nombor bersiri dan cop "Hanya Untuk Penganut Kristian" sebelum dibenarkan pengedaran dan mesti bersertakan nombor siri.

Syarat itu, bagaimanapun ditolak oleh pihak gereja di Sarawak yang melihatnya sebagai satu penghinaan terhadap kesucian agama Kristian dan kekangan terhadap kerja-kerja dakwah yang dijalankan oleh gerakan mubaligh.

Paderi Goodnews Church, Jefferey Wei ketika dihubungi Tv Selangor menegaskan penganut Kristian tidak dapat menerima perkara yang merendahkan martabat kitab suci mereka.

“Saya rasa jika kita letak nombor siri dan cop atas Kitab Injil ini, kita seperti mencemarkan kitab suci kami dan menghina kedudukannya. Ia menjadikan seolah-olah seseorang yang memiliki kitab ini melakukan satu jenayah. Tiada penganut Kristian akan menerima perkara ini,” katanya.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/158853

What the Bible says about gambling

David E. Pratte

Gambling or "gaming" for stakes is becoming increasingly popular. A person can bet by lottery, casino, poker, slot machines, raffles, office pools, sports wagers, or online betting. But does God view it as moral or immoral? Should a Christian gamble? What does the Bible say? What about gambling addiction?

Gambling is big business. Consider the following facts:
* Nearly all states in the US allow some form of legalized "gaming." Many allow legal casinos and even more have a lottery. In addition, much gambling is still illegal.
* Americans gamble more money each year than they spend on groceries!
* In Mississippi more money is spent on betting than on all retail sales combined.
* 85% of young people have already become gamblers.
* Usually the people who gamble the most are the people who can afford it the least: the poor and the elderly.
[All statistics cited are from Dr. James Dobson, who served on the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, whose report was issued in 1999.]

The purpose of this study is to consider whether or not gambling is morally acceptable. We hope to discuss what constitutes gambling and what the teaching of Jesus Christ says regarding its moral significance. Since the Bible is the highest moral standard ever known, and since it reveals the will of the God who created us all, we will appeal to it as the supreme standard (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 1 Cor. 14:37; John 17:17; Matt. 7:21-27).

In this study "gambling" refers to a wager or bet in which each player agrees to risk losing some material possession to other players in exchange for the chance to win the possessions of other players without compensation to the loser, the winner(s) and loser(s) being determined by the outcome of a game.

Please note four essential elements of gambling in this definition:

1. A game of chance or skill - any event of uncertain outcome.
This may be a game the gamblers play among themselves or may be some event that would have occurred anyway (such as the outcome of an election or sports event).

2. The stakes
Each player places at risk some possession of material value.

3. The agreement (wager or bet)
Before the game each player agrees to risk losing his possession in exchange for the opportunity to take the possessions of others, depending on the outcome of the game.

4. Lack of fair compensation
No goods or services of fair value are given in exchange for what is lost. The loser will give up his possessions without being recompensed, and the winner will gain possessions without repaying the loser.

Activities That Are Not Gambling

People sometimes confuse the issue by claiming that certain acts are gambling, even though some essential elements of gambling are missing.

Crossing the street, driving a car
Some people say, "Everything in life involves a gamble." This confuses risk with gambling. Not all risks involve gambling. These acts involve no wager and no stakes. There is no agreement to try to take someone else's possessions.

Games without stakes or bets
The same games, on which people sometimes bet, can be played simply for fun with no possessions put at risk. This too is not gambling.

Farming, owning a business, etc.
Some say this is gambling because one risks losing money. But again there is no wager, but there is compensation. There is no agreement to take other people's property without compensation. The intent is to produce goods or services of benefit to others in exchange for that which benefits us. This is expressly authorized in Scripture.

Investing in stock
Some say this is gambling, but what is stock? Stock is a means for people to become part owners of a company. Buying stock is no more inherently gambling than is ownership of any other business. The intent is to make a profit by producing something of benefit to customers. Investors receive their share of these profits in the form of dividends or increases in the value of the stock.

Further, when stock is sold, both buyer and seller agree on the price. There is no wager - no prior agreement to risk loss at another's expense. If either thinks the price is unfair, they refuse to deal. (It may be possible to gamble or otherwise sin in the stock market, but buying stock does not inherently constitute gambling.)

Buying insurance
Some think insurance is gambling. But again, there is no wager and there is compensation. No one agrees to gain at the expense of someone else's loss. On the contrary, the whole purpose of insurance is to compensate the insured if he does have a loss (such as death, car wreck, hospitalization, etc.). If no such loss occurs, the customer has purchased the peace of mind of knowing he would have been compensated if he had experienced a loss. Regardless of whether or not this is a wise investment, the point here is that it is not gambling.

In short, none of these examples constitute gambling, since no one necessarily wants uncompensated losses to occur. But the gambler always wants financial loss to occur, because he hopes to profit from those losses.

Activities That Are Gambling

In the following examples, all the elements of gambling are present.

* Casino gambling: slot machines, roulette wheels, dice and card games, numbers games, etc., played for stakes.
* Racetrack betting on horses, dogs.
* Lotteries.
* Charity and church-sponsored bingo, raffles, etc. If someone says, "It's for a good cause," then just make a donation and skip the gambling!
* Bazaar and fair booths where you pay to spin a wheel and try to win a prize, etc.
* Amateur gambling including poker games for money, office pools, matching quarters for cokes or coffee, playing marbles for keeps. Also included are some athletic leagues where winners are not just awarded a trophy or plaque, but players put money into a "kitty" then play to try to win some of the money.

Even if small amounts of money are involved, such activities still violate Bible principles. Further, they establish a precedent that makes it impossible for one to consistently object to other people's gambling. Where do you draw the line and say, "This much money risked is all right, but any more is immoral?"

Objections to Gambling

The word "gamble" is not found in the Bible, yet the practice violates Bible principles regardless of the amount of money involved.

Rules for Transfer of Property

The Bible authorizes only three morally legitimate ways for money or possessions to pass from one owner to another. Gambling fits none of them.

1. The law of labor ("the work ethic")
One may be paid as compensation for work done to produce goods or services that benefit other people. Scripture strongly teaches this "work ethic."

1 Timothy 5:18 - The laborer is worthy of his wages. [Luke 10:7]

Ephesians 4:28 - Do not steal but labor at good (beneficial) work.

1 Thessalonians 4:11,12 - To meet our needs, we should do our own business and work for an income (not take what other people earned). [Matt. 20:1-15; James 5:4]

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - Like Paul, people should work so they can eat their own bread (not other people's bread). If they will not work, they should not eat.

We must not try to live off the labors of others. We can expect goods or services from others only as compensation for work we do that produces something of benefit (that which is good - Eph. 4:28). Gambling undermines the Biblical work ethic because, instead of accomplishing productive labor that benefits others, the gambler seeks to get something for nothing by taking what other people have earned.

If someone claims that gamblers must work to win, we respond that this is not the labor described in these verses, because it produces nothing of benefit to others. Instead it attempts to take what others have, without compensating them. A thief also must do some labor; but such "work" is forbidden because it is harmful to others, not beneficial. If gambling were Scriptural labor, then all gamblers should be paid because all are laboring to win.

Someone may argue, "Gamblers are just paying for a form of entertainment." However, in legitimate entertainment the entertainers are paid a predetermined fee for providing a service to others. But gamblers are all providing the same "service" for one another; so if gambling were legitimate entertainment, then all participants should be paid or all should pay. The gambler does not want the other players to profit; he wants to profit at their expense! This violates the principle that the laborer is worthy of his hire.

Gambling undermines the work ethic and leads people to seek to profit by causing loss to others.

(Other scriptures are: 1 Cor. 9:7-10; Gen. 3:17-19; Prov. 31:24; Acts 18:3.)

2. The law of exchange
A person may simply agree to exchange possessions (goods or money) with someone else. Each party is paid or fairly compensated by receiving possessions of fair value in return for what he gives up. Bible examples are:

Genesis 23:1-18 - Abraham bought a field and a cave for money.

Matthew 13:45,46 - A merchant sold possessions to buy a pearl.

John 4:8 - Disciples bought food.

Note that, in a fair transaction, both parties receive what they view as fair value compared to what they give up. Neither party should attempt to take other people's property without giving fair value in exchange. But again gambling does not fit here, because the winner has no intention to compensate the loser. In fact, each gambler hopes other people will lose so he can take their property, while at the same time he hopes no one will take his property. This violates the law of exchange.

(Other passages: Gen. 33:19; Prov. 31:16; Acts 4:34,37.)

3. The law of giving
A person may knowingly choose, of his own free will, to unconditionally give something away as an expression of good will or kindness, with no obligation for the receiver to offer any compensation in return. Bible examples are:

Ephesians 4:28 - One who has earned goods by his own labor may choose to give to others in need.

2 Corinthians 9:6,7 - We should give willingly and cheerfully, not grudgingly. Note: If gambling fits this, then we should all gamble bountifully!

Acts 20:35 - It is more blessed to give than to receive. Do gamblers consider giving to be more blessed than receiving?

1 John 3:17,18; 1 Corinthians 13:3 - Giving must be motivated by love, compassion, and desire to help others. Is this what motivates gamblers? No, they agree to give (if they lose) only because they want to win what others possess!

Again, gambling does not fit this category because gamblers do not give willingly, freely, as an act of love or compassion.

(Other passages: Matt. 19:21; 25:35; 2:11; Acts 2:45; 4:34,35)

God authorizes three legitimate ways for people to obtain property from others. Gambling not only does not fit any of them, but it clearly contradicts and undermines them. Hence, it is a morally illegitimate way of obtaining others' possessions. If it does not fit these categories, then what category does it fit? Consider the next point.

Covetousness and Greed

The Bible repeatedly warns against greed and covetousness.
Ephesians 5:5-7; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - Those who covet will not receive the kingdom of God, but God's wrath abides on them.

Romans 1:29-32 - They are worthy of death, and so are those who approve or encourage their conduct.

1 Corinthians 5:11 - Church members who practice it should be disciplined.

(See also Deut. 5:21; Mark 7:20-23; 1 Tim. 6:6-10; 2 Tim. 3:2; Prov. 1:19; 21:26; 15:27; Heb. 13:5.)

What is covetousness and greed?
In general covetousness is the desire to wrongfully take someone else's property. It is "a desire for the increasing of one's substance by appropriating that of others" (Baker's Dictionary of Theology). So a person is covetous if he wants to take other people's property in a way not authorized by God.

Note some Bible passages:

Acts 20:33-35 - Paul did not covet other people's property but was willing to work to earn what he needed. So covetousness contrasts with the legitimate means for obtaining the property of others. Clearly gambling fits the definition of covetousness.

2 Corinthians 9:5-7 - If a person is compelled to give property against his will ("grudgingly or of necessity"), instead of cheerfully out of generosity, this is here called "covetousness" (v5 - KJV). A legitimate gift involves willingly choosing to give as a gesture of good will and kindness.

If we seek to take someone else's property which he really does not want to give, while at the same time we seek to avoid giving him fair compensation in return, that would be covetousness. Yet this is exactly what gambling involves.

Efforts to rationalize gambling

Someone may say, "Gamblers agree to pay up if they lose, so they do give it willingly." But it is not done in the spirit of good will that the Bible describes, else why does the gambler try to keep others from taking his possessions?

The truth is, gambling is mutual covetousness like dueling is mutual attempted murder. In dueling, each person agrees to let the other person try to kill him in exchange for the opportunity to try to kill the other person. But killing would still be unauthorized regardless of the agreement (Romans 13:8-10). So a gambler agrees to let others try to take his possessions in exchange for the opportunity for him to try to take the other person's possessions. And it is still covetousness, just like dueling is still attempted murder. The agreement simply makes both parties guilty of sin!

Someone else may say, "It's just a friendly game. We don't really care whether we win or lose the money." A professional gambler once told me that people gamble, not to make money, but for the thrill, the high, the excitement.

Have these folks been listening to the advertisements? The people who provide the gambling know that people do care about the money, and that's the way they advertise it.

If people don't gamble for the money, why not leave the money out of it and just play for fun? If you say, "the money makes it more exciting," then I ask why so, if you don't care about the money! The only possible reason why the money makes it more exciting, is that gamblers do care about the money! So the money does matter, and therefore gambling really is covetousness.

When a person wants to take someone else's property that they really don't want to give and without returning fair value in exchange, that person is guilty of covetousness. And that is exactly what the gambler does.

The Principle of Stewardship

We are stewards of possessions that belong to God.

1 Peter 4:10,11 - We are stewards of God's manifold blessings and should use these blessings to glorify God "in all things." A steward is a servant who has been entrusted to use his master's property to achieve the master's purposes. The master will judge the steward for how well he used the property. [Luke 12:42-46; 2 Chron. 28:1; 1 Cor. 4:1,2]

Psalm 24:1,2; 50:10-12 - Material property is part of our stewardship in that God ultimately owns all physical things but has entrusted them to us.

1 Timothy 6:9,10,17-19 - Instead of being greedy and loving physical things, we should use them to accomplish God's purposes. This includes providing for the needs of ourselves and our families, giving to the church, preaching the gospel, and helping the needy. Our material possessions are not ours to use as we please. We must use them to do God's will and then give account to Him for our use of them.

[Haggai 2:8; 1 Chron. 29:11-14; Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 2:15-17; Deut. 10:14]

The gambler is an unfaithful steward.

Luke 16:1,2 - Instead of using the Master's possessions for the intended purpose, the unfaithful steward wastes them or risks losing them for selfish purposes. This is exactly what the gambler does. [Matthew 25:14-30]

To illustrate, suppose you give some money to a friend for safekeeping. But then, without your permission, he uses your money as his stakes for gambling. Whether he won or lost, would you not confront him for misusing your money? For his own self-indulgence he risked losing what belonged to you.

But every gambler gambles with money that belongs to God without His permission. He wastes his master's substance and risks losing it in unauthorized activities for his own selfishness. God will hold him accountable.

The Law of Love

Matthew 22:39 - The second greatest command is "love your neighbor as yourself." Does the gambler love his neighbor as he loves himself?

Luke 6:27; 1 John 3:16-18 - Loves leads us to do good, not harm, even to our enemies. Note that coveting violates the law of love because it does harm our neighbor (Romans 13:8-10). Love does not seek to profit by taking what belongs to others against their will and without compensation. But the very essence of gambling is hoping other people will lose, so you can profit at their loss.

Matthew 7:12 - Do to others as you want them to do to you. Does the gambler want the other players to take his possessions? No! Then he must not try to take theirs! By definition, gambling violates the law of love because a gambler tries to do to others what he does not want them to do to him.

1 Corinthians 13:5 - Love seeketh not its own.

Philippians 2:4 - We should seek, not just our own interests, but the interests of others. Gambling, by its nature, is selfish and self-seeking. The gambler seeks personal gain and profit by taking other people's possessions without requiting them. Such is completely contrary to love.

A Root of Evil

A Bible principle

1 Timothy 6:9,10 - Love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Greed leads to many foolish and hurtful lusts, many sorrows, etc. If gambling is greed, as we have claimed, then we should expect to find it associated with all kinds of sin and immorality.

Matthew 7:16-19 - A tree is known by its fruits. A corrupt tree will surely produce corrupt fruits. If so, it should be destroyed (v19). Hence, if gambling produces many forms of evil, this will confirm our conclusion that gambling is evil of itself.

The fruits caused by and associated with gambling: Poverty, neglect of families, quarreling, and divorce because gamblers often gamble with money the family needs.

One out of every five homeless people admit that gambling contributed to their poverty. Among the states Nevada, long known for gambling, has the highest rate of divorce and the highest rate of high school dropouts. Even casino owner Donald Trump admitted: "People will spend a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money that they would normally spend on buying a refrigerator or a new car."

And interestingly, about one third of all millionaire lottery winners end up in poverty again afterward!

Anger, hatred, and even murder directed by the losers against the winners, especially if the losers think they have been cheated.

Drinking and drugs, alcoholism and addiction. These always abound where gambling occurs. Gamblers who lose seek to drown their sorrow and guilt. One tenth of all southern Nevadans are alcoholics.

Lying because gamblers seek to hide their habit and their losses.

Crime - Much gambling is illegal. Gambling of all kinds attracts criminal types and is often sponsored by organized crime syndicates. Gamblers often deal drugs, embezzle, or steal to get money to gamble or to pay gambling debts.

Influence on government - Why don't lawmakers outlaw gambling? It provides government money without raising taxes. But more importantly, the overwhelming majority of both Republicans and Democrats receive major campaign contributions from gambling interests.

Prostitution, lasciviousness, and general sexual immorality because of the immoral entertainment provided in gambling houses, and because many women use these means to get money to gamble or to pay gambling debts. The Las Vegas Yellow Pages list 136 pages of advertisements relating to prostitution.

Suicide as an escape from compulsive gambling or from huge losses. Nevada is first in the nation in suicides.

Truly, "by their fruits ye shall know them," and "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."

Temptation and Evil Influence

Like drinkers and drug abusers, gamblers begin by thinking they can avoid the dangers involved. But participation lures them in deeper and subjects them to the moral dangers associated with gambling. Is it worth the risk?

Note some passages that warn us to avoid taking such risks for the sake of our own self-indulgence.

1 Timothy 6:9 - Those who love money (v10) and are minded to be rich fall into temptation, a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts. Surely no one can deny that temptation is associated with gambling.

Matthew 6:13; 26:41 - We should pray to avoid evil and temptation. Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. Is it right to pray to avoid temptation and then deliberately subject ourselves to it, simply for the sake of passing pleasure? Note James 4:3; Matthew 18:6-9.

1 Corinthians 15:33 - Evil companions corrupt good morals. Yet all gambling puts us in the company of evil men and tempts us to participate in other sins.

Proverbs 13:20 - Keeping company with wise men will make us wise, but associating with morally and spiritually foolish people will cause us to suffer. [24:1,2]

Surely the gambler is running with the wrong crowd, subjecting himself to temptation exactly like these passages forbid. Many people will be lost eternally because of gambling's influence. Why submit ourselves to the danger?

Example and Influence

Gamblers not only sin and tempt themselves to sin, they also tempt others to sin.

Consider these passages:

1 Timothy 4:12 - Set a good example in word, manner of life, love, faith, and purity. Does the gambler set this kind of example?

Matthew 5:13-16 - Our lives should be like a light so others may see our good works and glorify God. Who will glorify God from seeing you gamble?

Matthew 18:6,7 - Woe to one who tempts others to sin. It is better to be drowned than to be guilty of this.

Whom does the gambler tempt to sin?

Young people - As with smoking, drinking, and drug abuse, most gamblers start young because of the influence of others: friends, relatives, older people they respect. If you gamble, your example may lead some young person to start or continue gambling.

He may then become trapped in the sins involved in and associated with gambling. If so, you will also be held responsible for his fate. Do you want this on your conscience?

Reformed compulsive gamblers - As with alcoholics and drug addicts, when a compulsive gambler quits, he must never again return to the practice or he immediately becomes an addict again. If he sees or knows you gamble, your example encourages him to try the practice again. If he does, he is immediately addicted again. And you are responsible.

Non-Christians - Many people who are not Christians know that gambling is very un-Christlike. If you gamble, you may never be able to lead them to hear the soul-saving gospel. Yet the Bible plainly obligates you to do all you can to help other people be saved (1 Corinthians 8-10). The gambler will never be a successful soul-saver (Prov. 11:30).

No one gambles alone. If you gamble, you must gamble with others. So every gambler has a bad influence on someone. The only way to avoid this problem is simply to avoid gambling altogether.

Conclusion

We may consider other points regarding gambling. Much gambling is illegitimate. And those who begin gambling legally often end up gambling illegally, because they become desensitized and because the odds are better. But Christians must obey civil law (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15).

Also, many young people gamble in violation of their parents' will (Ephesians 6:1; Romans 1:29-32). Many gamblers know that their marriage companion strongly objects. Is this the proper, loving way to treat a spouse (Ephesians 5:22-29)?

Finally, we must imitate the example of Jesus (1 Peter 2:21,22; Matthew 10:24,25; 1 Corinthians 11:1).

Can you honestly imagine Jesus playing a slot machine or roulette wheel or betting on a dice or poker game? Honestly now, does gambling harmonize with the example of Jesus and the teaching of His word?

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2398:what-the-bible-says-about-gambling&catid=46:depth&Itemid=84

What Hinduism and Buddhism say about gambling

Sources: Edmund Bergler / OnlinePokies

As with a number of areas, Islam and Hinduism are largely in alignment on the issue of gambling. Hindu scriptures prohibit gambling. These are the sections of the Hindu scriptures which mention and prohibit gambling:

“A Gamester / gambler says,‘My wife holds me aloof, my mother hates me’. The wretched man finds none to comfort him.” (Rigveda 10:34:3)

“Play not with dice: No, cultivate thy corn land. Enjoy the gain and deem that wealth sufficient”.(Rigved 10:34:13)

“Drinking, gambling, women (not lawfully wedded wives) and hunting, in that order, he should know to be the very worst four in the group of (vices) born of desire”
(Manu Smriti 7:50)

Gambling is also prohibited in several verses of the Manu Smriti including:
ii. Manu Smriti Chapter 7 Verse 47
iii.Manu Smriti Chapter 9 Verses 221-22
iv.Manu Smriti Chapter 9 Verse 258

And so it can be seen that Hinduism does not approve gambling as a lawful activity. However, in other sections of Hindu scriptures, there are suggestions that there been gambling activities carried out in Hindu culture.

Mahabharata is a famous epic story and scripture in Hinduism. In this epic there are numerous instances of gambling activities. The epic states that gambling in the form of dice games was a source of entertainment for Kings.

There are also other Hindu scriptures which indicate that gambling activities were carried out in Hindu empires. Thus the scriptures seem to be both prohibit gambling, and also acknowledge it as a religious norm. Contradictions in the scriptures are naturally not uncommon.

Buddhism

Buddhism takes a nuanced view of gambling and its prohibition. In Sigalovada Sutta’s “The Layman’s Code of Discipline” the following is stated:

“There are, young householder, these six evil consequences in indulging in gambling:
(i) the winner begets hate,
(ii) the loser grieves for lost wealth,
(iii) loss of wealth,
(iv) his word is not relied upon in a court of law,
(v) he is despised by his friends and associates,
(vi) he is not sought after for matrimony; for people would say he is a gambler and is not fit to look after a wife.”

Dighajanu Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya VIII.54 states the following about gambling from a Buddhist perspective:

“These are the four drains on one’s store of wealth: debauchery in sex; debauchery in drink; debauchery in gambling; and evil friendship, evil companionship, evil camaraderie. Just as if there were a great reservoir with four inlets and four drains, and a man were to close the inlets and open the drains, and the sky were not to pour down proper showers, the depletion of that great reservoir could be expected, not its increase. In the same way, these are the four drains on one’s store of wealth: debauchery in sex; debauchery in drink; debauchery in gambling; and evil friendship, evil companionship, evil camaraderie.

These are the four inlets to one’s store of wealth: no debauchery in sex; no debauchery in drink; no debauchery in gambling; and admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie. Just as if there were a great reservoir with four inlets and four drains, and a man were to open the inlets and close the drains, and the sky were to pour down proper showers, the increase of that great reservoir could be expected, not its depletion. In the same way, these are the four inlets to one’s store of wealth: no debauchery in sex; no debauchery in drink; no debauchery in gambling; and admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.”

Thus it seems that in Buddhistm, while gambling itself is not considered inherently wrong for the layperson (monks are forbidden from gambling), if it is indulged in to the extent that is produces “evil consequences” then it is inadvisable. It should be noted however, that, as with Christianity and other religions, there are many different types of Buddhism. The above is from Theravada Buddhism, which is practised in Thailand and elsewhere in South East Asia, but there are many other forms.

Buddha: An unskillful activity

To gamble (jūtakīḷā) is to risk money on games of chance. Gambling was already an ancient activity by the Buddha’s time and the Vedas, the most ancient Hindu scriptures, contain the famous ‘Gambler’s Lament’ in which a man cries after having wagered and lost his wife and children. Such extreme betting is also mentioned in the Tipiṭaka (M.III,107).

Hardly surprisingly, the Buddha saw gambling as an unskillful activity. He said: ‘There are these six dangers of being addicted to gambling. In winning one begets hatred; in losing one mourns the loss of one’s wealth; one’s word is not accepted in court; one is avoided by both friends and officials; one is not sought after for marriage because people say a gambler cannot support a wife.’ (D.III,183). On another occasion he said that ‘squandering wealth on dice’ leads to one’s decline (Sn.106).

However, we might say that there are three types of gambling – recreational, habitual and addictive.

The first type is when someone occasionally plays cards for small stakes or buys a lottery ticket to support a charity.

Habitual gambling is to gamble a significant but manageable percentage of one’s income on a regular basis.

Addictive gambling is the inability to resist the opportunity to gamble and thus be constantly in debt.

From a Buddhist perspective, recreational gambling would be considered harmless and not against the Precepts. However, because all gambling plays on at least some element of greed, it is certainly unbecoming for Buddhist organizations to raise funds by lotteries and games of chance.

Habitual and addictive gambling are psychologically, socially and spiritually harmful because they are motivated by and reinforce delusion, avarice and the mistaken belief in good and bad ‘luck.’

For the Buddha, it is being virtuous that makes one ‘lucky,’ not having a winning streak. He said: ‘If a gambler were to win a fortune on his very first throw his luck would nonetheless be insignificant. It is many times more “lucky” to conduct oneself wisely with body, speech and mind and after death be reborn in heaven.’ (M.III,178).

http://en.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2397:what-hinduism-and-buddhism-say-about-gambling&catid=46:depth&Itemid=84