Celebrate Religion here

Quote: beachbumbabs

I am happy to contrast the two threads, actually. I missed the Quote of the Day before it was closed, so had no preconceived opinion before you called it to my attention and I read it. I think the Wizard was 100% correct in both cases.

In the Celebrate Religion thread, Fr. Gamble started it almost 2 1/2 years ago, labeled it for what he intended to talk about, and has tended it thoughtfully and politely as a gentleman despite more than a few ugly posts (I'm talking about decorum/how he was addressed or how things were said, not what position the posters took on religion). It has brought a significant amount of thoughtful, valuable conversation to the board.

In the Quote of the Day thread, soxfan started it with what turned out to be a sarcastic title, and quoted a mean-spirited and profane email that turned out to be falsely attributed to V. Putin. Thread devolved immediately into political bashing duplicated elsewhere. Value right down around zero, from the negative side of that number.

I'd like to see us have a legitimate Quote of the Day and/or Favorite Quotes thread; I think both could be lively and interesting. But this wasn't it, sorry, soxfan.

The Wizard made the statement a couple of weeks ago that he (and under his direction, we) would be closing off-topic, non-gambling, non-productive threads rather than letting them keep lowering the standard of the forum discussion, so it follows that you are seeing that happen. This one qualified.

So you will be closing this one as well correct?

I feel like I have to give a little apologia pro vita sua here on this forum. Everybody seems to be guessing about why I'm even here and what I am hoping to do by posting religious ideas and trying to defend the faith, etc. Well the reason I am here is the reason I imagine we are all here on this forum, which is to learn a little bit about gambling and how to have the most fun with it and lessen the house edge as much as possible. I was amazed after I first joined and did not tell anyone I was a priest how many threads were concerning religion. I did not expect that. Many of them were started by or encouraged by the Wizard. Finally, one came up without my provocation about transubstantiation. Well at that point I thought I really need to tell people I am a Catholic Priest and the rest is history.

I used to post some homilies as blogs but people thought that was too much so I stopped doing that. A while a go I decided I wouldn't start any new threads about religion and check out the DT site as a more appropriate place to talk about God. I started this thread only as a counter to the thread titled, there is no God. I like to read the threads and posts about VP, blackjack, and craps and I don't have any grandiose ideas of mass conversions. I do actually learn a lot about the opinions towards the Church and God out there through the posts and have learned more about my own faith in defending it, but those are side benefits to being part of what I think is an intelligent and well run forum about Vegas and gambling.

Finally, I think those who are constantly calling for threads like this one and others about God, religion, philosophy, metaphysics, and the supernatural to be blocked or stopped might want to ask themselves why are they so against them? It is so easy now a days to ignore or not think about these important questions that we all must answer, why not allow a little deep thinking into the midst of our betting systems, hotel reviews, and probability analyses? It is only natural that questions about the purpose and meaning of life come up and I think we do ourselves a disservice if we treat these types of threads like the plague and only want to block and get rid of them. Don't be scared. Nobody has changed their minds about these things yet, even though I think s2dbaker is close (just kidding), the worst that can happen is you might hear something you don't often get exposed to in your daily life and maybe even get and idea to chew on and learn from, I know that this has happened to me and I sincerely hope that it might happen to you too.

Quote: AxelWolf

So you will be closing this one as well correct?

Not correct. Nice try. :)

Quote: FrGamble

I like to read the threads and posts about VP, blackjack, and craps and I don't have any grandiose ideas of mass conversions.

It would qualify for a miracle.

But this reminds of a plot of a movie (or a couple movies I've seen). But I think it was nuns. One of them gets assigned "problem children" or some other area. Hilarity ensues. Or something.

Are you sure you aren't assigned here like "Maria" in the Sound of Music?

Quote: FrGamble

I know that this has happened to me and I sincerely hope that it might happen to you too.

The trouble with religion is, it closes your mind.
It's an axiom, and when you accept an axiom,
your mind closes off to creativity. You curve fit
all new info to fit the axiom. It has to be this
way for religion, or it would collapse. There
are many people who are fine living this way,
creative thinking hurts their heads. They let
somebody do that for them, and look at all
the free time it provides.

Why would I do that to myself.

Quote: FrGamble

Finally, I think those who are constantly calling for threads like this one and others about God, religion, philosophy, metaphysics, and the supernatural to be blocked or stopped might want to ask themselves why are they so against them? It is so easy now a days to ignore or not think about these important questions that we all must answer, why not allow a little deep thinking into the midst of our betting systems, hotel reviews, and probability analyses? It is only natural that questions about the purpose and meaning of life come up and I think we do ourselves a disservice if we treat these types of threads like the plague and only want to block and get rid of them. Don't be scared. Nobody has changed their minds about these things yet, even though I think s2dbaker is close (just kidding), the worst that can happen is you might hear something you don't often get exposed to in your daily life and maybe even get and idea to chew on and learn from, I know that this has happened to me and I sincerely hope that it might happen to you too.

I've always felt like probability and odds are a glimpse into the workings of the universe. It is only natural that a discussion of religion would be complementary to that. It never bothered me one bit.

Quote: FrGamble

I was amazed after I first joined and did not tell anyone I was a priest how many threads were concerning religion.

aside the fact that handle gives it away, the first thing I recall you ever posted was whether a priest could gamble. That kind of gives it way, too ;)

Quote: beachbumbabs

Not correct. Nice try. :)

Personally I don't care if threads get closed, im not for closing threads unless its just totally dumb stuff like cooking, cleaning or pets, possibly the, "I win at craps and Bac everyday" threads should be closed.

I just don't understand why this thread is any different then others. Have you read it? Its just an attack on religion, with 1 or 2 people defending it (sending mixed signals). It's certainly not in the apparent direction you indicated the Wizard wants the forum to move towards. (religion and gambling, casinos math? They are polar opposites.)This would indicate mod's are using personal views( likes and dislikes) to decide what should stay and what should go. I have no problem with that, I just want to know if that how it is, since I normally don't start threads that have nothing to do with gambling or casinos anyways.

Others may think this is not fair. Again, I don't care about fair myself, case by case if fine with me, I know life is not fair.

Quote: AxelWolf

Personally I don't care if threads get closed, im not for closing threads unless its just totally dumb stuff like cooking, cleaning or pets, possibly the, "I win at craps and Bac everyday" threads should be closed.

I just don't understand why this thread is any different then others. Have you read it? Its just an attack on religion, with 1 or 2 people defending it (sending mixed signals). It's certainly not in the apparent direction you indicated the Wizard wants the forum to move towards. (religion and gambling, casinos math? They are polar opposites.)This would indicate mod's are using personal views( likes and dislikes) to decide what should stay and what should go. I have no problem with that, I just want to know if that how it is, since I normally don't start threads that have nothing to do with gambling or casinos anyways.

Others may think this is not fair. Again, I don't care about fair myself, case by case if fine with me, I know life is not fair.

If you don't care, why have you now posted twice about it? I support vigorous debate and free speech. Fr Gamble has invited people to discuss religion here and has proven himself more than able to debate opposite opinions and keep the topic alive. If this thread had dwindled down to name calling and repetitive stances set in stone, perhaps its time would have come. It has not done either, and continues to provide the opportunity for interesting discussion after more than 100 pages of posts. So why close it?

Too many questions about forum rules may eventually lead to some sort of limit on questions about forum rules.

: )


(It's like kids screaming in the back seat. We aren't stopping! No ice cream! Stop hitting your sister! I don't care if it's fair! Finally, WHAP!!!)