Christianity and Gambling: An Introduction

Authors

Massimo Leone, University of TurinFollow

Editors

D. Schwartz (Ed.)

Document Type

Occasional Paper

Publication Date

7-2018

Publication Title

Center for Gaming Research Occasional Paper Series: Paper 42

Publisher Location

Las Vegas, Nevada

Issue

42

First page number:

1

Last page number:

10

Abstract

Religions hold complex relations with games and, in particular, with gambling. The article focuses on Christianity. On the one hand, the history of this religion shows a tendency to condemn games as source of distraction from spiritual rectitude and to stigmatize gambling, above all, as opening to metaphysical randomness and, as a consequence, as challenge to the idea of divine omniscience. On the other hand, Christianity has also sought to reinterpret games, and even gambling, as possible occasion for moral improvement and as useful distraction from the hardship of monastic life. A theological perspective that reaches its peak in Thomas Aquinas, but has its roots in Aristotle’s evaluation of playfulness, tends to suggest the need for eutropelia, meant as the citizens’ virtue to appropriately have fun.

Keywords

Games; Gambling; Religions; Christianity; Moralization

Disciplines

Christianity | Ethics in Religion | Gaming and Casino Operations Management | Hospitality Administration and Management | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion | Tourism and Travel

File Format

pdf

File Size

1.928 Kb

Language

English

Repository Citation

Leone, M. (2018). Christianity and Gambling: An Introduction. In D. Schwartz (Ed.), Center for Gaming Research Occasional Paper Series: Paper 42(42), 1-10.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/occ_papers/42