How do different religions view gambling? What could be the reasons behind it?
Some religions view the pursue for money in life as a serious sin, so they include gambling as a sin, because they consider it synonym of greed and think when you gamble, you are getting your focus from God to put on the search for money, material treasures and personal glory, or in other words: the throne of dust. However, these religions have very narrowed interpretations on this matter, because it's totally possible for an individual to achieve balance on his life, being a gambler and at same time not putting this practice above everything else in his life, including God.
Many will say the same, but I guess it is because they aren't into Bible reading that deep, I understand but it is not true that there is no where in the Bible that says that gambling is a sin.
The first Timothy 6:9, 10 says the following..
Gambling even with the smallest amount can arouse a destructive love for money.
Isiah 65:11 says the following....
Gamblers often rely on superstitions or luck. However, God views such beliefs as a form of idolatry, which is incompatible with his worship.
When something isn't compatible with your God's worship that makes it a sin, some part sounds like protection of the people from destruction too but all saying the same thing.
Here is another, from the book of Galatians 5:26, it says
Gambling can arouse an unhealthy competitive spirit, which is disapproved in the Bible.
So now are we going to keep saying that there is nowhere in the Bible that says gambling is a sin?
I'm really not happy with the way you choose to misquote the bible all in the name to prove points, it is completely useless and this shows that you are not a Christian by religion and in a way be against it. The bible only talks about excessive love for money that triggers a get rich quick scheme which implies disobeying the commandments (like stealing and more) but no where did the bible talk about gambling.
People now see religion differently, the deal to one's eternity is something personal and not a matter of any religion. Religion is just like a step/guide towards achieving that eternity, so there are rules being laid by the fore rulers to help us in this our journey, this rules keeps us on the better part so we do not mistakenly fall into breaking those commandments. So I do not see how religion should affect me gambling.
As we can see the quotations from The Bible, no one of them forbids gambling, but alerts to the possibility of triggering excessive behavior or desire on the heart of the gambler for disfunctional practices which will put the search for money above everything else in his life. Words like "can" and "often" indicate us that, although none of them clearly states gambling will be destructive in every cases. If the individual can control his impulses he is fine to maintain gambling as a functional practice in his life, and that is what matters.
