Stock Market / Is it gambling ??? A Question Jo-ho's are defensive on.

by run dont walk 10 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  run dont walk

  I always remembered when they would talk about how it is wrong to buy lottery tickets, or home lotteries or shriner's tickets, because this was considered gambling.

  But when it comes to the Stock Market, well that is a different story, they (the Jo-Ho's) say it is investing not gambling.

  Do you think it was right for a JW to invest in Enron, Worldcom. Qwest, Bre-X (Canada) etc.

  they will say well we did not know it was a fraud, well are you not suppose to investigate before you invest, By buying into these companies are you not SUPPORTING their beliefs and ways.

  And why would you invest in your future when Armageddon is going to be anyday now.

  Jesus said "do not asssociate with workers of lawlessness." What would you call the Stock Market.

  How much does the Watchtower invest with their billions ????, I don't believe they keep it in a old school in $100 American bill like Saddam. And I don't believe it is in one bank account.

  A few questions that I would love to hear your opinion on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Remember if you are thinking of leaving the JW cult .......... run don't walk.
• 

  OrbitingTheSun

  And why would you invest in your future when Armageddon is going to be anyday now.

  Good question! Whether or not it is gambling is a debatable but, if Armageddon is on the way, it doesn't matter. Tisk, tisk...one more discrepancy for the list...
• 

  Pork Chop

  Actually I never heard Witnesses have any problems with this. Only morons thing participating in the stock market is gambling.
• 

  JH

  Many witnesses do invest in the stock market. Even the Watchtower Society must also do it.

  They said gambling was bad because you could lose all you have and not be able to feed your family, but you can also lose alot in the stock market. It's only a question of luck or good judgement if you make money or lose money on the stock market.

  I think it can be just as risky as playing lottery.

  Bottom line to me is that you can do what you please, as long as you're reasonable.
• 

  Stephanus

  Since you are buying a share of a company, investing in the stockmarket is no different from buying a business. The better investors tend to treat it that way. When done that way, it is no more gambling than buying a corner shop, a body shop or a fast food outlet (or a window cleaning business, for the benefit of any lurking Dubs).
• 

  OrbitingTheSun

  Since you are buying a share of a company, investing in the stockmarket is no different from buying a business. The better investors tend to treat it that way. When done that way, it is no more gambling than buying a corner shop, a body shop or a fast food outlet (or a window cleaning business, for the benefit of any lurking Dubs).

  I agree with that, but I wonder why the same reasoning they use to justify investing in business isn't used to justify investing in education.
• 

  SixofNine

  The better investors tend to treat it that way.

  True. "better investors" though, are few and far between. Most people who "invest" engage in a form of hedged gambling. Some have better, healthier, higher hedges than others, but most are gambling, to a large degree, in a practical sense.

  The deeper issue with respect to the borganization involves the fact that one can be legitimately investing, with zero gambling involved, and be exhibiting far more greed than another person who plays slots on occasion. For that matter, one could be a window-washer with a goal of being an elder and be exhibiting far more greed than another person who plays blackjack.

  Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to legislate morality.
• 

  rocketman

  One jw I know recently mentioned that his opinion is that the WTS, if they were really to be strictly "by the book" would say it's gambling. I doubt they ever would because they, I would imagine, invest money in stocks.

  He also says that if the WTS were to go by the book, they would not allow women any participation in meetings at all, but they avoid that also because they'd get a lot of negative feedback.

  That's just his opinion - we had a chat about some stuff not long ago.
• 

  run dont walk

  Okay pork chop, I now of people who lost everything in the stock market, and lost brothers and sisters money as well. Bads enough they had to sell their house etc, and then explain to the friends of the congregation who believed them, how come they lost it all.

  They have been many experiences on brothers/sisters going into together on a venture (not necessarily stocks) and have become BITTER enemies, because of money lost.

  obviously you are still a JW, who does not UNDERSTAND the question.

  So buying into Enron, which was the biggest financial fiasco in decades, is okay.

  I thought bad associations spoil useful habits, why would they associate themselves with them.

  Is not the Stock Market run by WORLDLY people, with nothing but greed on their mind.

  And since Armageddon will be here in a day or so, why would JW's bother.

  I think you have been in the oven too long, you're burnt. (moron)

  (and it's THINK not thing)
• 

  blondie

  Amazingly, someone actually wrote into the WTS to see if buying life insurance was gambling. I can remember my JW grandparents (in the 20's and 30's) talking about how many in their congregation thought it was wrong to buy life insurance.

  9/15/60 p. 576

  •

  Is it proper for a Christian to carry life insurance? Is it not a form of gambling?—S.P., U.S.A.

  Life insurance and other forms of insurance cannot be condemned as gambling but are rather a form of investment. One is not trying to insure that one will not have an accident or will not die, but is only seeking to provide in the case of an emergency. It is Scriptural for a man to provide for those that are his own, and if he wishes to make such provision in this way, that is entirely up to him.—Gal. 6:5;1 Tim. 5:8.

  In some places automobile insurance is compulsory; in others, health insurance is. To comply with such laws is merely to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. (Matt. 22:21) Where the law does not require insurance, it is up to the individual Christian to decide for himself what to do about insurance.