Baptists and playing cards (Full Version)

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browneyes051 -> Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:17:17 PM)

I have heard that Baptists do not approve of playing cards of any kind. Could someone help explain the reasoning behind this? I was told it has to do with the faces on the cards and that playing can lead to gambling. We enjoy playing cards, (Uno, Phase 10) but have never gambled or would even consider it. I am currently attending a Southern Baptist Church and really enjoy it, but this is something I kinda hate to bring up with the people there. Thanks for any info.

Susan



StephK -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:22:25 PM)

You could have fooled me since I've played card games for most of my life and am a Southern Baptist. My singles group used to get together to play Spades all the time. I guess it depends on your area. I do know that gambling is frowned upon though. There are several casinos in my area and even though I've played lots of cards over the years I haven't been lured to gamble.



JimboFletch -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:25:13 PM)

There are quite a few kinds of Baptists. Southern Baptists don't tend to have the kinds of petty hang-ups some Independent, Fundy, or Free Will Baptists I've known. I've been a Southern Baptist since 1986 and haven't encountered anyone opposed to playing cards for fun with friends & family. I was a Free Will Baptist for 34 years before that and most of them would have a fit to see playing cards in a member's house.



WesP -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:32:48 PM)

I have always been SBC, and I love to play spades! There are several other games I enjoy, as well. Maybe I am just a poor lost sinner for playing Gin. [sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif]



JimboFletch -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:34:47 PM)

Spades is my game too!
[:D]



rcjames -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:35:44 PM)

I am not much on Uno, but I do love Texas Hold em'.

Thanks
RC



GrahamCracker -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:37:21 PM)

It is quite possibly true that it is opposed by some kinds of Baptists. I am surprised that it (the opposition) still exists. It was minor when I was exposed to it 40 years ago.

The opposition, as I understood it, was with regard to gambling. I never met anyone who opposed Uno or Gin Rummy, only stuff like poker.



WesP -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:42:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GrahamCracker

It is quite possibly true that it is opposed by some kinds of Baptists. I am surprised that it (the opposition) still exists. It was minor when I was exposed to it 40 years ago.

The opposition, as I understood it, was with regard to gambling. I never met anyone who opposed Uno or Gin Rummy, only stuff like poker.


Uh oh! Play a little bit o' 5 card with plastic chips. [:(]

Ah, well.....[sm=smilecrossbone.gif]



1love1God1way -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 2:55:49 PM)

There is a small Baptist-run private school in my home town that outlawed playing cards.

They could play uno or rook, because those cards did not have faces on them.

Go figure. . . makes sense to me [sm=crazy.gif]



lw9 -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 3:23:07 PM)

quote:

1love1God1way: They could play uno or rook, because those cards did not have faces on them.

Go figure. . . makes sense to me


Now that's a new one to me. I know some groups do view cards - and pretty much any form of entertainment - as 'of the devil', but cards are especially evil if they have faces? That is really strange.



browneyes051 -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 3:29:18 PM)

Whew, this is a relief!! Now that I think about it, the ones who told me that card playing is taboo belong to a Free Will or Independent Baptist Church. Not that those churches aren't good ones, but I was so surprised when they told me. I know they don't allow dancing, either.

I'm glad I can still play cards and not feel guilty or be secretive about it. You've been very helpful -- thanks!

Susan



JimboFletch -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 3:32:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: browneyes051

...I know they don't allow dancing, either...

And probably no "mixed bathing" and you'll be labeled a heretic if you suggest it's possible that Jesus just might have made or drank wine with the teeniest bit of alcohol.
[sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif]



GrahamCracker -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/18/2008 3:40:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: lw9

quote:

1love1God1way: They could play uno or rook, because those cards did not have faces on them.

Go figure. . . makes sense to me


Now that's a new one to me. I know some groups do view cards - and pretty much any form of entertainment - as 'of the devil', but cards are especially evil if they have faces? That is really strange.


Once I heard the idea that playing cards were derived from occultic symbolism. The Jack, for example, being the devil. The Queen being really the Virgin Mary, ect. That belief is probably not widespread nor believed by anyone we are ever likely to encounter.



BibleL7 -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/19/2008 2:48:40 AM)

Free Will and some Independents I dont know but Fundys have no problems with it. Playing cards are not in the Bible and most Fundys go by whats in Bible. If the Independent, Fundamental Baptist church I am with had any of those rules I would have never quit my job to move here.

Just the opinion of a small town preacher



drfuss -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/19/2008 8:43:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GrahamCracker

quote:

ORIGINAL: lw9

quote:

1love1God1way: They could play uno or rook, because those cards did not have faces on them.

Go figure. . . makes sense to me


Now that's a new one to me. I know some groups do view cards - and pretty much any form of entertainment - as 'of the devil', but cards are especially evil if they have faces? That is really strange.


Once I heard the idea that playing cards were derived from occultic symbolism. The Jack, for example, being the devil. The Queen being really the Virgin Mary, ect. That belief is probably not widespread nor believed by anyone we are ever likely to encounter.


drfuss: About 50 years ago, I heard a song that reflected that symbolism about playing face cards. Anyone else remember that song?



Ps103 -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/19/2008 9:57:59 AM)

One of my grandmothers was raised "Hard-shell" Baptist--help me out here, Jimbo or someone, I am thinking that is Primitive Baptist but seem to have forgotten.

She could beat me at canasta without even trying[:D]

I know some people that are still against playing cards, but not many, and most of them are quite elderly now. I am not sure if they would consider games like Uno to be wrong, though.



colliefan -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/19/2008 2:16:58 PM)

I grew up SB. It was wrong to play cards, dance, drink alcohol, go to Buc games on Sunday., Madatory attendance at all church services. Baptists were the only ones who were saved.



Heavendweller -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/19/2008 3:16:36 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: colliefan
I grew up SB. It was wrong to play cards, dance, drink alcohol, go to Buc games on Sunday., Madatory attendance at all church services. Baptists were the only ones who were saved.

Very true, colliefan. I attended at one time an Independent Baptist church. They thought Lutherans, UCC, most Presbyterians, Assemblies of God, Pentecostals, Wesleyans, Seventh Day Adventists, and Episcopalians were unsaved. They even considered the Southern Baptists as worldly and compromising on the gospel of Christ.

Heavendweller



GrahamCracker -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/20/2008 6:25:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: drfuss

Once I heard the idea that playing cards were derived from occultic symbolism. The Jack, for example, being the devil. The Queen being really the Virgin Mary, ect. That belief is probably not widespread nor believed by anyone we are ever likely to encounter.


drfuss: About 50 years ago, I heard a song that reflected that symbolism about playing face cards. Anyone else remember that song?


Indeed. There are 52 cards in a deck (52 weeks in a year.) There are 4 decks, corresponding to the 4 seasons. 365 spots on the deck (I think that's right), corresponding to the days in a year.

The singer was a guy named T. Texas Tyler, I think. My mom had a record from that period.

Here it is----

T. Texas Tyler

The last few lines read:

...Heaven. And the Jack or Knave is the Devil. When I count the number
of spots on a deck of cards, I find 365, the number of days in a year.
There are 52 cards, the number of weeks in a year. There are 4 suits, the
number of weeks in a month. There are 12 picture cards, the number of
months in a year. There are 13 tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter.
So you see, Sir, my pack of cards serves me as a Bible, an Almanac and a
Prayer Book."



Ps103 -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/20/2008 10:16:24 PM)

Wink Martindale??!!

[8D]



crankius -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/20/2008 10:47:20 PM)

That is funny!



themaestro -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/20/2008 11:31:50 PM)

go fish



relady -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/20/2008 11:52:26 PM)

quote:

One of my grandmothers was raised "Hard-shell" Baptist--help me out here, Jimbo or someone, I am thinking that is Primitive Baptist but seem to have forgotten
yes. My great grandfather was a Primitive Baptist preacher and I've heard him referred to as "hard shell", whatever that means.

quote:

It was wrong to play cards, dance, drink alcohol, go to Buc games on Sunday., Madatory attendance at all church services. Baptists were the only ones who were saved.
Yup. I remember my grandma remarking about a good Methodist lady she knew that "she's a nice lady it's too bad she's a Methodist" meaning she didn't think this lady would make it to heaven.

In fact there's an old joke about some Catholics being shown around heaven by St. Peter after they arrived and as they passed the "Baptist quarters" St. Peter says "be very quiet, the Baptists think they're the only ones here." LOL. Glad we've moved past that.



P31W -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/21/2008 8:07:42 AM)

quote:

I grew up SB. It was wrong to play cards, dance, drink alcohol, go to Buc games on Sunday., Madatory attendance at all church services. Baptists were the only ones who were saved.


Each congregation in the Southern Baptist Convention is free to obey certain rules they have for their own church. So I cannot say that your church didn't teach it was wrong to pay cards, dance or etc.

However it goes againt SB doctrine to teach that "only baptist" are saved.

I cannot help but wonder if your church was truly part of the SBC or if they just implied that they were. (being part of the convention means you send represenatives to the convention and/or send money and of course hold to their core doctrines) If the SBC got wind that a church within the convention was teaching that "only baptist" were saved I believe they would not be allowed to be part of the convention.

My childhood SB church celebrated it's 100 birthday in 1976. They have been meeting with the Methodist Church down the road for join services for well over 50 years. In fact it was in the basement of a Methodist Chruch that the WMU (women's missionary union - a large Southen Bapitst missionary support) group was formed. I believe that was over 100 years ago. Maybe even longer.

BTW over twenty five years ago I attended a SB college. Each year we had a huge haunted house. I was the witch that greeted you at the front door. It was a blast scaring those kids pants off!!!!

I've only been exposed in my life to one SB preacher who believed that dancing and playing cards was wrong. From what I can remember (I was a child and my parents didn't speak bad about folks so I just had to pick up the "vibes") Anyway from what I can remember most people in my church, community and the association didn't give this man's views the time of day. I know when I asked my parents about "why" be believed certain things they replied "it's it personal conviction, that does not effect us". My parents grew up SB as well.



JimboFletch -> RE: Baptists and playing cards (4/21/2008 8:19:40 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: drfuss
drfuss: About 50 years ago, I heard a song that reflected that symbolism about playing face cards. Anyone else remember that song?

If I remember correctly, Tex Ritter recorded that (the one that Larry posted). Like the stories that make the deck out to be all evil, I think this one was just made up to counter opposition.



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