Editorial January 15, 1966 Issue

Why Gamble?

Carl J. Welz

In "The Visit," a play by Friedrich Duerrenmatt, the citizens of a town change their minds about murder. Friends of a shopkeeper stoutly proclaim their loyalty to him, but as the play progresses, their viewpoint is influenced by their love of money. By the end of the play they have almost eagerly put him to death.

In human life today animal magnetism—the force of the carnal mind claiming to oppose God, good—is presenting arguments similar to those that are depicted in "The Visit." For example, according to an article in The National Observer (Aug. 23, 1965), in the state of New Hampshire there was organized opposition on moral grounds to a state lottery. Ministers, educators, and businessmen fought against it. But when the issue was put to a vote, the argument was presented that out-of-state ticket sales would bring in revenue that would afford tax relief to the citizens. The measure passed; and as money began to come in, organized opposition vanished.

The argument that an immoral thing can be beneficial is, of course, not confined to gambling. In today's world all forms of morality are under attack on the ground that morals reflect what is practical and therefore should not be looked to as standards of human behavior. But through Christian Science we can understand that the issue is not practicality versus morality but truth versus error. And one who practices Christian Science can prove for himself that the moral law expresses what is true and that only the true is practical. Gambling is immoral because it violates the First Commandment, the standard of practical human behavior in accordance with what is true.

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