Believing people are often interested in why the Orthodox cannot play cards. After all, this completely harmless activity helps to entertain the company, cheer up, and have fun. How harmless can such games be, what does the church think about this? The article will answer these questions.
Church Opinion
The Church considers such an occupation sinful. Why can't Orthodox Christians play cards? These entertainments carry satanic overtones. Even if a person is playing solitaire or fortunetelling.
Priests believe that such entertainment was aimed at blasphemy. And it was invented by Indian cabalists who are engaged in black magic. Therefore, a person who picks up cards unconsciously betrays his Creator.
Reason for this ban
Among the reasons why the Orthodox cannot play cards are the following:
- loss of time stolen from family and communication withCreator;
- urge to unhe althy excitement;
- The original purpose of the deck is to guess and do magic. These actions are not welcomed by the church;
- the symbols depicted on the cards evoke blasphemy against the history of Christianity.
According to the church, a Christian should lead a life filled with communion with the Creator, the knowledge of his truths. This can be achieved if you diligently and thoughtfully read the Bible, know the rules of prayer, and enjoy everything that the Lord has created. To love and do good throughout your earthly journey.
An important reason why the Orthodox cannot play cards is that playing "pictures" can intoxicate the human mind. He is distracted from reality, he is overwhelmed with excitement, which is fraught with spiritual death. So much can be lost:
- money;
- property;
- family;
- earthly life.
The result of such a thoughtless act can be very sad. Why are card debts worth, for which people can be deprived of their lives. Card games are widely popular in the criminal environment. This fact also proves what category of people are engaged in such entertainment. Spiritually devastated people find joy in intoxicating excitement. And often they pay too high a price for it.
Fool games
When asked whether it is possible for the Orthodox to play cards, the church gives a clearly negative answer. If the company, having gathered, spends time playing the "fool", it simply takes its time,which can be devoted to reflections on the commandments of the Creator. Such games do not bring any benefit, they impoverish a person spiritually.
The card game called "fool" is contrary to biblical truth. Scripture says:
Anyone who calls a brother (sister) a fool is subject to trial.
And after such a statement there is no room for excuses. The power of God's word is undeniable. If a person calls other people with this word, he will have to answer on the Day of Judgment.
Having figured out why the Orthodox do not play cards, it is worth noting that those who are engaged in fortune-telling commit a great sin. Therefore, they will never find happiness in the Lord's Kingdom. Even "innocent" deck-laying is considered demonic. It is especially scary when adults teach children to play such games. Then a child from an early age learns excitement and depending on whether he wins or loses.
How the playing "pictures" appeared
When discussing why believers should not play cards, let's turn to historical information about the appearance of these games. They were first used in the countries of the East. As early as the 12th century, cards began to fascinate Koreans and Chinese.
Until this time, paper decks were not used. But their alternative was bamboo pieces. They also used shells depicting everyday scenes. Maslyuks had cards similar to Tarot. But they did not violate the commandments of the Koran, since they did not have human images. Such cards were decorated exclusively with geometricornaments.
The invention of modern cards was for the purpose of performing a divination ritual. And since the XIV century, facts about the first bans on such games have been known. The reason why Christians are not allowed to play cards was then pointed out to the detrimental effect on people.
In the 17th century, the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich introduced a decree, according to which the card game was considered a crime. This occupation threatened with hard labor, tearing out the nostrils. But Peter the Great changed the situation. He calculated the economic benefits of trading cards and allowed to play.
Deck value
The Egyptian calendar consists of thirty months (52 weeks). The deck contains the same number of cards. The 4 weeks of each month are like playing card suits. They represent the four elements:
- water,
- earthly,
- air,
- fiery.
Like the night time, the peaks and crosses are black. Hearts and diamonds are considered daily red signs.
What the card symbols originally meant
The Church forbids cards in Orthodoxy. Why can't these games be played? According to Orthodox theologians who have carefully studied this issue, there are a number of coincidences in the colors and image of the Savior.
The prototype of the cross suit are tools with which murders and tortures are committed. Jesus was nailed to such a cross. Translated from the Hebrew language, the club refers to the beast that was torn to death.
Taking, for example, a card with the image of the Cross of Christ, whom he worshipshalf the world, throw it casually with the words: “clubs”, which in Hebrew means “bad” or “evil”!
The type of tambourine is associated with tetrahedral caps of stakes. They were hammered into the flesh of Christ, who was known to be the Son of the Lord.
The “tambourine” suit blasphemously depicts the gospel forged tetrahedral serrated nails with which the hands and feet of the Savior were nailed to the tree of the Cross.), and it turned out.
The peak suit is characterized by cruelty and callousness. It was with this tool that they pierced the rib of Jesus, which led to his death. Three executioners were brought in to fix the fact of death.
The card suit "vini" ("spades"), blasphemes the gospel lance of Longinus Centurion: "one of the soldiers (Longinus) pierced His ribs with a spear" (John 19, 34).
The suit of hearts is associated with a sponge that has been soaked in vinegar. It was given to a thirsty Jesus. The sponge was shaped like a heart.
The suit of "worms" depicts the gospel sponge on a cane.
As Christ warned about His poisoning, through the mouth of the king-prophet David, that the soldiers “gave Me bile for food, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink” (Ps. 68, 22), and it came true: “one of He took them a sponge, gave them vinegar to drink, and, putting them on a reed, gave Him to drink” (Matt. 27, 48).
The demonic joy from this activity is also considered an explanation why you can’t play cards. A person who is fond of such games,worships, thus, satanic rituals. This leads to the trampling of the symbols of Christianity. The soul of such a Christian loses all chances for eternal life.
Priest advice
Believers can spend time usefully, while not betraying Christian truths. You can enjoy communication with the Creator in the process of prayer endlessly.
And this is easy to achieve with such charitable actions:
- prayers;
- temple visit;
- committing pilgrimages to Holy places;
- attending Sunday Christian school;
- you can sing and draw;
- should be engaged in charitable causes, helping orphans and the elderly;
- you need to pay more attention to your family members.
In the Orthodox life there is so much of the Lord's beauty that you can enjoy it indefinitely. Therefore, the tares that Satan sows must be diligently cleansed and removed from the life of a Christian.
Summarize
Card games are an activity that is forbidden by the Christian church. Therefore, he should not have a place in the Orthodox family. Having studied the history of the appearance of the first decks, you can see that they were created for gambling. And unhe althy excitement can lead a person to big losses. Because of this, they can even take their lives when a player has a large card debt. This is widely practiced in the criminal world.
Priestsclaim that the mission of the cards is to deliberately humiliate the image of Christ. An analysis of card suits suggests that they are created in the image of those means that were used to torture the Son of the Lord. There were times when card games were banned by kings.
Spending time can be much more exciting if you indulge in prayers, discussion of divine truths. It is not forbidden to draw, sing. Help to those in need is also very welcome: the elderly, the sick, orphans.
It is important to devote as much time as possible to your family, loved ones. And enjoy every new day. Among the divine gifts there is no place for ungodly pursuits. It is believed that a deck of cards does not even need to be kept in the house. And people engaged in fortune-telling commit a great sin. They will be deprived of the joy of eternal life.
Christians should take care of their souls. Therefore, when choosing classes, you should be careful, analyze your actions. And always prioritize charitable activities.
