Newton Joseph

RELIGION AND LAS VEGAS
New 10.
XX
` Just as Las Vegas has a gambling game to fit the taste of every gambler so too Christianity has a denomination that will fit the taste of every Christian. The pathology of the compulsive gambler is that while gambling they can shut out their contemporary problems and is willing to risk all of their money to do so. Those who remain in the religion of their families are also compulsive in their religion and get their neurotic needs met by familiarity as to not cause cognitive dissidence. When they find their religion no longer satisfies their psychological needs will join a denomination that fits their particular neurosis just as the gamblers will find the game that satisfies their neurosis. There are those who can step back and examine their religion with critical eyes for the first time---even if they do suffer from cognitive dissidence and can stay with it long enough until the new information becomes familiar will discover the psychology of change. When religion ceases to comfort one intellectually and psychologically they often become atheists.

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