[PW] Christian Science and lotteries

[Nina Gilbert]

Two quick notes to Barb, Jeanne, and Nona (it's a Sunday in December; normally I wouldn't clutter the list):

1.  If I gave someone a lottery ticket and they won a lot of money, I wouldn't want or expect any of it, and I would assure them of that.  But if someone got me a ticket and I won a lot of money, I would want to give them some, buy them a gift, or donate to a charity in their honor.  My circle of friends still remembers an unpopular girl who was given a 40-cent lottery ticket as a Sweet Sixteen present by a mean-spirited popular boy...she won $400 (in 1971) and grew overly fond of the boy.  Which I guess is another example of how money- and gambling- based gifts can trigger strong, possibly uncomfortable emotions.

2.  I did think of Heifer International, because I do donate to them and will get regular holiday gifts for others through them.  Secret Santa is supposed to be silly, and we're supposed to come up with a series of amusing gifts that total $15.  I already feel self-righteous for getting something as practical as the set of magnetic measuring spoons.  Also, my giftee is one of our grantwriters.  We're a nonprofit that also has a campaign for Christmas-gift donations (we invite donors to make tribute gifts in honor of people for the holidays), so I wouldn't want her to think I was paying the competition!

Oy, so complicated!

Nina Gilbert
Education and Community Programs Manager, Boston Lyric Opera


------------------------------------------------
Nina Gilbert
ninagilbert at yahoo.com



----- Original Message ----
From: Reference <ref_lib at yahoo.com>
To: list at project-wombat.org
Sent: Saturday, December 1, 2007 1:59:45 PM
Subject: Re: [PW] Christian Science and lotteries



--- Jeanne Schramm <jeanne.schramm at gmail.com>
wrote:

> If they have no religious
> qualms, and they win a LOT OF
> MONEY, should they give you some? 

Hmmm, I think anyone who gives a lottery ticket
as a gift gives it with the understanding that
any winnings belong entirely to the recipient -
on the other hand if the person DOES have
religious qualms maybe she'll feel obliged to
give Nina ALL the winnings! GO FOR IT NINA! Just
kidding... actually Jeanne brings up good points
- why worry about it; just get her something
else. (you can buy ME a lottery ticket, though,
Nina...)

Barb






    
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