Que dice Ellen White sobre el ajedrez? Por qué tiene esta posición y, se refiere a esta actividad específica, o es un ejemplo de cualquier actividad similar?
Ellen White clasifica el ajedrez dentro de un grupo de diversiones que considera perjudiciales para el desarrollo espiritual y físico del cristiano. Su posición no se limita únicamente a este juego, sino que lo agrupa con actividades como el baile, los juegos de cartas y las damas, señalando que el cielo no aprueba este tipo de entretenimientos (CT 346). La razón principal de esta desaprobación es que estas actividades abren la puerta a males mayores y no poseen una tendencia beneficiosa para el carácter (CH 195). La objeción hacia el ajedrez se fundamenta en su impacto sobre la mente y los nervios. White explica que este tipo de juegos mentales excitan y fatigan el cerebro de manera innecesaria, lo cual es especialmente dañino para quienes buscan recuperar la salud (T12 78.3).
En lugar de proporcionar un descanso real, estas actividades imponen una carga mental excesiva que puede obstaculizar la recuperación física y agotar las fuerzas intelectuales (PH100 69.1). Además, se advierte que el ajedrez y juegos similares pueden generar una pasión peligrosa en la mente de los participantes. Esta influencia excitante tiene el potencial de conducir a hábitos destructivos, como el juego de azar y una vida disoluta (T12 25.1). Por lo tanto, el consejo es que los cristianos deben condenar estas prácticas y buscar sustitutos que sean perfectamente inofensivos y que no pongan en riesgo la integridad religiosa (AUCR November 24, 1913, par. 7).
Finalmente, la autora enfatiza que la verdadera recreación debe ser un cambio de actividad que beneficie tanto al cuerpo como a la mente. Ella recomienda el trabajo físico ligero y agradable como una alternativa superior, ya que mejora la circulación y restaura el cerebro, a diferencia de los juegos mentales que solo producen inquietud y fatiga (T12 78.3). El objetivo de cualquier descanso debe ser mantener la maquinaria corporal en orden mediante una combinación proporcionada de esfuerzo físico y mental (SpM 355.4).
Usted también podría querer explorar:
Verified Source Texts
“How to Spend Holidays Recreation is needful to those who are engaged in physical labor, and is still more essential for those whose labor is principally mental. It is not essential to our salvation nor for the glory of God to keep the mind laboring constantly and exclusively, even upon religious themes. There are amusements, such as dancing, card playing, chess, checkers, etc., which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them. These amusements open the door for great evil. They are not beneficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, producing in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling and dissipation. All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and something perfectly harmless should be substituted in their place. CT 346”
“Periods of Relaxation [ Testimonies for the Church 1:514, 515 (1867) .] I was shown that Sabbathkeepers as a people labor too hard, without allowing themselves change or periods of rest. Recreation is needful to those who are engaged in physical labor, and is still more essential for those whose labor is principally mental. It is not essential to our salvation, nor for the glory of God, to keep the mind laboring constantly and excessively, even upon religious themes. There are amusements, such as dancing, card playing, chess, checkers, etc., which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them. These amusements open the door for great evil. They are not beneficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, producing in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling and dissipation. All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and something perfectly harmless should be substituted in their place. CH 195”
“I was shown that the position of Dr. Jackson in regard to amusements was wrong, and that his views of physical exercise were not all correct. The very amusements he recommends hinder the recovery of health in many cases, where one is helped by them. And physical labor for the sick, is to a great degree condemned by Dr. Jackson, which proves in many cases the greatest injury, while such mental exercise as playing at cards, chess, and checkers, excites and wearies the brain, and hinders recovery. Light and pleasant physical labor will occupy the time, improve the circulation, relieve and restore the brain, and prove a decided benefit to the health. But take from the invalid all such employment, and he becomes restless, and, with a diseased imagination, views his case as much worse than it really is, which tends to imbecility. T12 78.3”
“Various entertainments, some of them of a theatrical character, have been introduced into the Sanitarium for the benefit of the patients. These amusements, which are similar to those in vogue at other health institutions, too often take the place of religion and devotion. And they are necessarily attended with extra care and expense; but this is a small consideration when compared with the loss to spirituality and true religion integrity. PH100 68.3 When the game of checkers was introduced at the Institute a few years since, I was shown that its tendencies were evil. It might amuse, but it would result in far more harm than good. That which is thought to be a benefit is in reality a detriment. The nerves become excited, the mental forces are unduly taxed, and recovery of health is hindered. PH100 69.1”
“I was shown that it is not essential to our salvation, nor for the glory of God, for us to keep the mind laboring, even upon religious themes, constantly and excessively. There are amusements which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them,—such as dancing, card-playing, chess, checkers, &c. These amusements open the door for great evil. Their tendencies are not beneficial, but their influence upon the mind is to excite and produce in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling, and dissolute lives. All such plays should be condemned by Christians. Something should be substituted in the place of these amusements. Something can be invented, perfectly harmless. T12 25.1”
“Ellen G. White. Extracts from Talks at the Lake Union Conference. June 17-27, 1904. By Mrs. E. G. White. What we need to keep the bodily machinery in running order is the physical and mental taxation combined so that all parts will be taxed proportionately. You go and sit down and study, study, study. I have known it to lay many in the grave. SpM 355.4”
“How to Spend Holidays AUCR November 24, 1913 Recreation is needful to those who are engaged in physical labour, and is still more essential for those whose labour is principally mental. It is not essential to our salvation, nor for the glory of God, to keep the mind labouring constantly and excessively, even upon religious themes. There are amusements, such as dancing, card-playing, chess, checkers, etc., which we cannot approve, because heaven condemns them. These amusements open the door for great evil. They are not beneficial in their tendency, but have an exciting influence, producing in some minds a passion for those plays which leads to gambling and dissipation. All such plays should be condemned by Christians, and something perfectly harmless should be substituted in their place. AUCR November 24, 1913, par. 7”
Ellen Chat