I don't understand why so many Christians say it's such an evil thing! I've been playing the hardcore rules (I've bought the rule books, I play on pen & paper), for almost nine years, and my relationship with God has only strengthened. Several of my friends all play D&D too (many of which have been playing longer than I have), and they're some of the most logical, sensible people I know. If a person is said to have become "possessed" or "gone crazy" over the game, it doesn't have anything to do with Satan. It means that person was an unstable human being and no one payed enough attention to that individual to make sure their hobby didn't turn into an obsession.
Religion is control that blinds people to freedom.
21
Join Date: 4th July 2008
Location: England
Posts: 597
Blessings: 31,863
My Mood
Reps: 21,434,678 (power: 0)
D&D is creative. It's imaginative, requires you to think up and visualise fantasies that aren't written in the bible. Christians don't like that, the bible is the only fantasy that they want you to believe. D&D can lead people away from Christianity because the more creative they are, the more they think for themselves, and the Church doesn't like people thinking for themselves, they'd rather just dictate to people what they want them to think every Sunday at Church.
D&D is creative. It's imaginative, requires you to think up and visualise fantasies that aren't written in the bible. Christians don't like that, the bible is the only fantasy that they want you to believe. D&D can lead people away from Christianity because the more creative they are, the more they think for themselves, and the Church doesn't like people thinking for themselves, they'd rather just dictate to people what they want them to think every Sunday at Church.
The church doesn't like people thinking for themselves? That's quite a pessimistic take on Christianity, in my eyes. As an experimental artist (focusing in graphic art and multi-medium collages), I thrive on creativity, free thinking, and total individuality. Heh, quite frankly, I'm done for in the eyes of the church!
D&D is creative. It's imaginative, requires you to think up and visualise fantasies that aren't written in the bible. Christians don't like that, the bible is the only fantasy that they want you to believe. D&D can lead people away from Christianity because the more creative they are, the more they think for themselves, and the Church doesn't like people thinking for themselves, they'd rather just dictate to people what they want them to think every Sunday at Church.
If you said there are some Christians who don't like that, I'd agree. But this Christian loves fantasy, science-fiction and roleplaying games, and I think for myself. My church doesn't dictate to me what to think. Certainly we get teaching: Our pastor is an outstanding teacher -- but it comes from his scholarship and wisdom, not from his authority. He wants us to think it through for ourselves and draw our own conclusions, as all the best teachers would.
You make it sound like Medieval Europe, when all of Christendom was just one "The Church" that had a worldly hierarchical structure, and could demand conformity to official dogmas. We Christians are agreed on some central points, possibly best summarized in the Nicene Creed, but we have many different opinions on other matters.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. No guilt of life, no fear of death This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
Last edited by Izdaari; 27th July 2008 at 11:04 AM.
I don't understand why so many Christians say it's such an evil thing! I've been playing the hardcore rules (I've bought the rule books, I play on pen & paper), for almost nine years, and my relationship with God has only strengthened. Several of my friends all play D&D too (many of which have been playing longer than I have), and they're some of the most logical, sensible people I know. If a person is said to have become "possessed" or "gone crazy" over the game, it doesn't have anything to do with Satan. It means that person was an unstable human being and no one payed enough attention to that individual to make sure their hobby didn't turn into an obsession.
Any hobby can turn into an obsession, which is then unhealthy.
What you speak of I know well too. Thankfully, Norwegians are generally well enough balanced and informed to know a game when they see it. So we (my friends and I, all Christians) have not faced much trouble due to our playing D&D for close to eight years now.
And personally, I would say it has improved me as a person in many ways. In ways, I think it has also helped me improve my relationship with God. Not to mention that in stressful times it has been a great place to escape and rest my mind and heart. Like a book can be. Or a long walk, too.
No, D&D is a great game. And they would not consider it evil if they knew what it was. Nor would they consider it evil had WoC used different words. Avoided the word "magic" or "demon" and "devil" for example, yet kept the game the same in every way. It's rather stupid.
Keep enjoying the game, I say. And if some people are afraid of it, you could always find some way of arguing vehemently for their repentance from the evil ways of the TV which undoubtedly leads to devil-possessions and suicidal tendencies. Heh... Thing is, I think you'd be closer to the truth with such an argument than they are with their paranoid ramblings.
Hmph.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Originally Posted by Martin Luther King Jr.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
Originally Posted by Bertrand Russell
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim:
The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate.
"no man can serve two masters; ye cannot serve both God and mammon." - Bible (Matthew 6:24)
Currently, I am playing D&D on Myth Weavers (PbP); in fact, it is through them, that I heard about this site. I don't see a problem with a Christian playing D&D (I'm a Christian.)
To try to bring something of Christianity to a secular game/site, I have done the following:
1. I have told my players that I would pray for any concerns they may have.
2. I sometimes say "God bless" at the end of a message.
3. My signature is always Christian related (either a Bible verse, or some other Christian related statement.)
4. I have posted a link to this site in my OOC game thread.
I enjoy the fantasy aspect of D&D, and realize that other deities; magic, etc., that are a part of the game, are only fictional; I have no worries about getting into occult practices, due to playing D&D.
Have you SEEN the movie? Only Satan Himself could have made something so relentlessly awful.
Alas, yes I have. If feels like one f the first D&D games I played, back when I was 18. Not in that that was a particularly good game, rather in the sense that in the movie it feels like the characters are played by inexperienced players who aren't into their roles at all. Terrible movie for a great game. Oh well...
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Originally Posted by Martin Luther King Jr.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
Originally Posted by Bertrand Russell
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. dir="ltr">
Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim:
The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate.
"no man can serve two masters; ye cannot serve both God and mammon." - Bible (Matthew 6:24)