Hey, I’m not around here much anymore, but I just noticed all these changing times and such, and I decided to throw in my own old timer thoughts.
I would very strongly argue for the RPG forum to be for Christians only. As many of you have mentioned, there are tons of sites where anyone can play, and this is one of the few places where Christians can play without having to worry about religious disagreement. I think it’s really good and even important to have a place like this for several reasons.
For one, if “debates” came up in an RPG, they could potentially be far more fierce and out of control. For example, let’s suppose I’m playing some weak new religious convert. Then there’s an atheist playing an all-powerful sorcerer who is also atheistic who is going to come and squish my little character. If I were writing a good story, I’d probably let my character falter and perhaps even fall. But knowing I’m not just battling an imaginary unbeliever, but a real one, my character’s failing might be seen as Christian failing. So what do I do? Break out of character to make my point? Does that even work in this setting? If nothing else, this added incompatibility of believes just makes for bad stories.
If a debate were to come up, then mod action would be taken if necessary, just like anywhere else.
How does it look like a Christian falling? It's a story my friend, no one in their right mind is going to put you and your character as one. We can really say that about anything, but then there's the fact that actual Christians fall all the time, and that a floppity Christian in a story won't make much of a difference.
On a more serious note, and I’m sorry if I offend anyone, but this is the forum that probably attracts the youngest members. Even being older and a very experienced Christian, I can foresee that some of the situations I could be put in would be very tricky if not nearly impossible to get out of. I’ve always said that stories are very powerful things, and if someone wanted to come in and subtlety introduce some squirrelly ideology, I think it would be far too easy and far too risky considering the age of most of our participants.
I'm only one person, but I've survived hundreds of occultic stories and experiences. Look, if we're going to do this, then we also must strip away magic, violence, any kind of language, etc. There goes our RPG forum!
I agree there should definitely be some sort of line, but making it Christian-only not only gives to the old Christian stereotype that many atheists *love* to use, it's also not what Jesus called for. And if this is a Christian forum, I think that should come in at least somewhat.
Another thing is, we have more freedom in what we post since we know everyone shares the same worldview. For example, I’ve seen fantasies with entirely made up religions or sci-fi adventures consisting entirely of renegades and criminals (ha, that was a fun game), but ultimately we all know what the truth is. I might play a good sorcerer, but we all know that magic isn’t real, and anything that is too close to it is probably evil.
Do you think that Christians are the only ones who know the difference between a story full of magical wizards and real life?
The Christian RPG section is a place where people can relax. If some kid is playing a weak Christian warrior and they’re up against me playing an evil atheistic sorcerer, at least they know that the real person behind the evil is on their side. In fact, it can even be seen as a sort of training without any of the pressure of dealing with real sin or evil. I once played an evil demon that possessed people’s minds and made them think murderous thoughts. I hoped that through this character I would make people think “How would I react under temptation and evil thoughts if I couldn’t get them out of my head?”
There's a real world out there. You are not here to train a young Christian (guide and disciple, yes), because that's what God does. And we get training by being in real situations, in the real world. I can practice as much as I want, but the only real training is out in the real world.
I know our stories are hardly ever realistic, but there is always a semblance of realism behind every story, and every story says something whether it intends to or not. I’m sure most of us are familiar with the horrible state most RPG sites like this are in. I like knowing that whatever I do here, it won’t be twisted into something genuinely perverted and immoral. Not to sound harsh, but if unbelievers want to RPG, there are more than enough sites that cater to their needs. There are few places that Christians aren’t excluded by the corrupt content, so let’s not let Christian Forums become another place like that.
I've never seen an atheist-only RPG forum. Why? Because they know it isn't necessary. Do we have Christian-only church services? Or Christian-only clubs? No, of course not. Why not? Because that goes completely against what Jesus said.
However! Churches have leaders that keep everything intact and together. We have a few of those ourselves, and they do an amazing job already. On top of that we have the mods, and on top of that we have supervisors, and so on and so forth. We have a system designed to fix problems, just like in church leadership. So why should this place be different?
Now, I am not saying we cannot have Christian-only RPGs. I am saying that the RPG section, as a whole, should not be "Sorry, this is our little Christian bubble we like to play it. Get out, atheists, agnostics, pagans, etc."
No disrespect intended, but in my opinion we can't just throw a sign on the front that says "Christian Bubble."
Just a note. I've redirected the discussion link to this thread. I wasn't aware it existed when I made my discussion thread.
Personally, I think that it should remain a Christians only section.
My reasoning is less spiritual and more practical than others. You see, we all understand what it is to be a sinner and an unbeliever. We are all the first and we were all the second at one point in life. So we can write from that point of view.
However, an unbeliever has no understanding what it is to be a believer. (And, I feel the Bible supports this idea.) They cannot successfully write from the point of view of a believer. And I think some could be rather offended at their attempts.
Yes, and woe to he who brings offenses. But the fact is, people are offensive. If I let them, people in here (Christians) could aggravate me beyond comprehension, because people make mistakes and are faulty. So should we start kicking out whatever person annoys or offends someone else? I know I'll be gone in a few minutes, and this place would soon become a ghost forum.
I don't know what it's like to be a pagan or a Mormon. Should I then not have a character of that religion, for fear of bringing offenses?
Since all our threads have a Christian theology behind them (even if it is somewhere far, far behind), I think it would be difficult for an unbeliever to be able to interact in such a playing environment. They simply do not have the understanding given only by the Holy Spirit to do it.
You would be surprised. I have RPGed with non-Christians multiple times before, and they are lacking in nothing except salvation.
Also, RPing isn't exactly a good way to evangelize unbelievers. The best purpose I think it could hope to serve is to demonstrate the way Christians interact with one another. And, considering some of the arguments I've read (and, sadly, been involved in), I don't necessarily know how well we demonstrate Christ-like interaction.
Any place is a good place to evangelize to unbelievers.
No disrespect intended to you either, Shadow.
Look, the reason I'm no against Christian-only is because this forum played a huge part of saving me when I wasn't a Christian (I had my little breakdown period, long story, but it was when I first came here). I was a non-Christian and my account's profile said "Christian." But if this place had been Christian-only and I'd have changed my religion pic like I had wanted to, then I would probably be going to Hell right now.
This forum has helped me far beyond what anyone will ever know, and while I'm unique in mind, I'm not in situation.
So here's one unbeliever saved because he was evangelized to in the CFRPG. Are you sure there won't be another?
