D&D + Evil = Help

[TwilightGirlKay]

I have a friend I really starting to get to know and care about.
Their into Dungeons And Dragons and I want to know how I can get them weaned off it.
My Dad is a LCMS Pastor and I will be asking him too, but I want your opinions on how to do this.
Their stautes on facebook is Christian, but yet they play this game and I fear for their soul and well being.
They do this I believe more socially, but still I worry about them.
My dad has always said it is an evil game and I've read about it and the Christian veiw on it.
I don't want to ruin the friendship we have and are creating, but if I have to I will do so to save them.
I don't want to seem like I'm preaching to them either and I'm contimplating going and sitting in on one of their games and try and voice my opinions on it without being preachy.
This person invited me and I don't want to ruin that blooming trust.
Plz suggest ways that might help.
Thank you all.

 

[Rao]

Honestly, I think you're just being superstitious.

In Italy, home of the conservative Catholic Church, the issue is completely non-existant. People play roleplay games, computer games, board games, watch movies, read comics, and don't go to hell for that.

The only realistic problem that may come from playing D&D or any other game (especially computer games), is addiction, which is obviously a bad thing.

The whole "D&D is evil" thing is a hoax, coming from a tragic suicide case in the 80s in the US that seriously impacted the imagination of the public, like the "Audi killer cars" case. Probably if you could see your friends playing the game a few times, you'd realize that it's just that, a fantasy game.

---

On the other hand...

Exactly because in the US the game is naively associated with "evil" and "danger", that fact actually might make the game attractive to certain types of nasty people, you know the type that is fascinated by evil, fascism, violence... That's a US-specific issue tho.

So the bottom line is that the game itself is harmless, but some of its players might be dangerous or at least unpleasant people.

 

[Angeldove97]

My boyfriend use to play it and his Mom before him. They're both great Christians. I think you're being overly worried about nothing--- get to actually know the game before you decide that something is doing harm spiritually to someone. Yes perhaps the way the game is being played may have some "evil" in it, but its not like they're worshiping Satan.

Many sites will tell you it is, but I doubt any of them have actually played the game. It is always about intent and most people do not intend it to be used for evil.

(Think for yourself and do your own research--- don't necessarily listen to a pastor or read just a few sites that are of course going to have ONE point of view)

 

[Criada]

On the whole such games tend to be about good overcoming evil, rather that the other way round!
God isn't going to send someone to hell for playing a game, sweetie. Let your friend enjoy it.. if your conscience won't allow you to play, that's fine, but it isn't a big thing, really.

 

[Cute Tink]

D&D is an open-rules game, meaning that there isn't much defined structure beyond the basic rules of how and when to roll the dice. A game can, and often has, taken the form of the heroes fighting evil with the Christian God on their side. There are no chants, prayers, summoning demons, etc. in the game. If people do those kinds of things, it is separate from the game. I have read the books. I have never read (in the books) the kinds of things that people have said are part of the game. I can only guess where the assumptions come from.

Some people do go overboard, but then again, people go overboard with lots of things.

 

[Hellion]

I love RPGs and am a very big fan of the World of Darkness gamelines from White Wolf publishing, (yes I know that REALLY doesn't help things right now but still).

If you actually set down with them (even played this game with them) you'd see for one thing that the game is quite a nerdy experience to behold (but fun mind you!)

The game is played like this:

DM (Dungeon Master): You and your party stand facing the entrace to the crypt of golden goodies and monsters, you hear echoes of snarls and roars coming from the threshold, what do you do?

Player 1 (Human Warrior): I catiously approach with sword drawn and shield ready!

Player 2 (Elf ranger): I knock an arrow and cautiously approach.

Thats pretty much what the game (and most RPGs involve) its like being in an interactive book, things happen on the fly (or are sometimes preparded for depending on the game master and how meticulous he or she can be).

Yes there is magic in most if not all RPGs unless its a sci-fi setting (with the exception of Shadowrun) Which is like D&D in a cyberpunk (think Bladerunner) world, however these books do not tell you much if anything about the ceremony, ritual or spell being cast, in fact the most common thing you'll hear is: "I cast fireball!" "Roll to hit then roll damage".

RPGs are like impromtu acting mixed with dice rolling, you sit there at a table, chow down on snacks and just have a good time.

Sadly though most Christians (or atleast fringe Christian minority groups) still cling to this half-truth and whole lie urban myths and legends having never even played or seen a game of D&D or anyother game for that matter.

I'll give you another example of what an RPG is, remember when you were a kid and you played cops and robbers or some other such make believe game? Well when some one fired their imaginary gun how was it determined if it hit or miss? And THAT is what RPGs are, stories that we tell and if their is a chance for something dice (or cards or some other thing) is used to determine if whatever we had a chance of doing went right or not.

 

[Singermom]

Many (many, many) years ago I used to play D&D. My character was kind of like a priest (or game equivalent) and wasn't allowed to carry a sword. My character had very specific "skills" that got her through the game.

Get this: I was a practicing Christian at the time, and most of the other people were either agnostic or Wiccan. It never, ever effected my relationship with God. I even went to them to a real-life reinactment, called SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and THAT was so much fun, costumes and all!

My husband also used to play before we met. I think we only had the pleasure of playing with a group together once.

First and foremost: IT'S A GAME! Any so-called power attached to it is what YOU give it. Even being afraid of it is giving it more power than God. Moderation is the key.

 

[dvd_holc]

The thing about it is...they have to want to change. If you (a new friend) are pursuing them to quit when they don't see anything wrong then that will push you away from them.

 

[Ceili]

I think actually changing their status ,religious beliefs and looking at where they are in their activities outside of a game is a bigger worry. I don't see D&D as evil.