D&D

[Eskarina]

My youth pastor and senior pastor want me to quit playing D&D if I want to be a back-up singer on the Sunday morning Worship Team...

 

[Eskarina]

Please respond to me about this if you see it. I really need to know how to argue D&D as an innocent game in my life. It is the most enjoyable pastime I have. It would devestate me and anger my friends to have it taken away...

 

[Narmegil]

Hmm I guess there really isn't anywhere else to put this kind of thing lol, I personally have never played D&D so I don't know a lot about it. But I would suggest trying to find things that help your relationship with Jesus. I mean I've even prayed about having a certain thing happen in this forums kind of rpg and it happened. I have examined several sites when my mom or dad say they don't like it, and I find useful info that goes along with what they do like I would suggest going to maybe a D&D site with a forum attached, someone else might have your problem

 

[Eskarina]

Yeah I put this in the OOC of the RPG section cause I didn't know where else to ask about it and it got moved here. I feel a little rebuked but, well, I didn't know better ^.^

I hope to pick up some advice here before heading to a site that might not contain as many Christians.

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

Have your senior pastor and your youth pastor why you need to quit? There are so many misconceptions about D&D, and I have found that just finding out what people have misunderstood and explaining it to them can really help. When my Mom found out I was learing to play, she went absolutely nuts. I thought she was going to kill me, or disown me and then kill me. But after explaining a lot of stuff, she doesn't mind at all. The game is not evil, and why people think it is is beyond me. Think about it, you can kill someone with a spoon, a no one condemns those as evil. I don't think anyone has died playing d&d (not counting those nutcases who use real swords and think that if they die, a true ressurection spell will actually bring them back to life). I don't see how magic can be considered any more evil than a biblical miracle. And if they say biblical miracles were not used to kill people, reference when God kept the sun from going down so David could finish his war (or something like that, I can't remember the exact story). D&D is only evil/demonic/unchristian if you make it that way. If you play it remembering what God wants of you, then there is nothing wrong with it. Hope that helps.

 

[Eskarina]

Thanks Monk, I'm having a meeting with my pastors on the 14th about the whole situation. My senior pastor is a lot more sensible about the matter than my youth pastor I think so it should be easier to reason with him... he'll also probably have better arguements. I've been through the gambit of reasons why it's just a game. I think bringing up the concept of magic being just like miracles might not be a good idea, though it makes sense. It borders too close on something they might see as me thinking the "occult" is harmless.

 

[Kira Yamato]

I'm an D&D player. The one reason you should quit playing is because you can make your own god"idol".

 

[Abbadon]

I play frequently. Check out www.mjyoung.org

There's an article there "Confessions of a Dungeons and Dragons addict," that, despite the title, is actually very good. It's written by a Presbyterian minister that plays D&D.

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

I think bringing up the concept of magic being just like miracles might not be a good idea, though it makes sense. It borders too close on something they might see as me thinking the "occult" is harmless.

Good point. You should probably come up with something though. From what I've seen and heard, magic is the biggest argument that d&d is "un-christian" or w/e. You could maybe try this: Can you really consider magic any different from any other talent? Also bring up the point that it is a game. Within this game world, magic is not something that comes from the devil. It is not part of the occult or anything like that. In real life, yes it is. But within the context of the game, it is not.

One last idea, if either your senior pastor or your youth pastor seem to be understanding and receptive to what you are saying, but are still unsure, you might try showing them how the game is played (just a quick rundown) and maybe even inviting them to come and watch part of a game session (assuming you are comfortable with that. Personally, I wouldn't since none of the people I play with are Christians, so there is some language and sex references and stuff, which wouldn't help my case).

Hope this helps, and good luck.

I'm an D&D player. The one reason you should quit playing is because you can make your own god"idol".

You can do that in real life too. The thing is, you don't have to. Whenever I play a d&d, none of my characters ever worship a deity of the game. ie, my druid drew all of his magical power from nature. It's a matter of choice and responsibility.

I play frequently. Check out www.mjyoung.org

There's an article there "Confessions of a Dungeons and Dragons addict," that, despite the title, is actually very good. It's written by a Presbyterian minister that plays D&D.

I'm getting a page not found error.

 

[Eskarina]

Great advice Monk. I plan to take in game material when I go to see them. I was going to invite them to a game that I'm a regular in but our DM put it to the group that if anyone was uncomfortable with it we wouldn't do it. Someone said they weren't so that's not happening. I haven't DM'ed a game before, only a test run of a potential campaign with my sister, but I will try and put them through a few paces.