Is D&D a sin?

Doublehex · Aug 30, 2005

Here's the deal that really drives me bonkers - it's not fantasy they dislike in general. It's just D&D. They don't care about World of Warcraft, or any other fantasy CRPG you can imagine.

Just D&D. And they even let me buy CRPGs based off the 3.5 ruleset! They KNOW Neverwinter Nights is a D&D video game.

Pretty weird, huh?

seebs · Aug 30, 2005

That is pretty odd.

If it's any consolation, we got a hilariously bad flyer from the local Lutheran church in, maybe, 1987, that pretty much had all the same stuff. It was hilarious. Evidence of Satanism included "red pillows, especially if they have tassels".

Anyway, I don't think your parents are making any sense. I wouldn't pester them about it, but if you find some way to bring the topic up, you might ask whether they'd be okay with you playing other pen & paper games. You might also ask if they'd like to hear from pastors about this.

Hmm.

Actually, that gives me an idea! You should ask them if they have any sources they've been relying on in this, so you could look it up and learn more about the dangers.

It is, after all, quite possible to imagine that there's dangers to D&D that I just never noticed. If you could find out what specifically their sources are, that might help us advise.

Chrysalis Kat · Aug 30, 2005

Doublehex said:
Here's the deal that really drives me bonkers - it's not fantasy they dislike in general. It's just D&D. They don't care about World of Warcraft, or any other fantasy CRPG you can imagine.

Just D&D. And they even let me buy CRPGs based off the 3.5 ruleset! They KNOW Neverwinter Nights is a D&D video game.

Pretty weird, huh?

For whatever reason D&D makes for the better scapegoat.

Nightson · Aug 31, 2005

Abbadon said:
Ack! Bourgeoisie!

LOL Since my actual personality is chaotic good, I'm really best at playing Lawful Evil and Chaotic Good, either what I really am or the exact opposite. It can be fun to play your opposite.

MidnightBlue · Sep 1, 2005

seebs said:
Evidence of Satanism included "red pillows, especially if they have tassels".

HA! I'm reminded of nice turn of phrase from Barbara Holland, describing a 19th-century redecoration of the White House:

Everything that could be gilded was gilded, and everything else had tassels on it.

(In a later edition of the book, "gilded" was changed to "painted gold", which just goes to show you the state of American literacy.)

But anyway, that kind of thing is surprisingly common. When you teach people that everything is black or white, good or evil, of God or of the devil, they end up making that kind of judgment. Red pillows, especially with tassels, must be of the devil. As good soldiers of Christ, they must be constantly on guard against attacks of the devil, and so they see him under every rock and around every corner and -- more unfortunately -- in most of their neighbors. In such hands, Christianity becomes an angry, fearful and superstitious thing: can't you just hear those parents saying "Bob played D&D and almost became a Satanist"?

When I was 16 and wanted to do anything my parents didn't want me to do, I always did it anyway, and tried to make sure they didn't find out. But I just can't advise the OP to be sneaky. My advice is to try to reason with your parents -- though that doesn't seem to be working -- and if all else fails, just bide your time. You'll be 18 soon enough.

Nymphalidae · Sep 1, 2005

When I was 16 and wanted to do anything my parents didn't want me to do, I always did it anyway, and tried to make sure they didn't find out. But I just can't advise the OP to be sneaky. My advice is to try to reason with your parents -- though that doesn't seem to be working -- and if all else fails, just bide your time. You'll be 18 soon enough.

No, in this case it's ok to be sneaky. It's not like the kid is shooting heroin.

Nightson · Sep 1, 2005

Nymphalidae said:
No, in this case it's ok to be sneaky. It's not like the kid is shooting heroin.

I'd tend to agree, although accept that you can get in trouble and don't get angry if you get caught. Be good enough to not get caught.

Kaonashi · Sep 1, 2005

D&D is only a sin if you don't know how to play.

MidnightBlue · Sep 1, 2005

Nymphalidae said:
No, in this case it's ok to be sneaky. It's not like the kid is shooting heroin.

My brother and his wife are very strict about what their kids can watch on tv, so I was very surprised when my nephew told me he likes "Family Guy." Turns out he watches it at a friend's house. I have to admit my thought was, "Good for him."

Toboe · Sep 1, 2005

Nymphalidae said:
It means he thinks he's too cool for it.

Hey I play R.P.G.s but anything in real life its really boring to me.

P.S.

Abbadon · Sep 1, 2005

Doublehex said:
Here's the deal that really drives me bonkers - it's not fantasy they dislike in general. It's just D&D. They don't care about World of Warcraft, or any other fantasy CRPG you can imagine.

Just D&D. And they even let me buy CRPGs based off the 3.5 ruleset! They KNOW Neverwinter Nights is a D&D video game.

Pretty weird, huh?

The current rules for Call of Cthulhu, D20 Modern, and other games use the same rules set (minus elves). I wonder if you could get away with that.

That's odd. I mean, I'd understand if they were not allowing you to play Vampire, or Call of Cthulhu (those are generally more R rated), but allowed you to play other RPGs, but this doesn't make sense.

Course, D&D has changed since it first came out in the 1970's. The first edition handbooks did have a slight "demonic" look to them (like pictures of heros stopping evil cultists), but it was still obviously a game. The current rulebooks don't have any "demonic" art at all. D&D's gone from "Legend" to "The Hobbit".

Oh, well.

invisible trousers · Sep 2, 2005

maybe they just don't want you to become a total nerd

britishtankgirl · Sep 2, 2005

invisible trousers said:
maybe they just don't want you to become a total nerd

lol
i do get annoyed at christian parents who scare there kids into not doin things they are scared of. but im a parent so i aint gonna tell ya to go against their wishes. i know my mum had some weird things i wasnt alloud to do as a kid cos of beein a christain, im sure d&d would have been one of them. but we played it as a class at school. i thank God that i had other christians around me that had more balanced views. think they helped me turn out normalish.plus i now lots of christians whoplay even now. true they might be nerdy but they are solid people who know god.
im sure there must be some christain allternatives out there by now anyway.

Abbadon · Sep 2, 2005

britishtankgirl said:
im sure there must be some christain allternatives out there by now anyway.

Unfortunately, there really isn't much. There are RPGs that deal with Christianity, like The End, or Engel, but those are just based off of Christian mythology. Spiritual Warfare is the only one I've seen that was created specifically as a Christian RPG that I'd consider buying. Most of the stuff out there is really boring, lacking substance, or TOO preachy.

Which is too bad.

Brennin · Sep 2, 2005

MST3k presents Dark Dungeons

Abbadon · Sep 2, 2005

Brennin said:
MST3k presents Dark Dungeons

HA HA! Yes! I was hoping someone would present that!

lawtonfogle · Sep 2, 2005

MidnightBlue said:
(In a later edition of the book, "gilded" was changed to "painted gold", which just goes to show you the state of American literacy.)

I know that gilded means due to an RPG, so it can't be all bad. And read the under the name.

ONly about a week to go.

Nightson · Sep 3, 2005

Brennin said:
MST3k presents Dark Dungeons

HAAHAHAHahahahahhahahahahahahaahaha....... dear lord that was good

ffman · Sep 3, 2005

In my opinion, no. Of course, it may be a sin if it begins to draw you away from God or cause you to act unnatural for some reason. About the same as video games, I guess.

sidhe · Sep 4, 2005

Brennin said:
MST3k presents Dark Dungeons

Greatest...thing...ever! On a similar subject, has anyone ever seen the D&D parody with Sucksface the Demon, who's forced to play as a Lawful Good Paladin?

On topic, I don't think D&D would qualify as a sin, unless it leads you to stop loving your neighbor...

Is D&D a sin?

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