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From: jordan@noscvax.UUCP (Martin C. Jordan)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: FRP games--a work of the devil... :-(
Message-ID: <6@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Sep-85 18:29:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: noscvax.6
Posted: Tue Sep  3 18:29:51 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Sep-85 04:37:41 EDT
References: <6601@ucla-cs.ARPA> <16240@watmath.UUCP> <4191@alice.UUCP> <723@umd5.UUCP> <16283@watmath.UUCP>
Reply-To: jordan@cod.UUCP (Martin C. jordan)
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 53
Summary: 

>>Try Call of Cthulhu - "Look, Hastur just ate your uncle" ...
>>
>>-- 
>  This brings up a reasonable point.   To get philosophical, maybe the
>  fundamentalists (and others) see D&D as such a threat to their narrow view 
>  of life (in that it deals with scores of dieties, imagination, and
>  ingenuity) that they have to react in some way to deal with it.
>  The constant headache of these people cutting us down without
>  knowing what they're talking about should probably dealt with in 
>  the way they preach (but don't practice).  ie. Understand that
>  they're insecure SOB's (ie. understanding).
>  
>                   Barry Rosetti,
>                      {??}!watdcsu!watmath!mjcarmody
>-----

        As one who enjoys FRPing as well as being one of the narrow-
minded, insecure SOB's as described above, I am sick and tired of 
being belittled for my faith. It would appear that most who compose
these tomes of invective against the (gasp!! run!!!) fundamentalists
are guilty of the same lack of understanding as many well-intentioned
ministers and talk-show hosts. They won't watch a D&D scenario, and 
many of you refuse to go to a fundamentalist church. Neither side is
willing to understand the other (read understand, not wholeheartedly.
believe in).
        Having Southern Baptist roots (worse than orcs, I know), I
undestand why some have difficulty accepting anything that even hints
of the occult. Lets face it, D&D (and offshoots) is not exactly a 
Sunday School lesson. Magic, divination, other gods, etc. have their
roots in occult practices spelled out in both Old and New Testaments
as being verboten (references on request). Believing as I do, one has
to be careful as to where fantasy ends. The atheist has no boundaries.
To him the Bible, Quran, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead are myth with
some good precepts to live by. To the Christian, the Bible IS Truth. 
Whether you as an individual accept this position or not, is a discussion
in another group. The fundamentalist Christian accepts the position that
Satan and "the powers of darkness" exist. He/she must therefore treat
some aspects of FRPing very carefully.
        Those ministers who have spurned offers watch a D&D scenario do not
get off free. They also need to be informed. But, they attack the game
NOT individuals or groups as adversely affecting people's lives. We
Christians are concerned about the spiritual well-being of everyone. 
Anything that begins to threaten people spiritually becomes an object
of concern. 
        Maybe someone could devise a scenario where Jerry Fallwell, a LG
Paladin, organizes and leads the forces of good to overthrow the minions
of Lucifer.......

                                        Peace and understanding,

                                                Martin 

 ***** Note: these views cannot be officially sanctioned by my employer *****