Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site vax3.fluke.UUCP
Path: utzoo!decvax!tektronix!uw-beaver!fluke!ptl
From: ptl@fluke.UUCP (Mike Andrews)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: One Christian's view on D&D games
Message-ID: <1515@vax3.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Oct-85 16:00:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: vax3.1515
Posted: Fri Oct 18 16:00:40 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 20-Oct-85 01:03:08 EDT
Distribution: na
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 59
Xref: tektronix net.religion.christian:01507 


Hi,

Just a few words on this Christian's perspective on D&D games.  A few years
ago I researched D&D for a presentation in the prayer group I belong to.
One of the women in the group was concerned about the long hours her
husband and son were putting into the game.  Her son was also beginning
to see images in the dark.

I got as much material, both pro and con, that I could get my hands on.
It ranged from Christian articles to D&D newsletters.  After all the
looking and reading I started talking to people and visiting stores that
sold the games.  Seems the more detailed versions of the D&D games
tell you that you have a patron god that you
play the game with, whether you believe it or not.  You are also required
to verbally call out spells.  One of the characters of the game is shown in
a publication giving the `goats head sign.'  This is a symbol used in satan
worship to signify `satan is lord.'  My neighbor who teaches in the local
Bellevue school district told me that the kids there are encouraged to play
the game at school because of the belief that it helps their imagination.
He also said they greet eachother in the halls giving the goats head sign
as a signal that they play the game.  They don't even know what it really
signifies.

Have you read any of the D&D magazines and newsletters?  I don't have the
exact quotes handy but you'd be amazed.  Remember many years ago when a
young boy who was gifted enough to let him into college early, somewhere
back in the mid-West I believe, was found in Texas (?) after having been
missing for some time.  He got there living out a D&D game.  He later committed
suicide.  One D&D newsletter referred to it briefly; then went on to mention
how their sales went up.  One dungeon master referred to himself as a god.
A lot of Christian terminology gets used (misused) in the games.  Good and
bad are confused, murder and death are common place (the more advanced games
get pretty gory), and our God is not glorified.  Yes, I've played the game.
The version I played was fun - until I began to think about what it
taught me.

Please - in my view the game isn't Christian.  And its fruits are for you
to judge.

God Bless,

	Mike Andrews
-- 

******************************************************************************

   God said He would never leave me nor forsake me, and that I am His temple.

		          A man is what he thinks.

A body led by the soul is only 2/3 of a person : the soul tries to get rid of
			        the spirit.
A body led by the spirit is a whole person : the spirit works to make the soul
    help the body.  And a spirit led by God the Holy Spirit is invincible.

*******************************************************************************
ARPA : fluke!ptl@uw-beaver.ARPA
UUCP : {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, sb6, lbl-csam}!fluke!ptl