The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his075/d_d.lzh/D&D.TXT

Text File | 1991-06-30 | 10KB | 222 lines

CUL:A Biblical View of Dungeons & Dragons  by Scott Jones

   I. Introduction

   A. Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 5:21-23 "Test everything. Hold
on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, theGod of
peace, sanctify you through and through. May your wholespirit, soul and
body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord JesusChrist. The one
who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

   B. It has been estimated that over 3 million Americans play a
gamecalled Dungeons and Dragons. On Saturday mornings there are
cartoonswhich your children can watch that are based on this and other
Fantasy Role Playing games ("F.R.P."). The games can be played almost
anywhereby anyone. With the increase in popularity of this and other
F.R.P.games in the last two years, and with the increased availability
of the material to play the game it is essential that Christians know
the just what the game is all about in order to "Avoid every kind of
evil" asthe Bible instructs us to do.

   C. The information for this topic was taken from a book called
Playing With Fire, written by John Weldon and James Bjornstad. Thesetwo
men have presented a very clear and verifiable study thatobjectively
looks at F.R.P. from the Bible's view.

   II. History and Background.

   A. F.R.P. games of which, D & D was the first, got their start asa
spin off of strategy simulation war games.

   B. Gary Gygax founded a society called the "Castle and
CrusadeSociety" as a special interest group of the International
Federation ofWargaming.

   C. Gary Gygax took some ideas from a man by the name of Dave Arneson
and developed the first D & D game called "Greyhawk."

   D. Originally the game was introduced to college campuses aroundthe
country. However, now 46% of the games and materials sold are

   bought by the 10 to 14 year old age group and an additional 26% of
allgames are bought by 15 to 17 year olds.

   E. The game initially received a lot of attention due to the
disappearance and subsequent suicide (which occurred about a year
later)of an undergraduate by the name of James Dallas Egbert, III, who
was anavid D & D player. An investigation into his disappearance and
suicidedid not produce conclusive evidence of a connection to D & D.

   F. How the game is played.

   1. Ought there are game boards available along with othergame
materials, the game is mostly played in the mind. This is one ofthe
reasons that the game attracts so many people of above average▄j▄
intelligence.

   2. There are no rules only guidelines.

   3. There is no time limitation, thus one game could last inde
finitly.

   4. There appears to be no absolutes or boundaries.

   5. Three or more players and a Dungeon Master are needed toplay the
game. (REFER TO P#31)

   G. Principles:

   1. These are role playing games, which means that the player must
assume the part of the charactor to the point that he must thinkhow the
charactor would accomplish any given task.

   2. The roles that can be played, are not desirable accordingto
Biblical standards.

   3. In the past, role playing games had a historical setting, but
today in F.R.P. games the setting is fantasy and mythology. 4. Today
there is not only violence and a quest for powerfound in war games, but
add to that immorality, idolatry, and occultismfound in games such as D
& D, one has to wonder just what kind of effectthese games might have
on one's own philosophy and morals! ë

   5. Unfortunately, most players participate without ever considering
the world view in which the are playing, and the Christianplayers who
particpate many not consider just how far the game'sideology is so in
conflict with the principles of the Bible.

   III. The world view or philosophy contrasted with the Word of God.
A. Each F.R.P. game has it's own universe (i.e., world view or
philosophy fashioned by words or concepts that work together to
providea more or less coherent frame of reference for all thought and
action.

   B. In order for a player to be able to play one of these games he
has to comprehend the universe of the game and thus the game's outlook
on life.

   C. The comparison :

   1. The subject of God.

   a. F.R.P. games in general support polytheism.

   b. In these games one is supposed to have a patron god and is
expected to have contact with him.

   c. The Bible clearly states that there is only one true God and that
we are to Worship Him only. (Ex. 20:3)

   d. The Scriptures state that there are many thingscalled god but
there is by nature only one True God, the God of theBible. (I Cor.
8:4ff)

   2. The subject of creation:

   a. F.R.P.s in general suggest a non-theisticuniverse(s), that is,
without an infinite creator God. b. The Bible maintains a theistic
universe(s), one that begins with the personal, infinite God who
"created the heavens and theearth" out of nothing. (Gen. 1:1).

   3. The subject of man:

   a. Most F.R.P. games say that man can better himselfand progress
through various levels by means of cooperation skill andluck.

   b. In some games it is possible to attain the level of a divinity or
deity.

   c. The Bible states that man has disobeyed God, thus alienating
himself from God. (Rom. 3:23) Payment for sin or atonementis needed,
but sinful man is incapable of producing or providing this. God loves
us so much that he took the initiative in history by sendinghis Son,
Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead to pay thepenalty for
sin by His deaths on the cross.

   d. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ alone is theonly way to life
and to God. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 3:36) 4. The subject of
resurrection.

   a. F.R.P. games address immortality in two areas; resur rection and
reincarnation: (1) Resurrection meaning resuscitation or revival of a
person after death by means of magic or by petioning one's patron god.
(2) Reincarnation is the belief of bringing back a dead in the form of
a new incarnation (or in a new body). b. The Bible clearly states one
conclusion for man after death: a resurrection to Heaven for the
believer, or resurrection toHell for the unbeliever, depending on what
you think about Christ, andwhether you accept Him as your personal
Saviour. (Rom. 8:23-24) 5. The subject of morality :

   a. F.R.P. games see an amoral world at best. Good and evil seem to
be presented as equal and opposite sides. b. Such activities as rape,
stealing, murder, mutilation and human sacrifices are incorporated into
the adventure of the Games. c. The Bible maintains a moral universe,
based on the integrity of God. Thus there is an absolute standard by
which all moraljudgments can be measured.

   d. God has revealed this standard to us in the various laws and
principles expressed in Word, the Bible. These laws andprinciples are
given for our instruction that we might know what isright and what
ought to be done in a given situation.

   D. Principles:

   1. The theology found in F.R.P. games is an outright denialof much
(if not all) of Biblical theology.

   2. The theology found in these games is not true and there is a
false understanding of the supernatural and the gods and demons
onecalls upon and imagines may not at all times be purely imaginative
andnonexistent after all.

   IV. Assessing F.R.P. games.

   A. To categorically declare that all F.R.P. games are "evil" andof
the Devil would be simplistic and erroneous, just as it would be
anerror to accept them all unquestionably as "good" and "harm less."
Inorder to make an intelligent assessment of these games we
mustcritically examine at least four basic areas. First, the role
offantasy; secondly, morality; thirdly, escapism and lastly, occultism.

   1. Fantasy:

   a. Neither fantasy or fantasy role-playing is wrong inand of itself.
When carried out with in the context of the Christianworld view, it can
serve as a useful and creative activity.

   b. We are creatures made in the image of an imaginativeGod and we
should consider it a privilege to possess and exercise thisgift of
imagination. However, we must also recognise our obligationbefore God
to use this gift in a wholesome way and to guard against anymisuse, (I
Cor. 10:3-5).

   c. If Christ taught that looking at a woman with lustwas committing
adultery in the heart, would it not follow that if youlust after power
given by false gods that you are in fact committingidolatry in the eyes
of God?

   2. The morality of the games.

   a. In D & D and games of its kind there are no moral absolutes, nor
are there any moral conclusions. Good does not have totriumph over evil
in the end.

   b. The good morals that might be brought in to the game have no
effect on how the charactor is played. If your charactor is anevil
(alignment) thief then that is how he must be played.

   c. Where there is power and violence there is oftensexual
immorality. For example, in D & D "non-human soldiers" areexpected to
"rape freely at every chance."

   d. Remember, in these games, not only does the player become the
charactor, but in some games the charactor becomes a modelfor all to
emulate.

   e. The bible is the final authority on right and wrong, and if God
declares in the Bible that prostitution, rape, stealing, mutilation,
murder, human sacrifice, worshiping other gods, castingspells, using
magic, and practicing necromancy are wrong, then shouldone pretend
those things or become involved in a fantasy game in whichone
participates by imaginative role playing? NO!