From: kroth@david.wheaton.edu (Ken Roth)
Subject: Re: D&D and Christianity
Organization: Wheaton College, IL
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 08:03:57 GMT

I deleted the entire article, cause if you really care, you will read it
yourself8-)...anyway, on with the show.

Hmm, background would be nice I guess...
I am a 22 year old almost college grad (okok, I flunked my last class senior
year, Hebrew 402...ok, I admit it...) at a very conservative Evangelical
Christian school named Wheaton in Illinois, SW of Chicago (we are considered
one of the best Xian schools..anyway).  We have a student body of around 2400,
including the grad school.  I have been 'born-again' since I was 7.  In a
'Fundamentalist' (I use the term loosely, for reasons I will discuss later)
school, while I was here, I know of at LEAST 40 people who play AD&D, some
others playing Shadowrun, and some MERPs.  Needless to say, some people here
don't agree with it, but the tolerance is actually pretty good.

Now, to the subject at hand.  About 8 months ago (when I needed something to
do cause I was unemployed) I basically got sick and tired of those who claim
to have the corner on truth in Xian circles, and I decided to do two things
(neither of which have happened yet):
1)  Create an underground organization (kinda) to stimulate the belief the one
can be an Xian AND revel in Fantasy and Fiction too, and..
2)  Do a HUGE amount of research and write a book or mag. article to be
published by a Xian organization/mag and givea different kind of 'Xian
response to AD&D'.  (reference to a book of the same title...)

I worked on number two a great deal, and I have dozens of sources that I have
compiled, using lots of libes, including U. of Chicago and the like.   I even
had some stuff that TSR didn't have (went up there and we shared info one day,
nice road trip).  I have also put a LOT of thought into the directions of
argumentation to follow, and decided some things that will NOT work:

1)  In the other article (the one I didn't respond to) use a line of reasoning
that will NOT work.  It does no good to 'slander' the opponents of FRPGs, even
if they deserve it.  I know that Raschke (author of Painted Black) is,
basically, an idiot, but the obvious answer is that the character of the
messenger does NOT change the truth of his method.  Also, telling people that
the person they have believed is an idiot automatically puts them on the
defensive.

2)  A lot of Xians have this image that has been painted for them of these
Satanic folks who get together in dark basements, playing a few 'games' of
AD&D between their ritualistic slaughters and the Black Sabbaths.  While it is
entirely possible that this happens somewhere, that is NOT the norm.  And this
is the point that has to be made.

3)  The fact that MOST people who play the game are decent, and actually CARE
about others.  I had a friend who was interested in playing AD&D, but who
decided that she would become too involved in the game, and we supported her
decision.  We also told one of our players that we thought he was getting too
involved with his character, spending too much time developing his castle,
etc...and we told him so and he cut back his involvement.

4)  The strong connection between fantasy and Xian authors, including C.S.
Lewis, JRR Tolkein, Madeline L'Engle, John (?) Whitehead, White, Peretti, etc.
They sometimes forget that what they call 'fiction' is simple fantasy.  They
also forget that the Bible uses imagery from various pagan sources, including
Babylonian Mythos and Canaanite lore.  We agree that the Bible is not saying
that these things are true, so why do you necessarily assume that AD&D is
doing it?  Watch out for double standards that are often used.  Remember, to
them you do NOT have the benefit of the doubt, so what you say is in question
to them.

5)  This last one is tricky, and to be honest, this is best used by a Xian and
only if it has been researched thoroughly.  The principle is the idea of
Grace.  I know to some of you who don't know much about New Testament theology
and pick up a lot of your ideas about Xians from 'Fundies' may not have heard
much of this, but regardless of the impression that these Fundies give, Grace
is one of the over-riding truths of Xian belief, the basis for the hope of
humanity, etc.  The basic idea is that we could never earn our salvation, but
it is given freely by God.  The off-shoot of this is that me have what is
called 'Christian Freedom' which allows us (within the limits of things
specifically prohibited) to decide what we can do.  As I stated before, my
friend knew that playing AD&D could very well do her harm..Therefore, to her
it would be 'wrong'.  I know that it does not adversely affect me, so for me
it is not.  LET ME MAKE CLEAR, this does NOT mean that you can 'do what you
like', but that you decide on the 'gray areas'.  Like I said, this is
complicated, and to be honest, I probably should not have started writing this
at 1:15 AM, but one good book to read about this topic is 'The Grace
Awakening' by Charles Swindol (who has a wonderful writing style).

NOW, about the term 'Fundies' and 'Fundamentalists'.  Do NOT use these terms,
unless the person calls themself this first (to some people this is a badge
of honor).  I am OFFENDED when people call all Evangelical Xians Fundies,
cause it is a term which actually has a definition, and MOST Evangelicals do NOT
fit it.  Also, it is considered a derrogatory (sp?) term, and I am NOT a
fundie, but I am an Evangelical Xian.

Well, this has gotten long enough, but if anyone wants more info or whatever
about my plans, or things I said above, drop me a line and if you are lucky
the mailer will work.

PS, the others I have played with include a Pastor's kid, a Missionary's kid,
a member of ROTC, a wrestler, two art majors, an ex-youth pastor and his wife,
two people (and their wives) who work for a large Christian mission.  And some
others...Just to show the cross-section of folks who play here at Wheaton.

Ken

Also, I hope I offended no one in the above message, and nothing I said was
intended to be a flame in any way shape or form, it is all FYI!!!


-- 
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kroth@wheaton.uucp  ||  uunet!tellab5!wheaton!kroth  ||  They call me Gryfalia  
   "We believe, we believe, 'cause we felt it burning in our hearts"--77's
  "He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose."
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