D&D General The Satanic Panic never really died?

[Nagol]

I’m open to a more charitable interpretation.

I suggest you read his words.

"The Satanic Panic never really died? Guess it didn’t for some!". Then he presented evidence to support his thesis.

 

[Nagol]

LOOK AT THIS PENTAGRAM
EVERY TIME I DO I SUMMON GRAZ'ZT

I prefer to shout Hastur three times. Eventually, I'll manage to make it stop ignoring me!

 

[Tony Vargas]

But since I'm not going to host a "roleplaying games are wicked" program to accompany a potential D&D program,

Y'know, there actually are Christian RPGs. Just like there's Christian Rock and ChristianMingle.

FWIW

 

[Nagol]

Is Satanic Panic a uniquely American phenomena. are any other countries affected?

(I know theres a local ‘Cult Watch’ in my country but nothing thats ever appeared in any mainstream media or conciousness)

There was a more muted equivalent in Canada, at a minimum.

Back in the 1980s, I was seriously accused of attempting to steal souls by DMing and introducing D&D. I laughed at them; I hadn't been paying attention to the news reports about the game. It s after all, a game.

 

[Umbran]

Well, at minimum Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.

To those guys, playing a role is NOT a game. It is Serious Business.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I've been waving a soft-shell crab around my head while my left foot sits in a bucket of salt water, screaming Blibdoolpoolp. But so far nothing.

I prefer to shout Hastur three times. Eventually, I'll manage to make it stop ignoring me!

It's my understanding that the Satanic Panic existed globally, but generally with less fervor. Although, one of the first instances was Michelle Remembers, in Canada.

List of satanic ritual abuse allegations - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Is Satanic Panic a uniquely American phenomena. are any other countries affected?

 

[Sepulchrave II]

Those which are non-falsifiable do not contradict objective reality - by definition. We can show someone the D&D rulebooks, and show that there are no instructions for actually enacting magic of any kind within their covers - that claim is falsifiable.

Sorry, but this is utter blather. Most religious assertions are non-falsifiable; if they weren't, then priests, imams, gurus and lamas would be out of a job in no time.

In this particular case, how do you demonstrate that Satan has not influenced the authors?

People are remarkably consistent in one thing - how they value certain beliefs, and lambast others based on their own cultural conditioning. We often think that our own perspective (secular, Western, liberal) grants us some kind of immunity to prejudice; it does not.

Dig a little deeper into your predicates, here, and you will find your prejudice is alive and well.

 

[Celebrim]

I suggest you read his words.

"The Satanic Panic never really died? Guess it didn’t for some!".

Clearly he meant, "In the event that you encounter someone who for religious believes sincerely believes that gaming is spiritually dangerous, how do you respond to that belief with sensitivity rather than being dismissive of it?"

And obviously, that tone really set the stage for the useful and inclusive discussion that has followed.

 

[generic]

Sorry, but this is utter blather. Most religious assertions are non-falsifiable; if they weren't, then priests, imams, gurus and lamas would be out of a job in no time.

In this particular case, how do you demonstrate that Satan has not influenced the authors?

People are remarkably consistent in one thing - how they value certain beliefs, and lambast others based on their own cultural conditioning. We often think that our own perspective (secular, Western, liberal) grants us some kind of immunity to prejudice; it does not.

Dig a little deeper into your predicates, here, and you will find your prejudice is alive and well.

This is, of course, true and obvious to any observer.

The question is whether or not some prejudice is okay. For example, my prejudice is that I am biased toward believing things which can be proved by science and observation while allowing for the possibility that unproven theorems could be real.

In this case, is it not okay to hold biases against the demonization of D&D?

Your argument is good, but it is, in reality, largely useless.

 

[Nagol]

Clearly he meant, "In the event that you encounter someone who for religious believes sincerely believes that gaming is spiritually dangerous, how do you respond to that belief with sensitivity rather than being dismissive of it?"

And obviously, that tone really set the stage for the useful and inclusive discussion that has followed.

I figure he meant what he said. The Satanic Panic hasn't died out completely -- which seems on its face to be pretty freaking non-controversial since literally no alternative theory set dies out regardless of evidence. For evidence of my thesis, I point to the Flat Earth Society.

ETA
My home town opted to add a street magic festival in the late '80s to draw in tourist dollars. I provided lighting and sound services for the town hall. About 15% of the speakers were against the opportunity because it would be bringing magic to the town and "the bible says..." got quoted a lot.