D&D General The Satanic Panic never really died?

[gyor]

Of course! Brilliant! Better than average ability to distinguish fantasy from reality would naturally also correlate with rejection of religion, thus potentially causing a false perception of causation between D&D and rejection of religious belief!

How original, an atheist calling religious calling religious folks delusional.

 

[Nagol]

Horoscopes can count as witchcraft these days believe it or not.

They always have to a small segment of the population. They literally are purported divinations after all. That said, they tend to be generally accepted by the culture at large because they are a common form of mass entertainment. Familiarity had bred acceptance.

 

[Garthanos]

They do in Canada, but its more: "don't tell people what you're doing is real magic" on the basis that it prevents fraud, or more importantly gives the police the mans to arrest "real magicians" that bilk people out of money for a chance to talk to their deceased loved ones. Kind like a state sponsored Houdini.

I wish they had a name for that legal trick, where they make up a law in order to enable the police to do something needed. (even though the law is ummmmm well I do not even have a good word for it). They have done this to make fighting floods part of the police officers jobs. Another allowed officers to shelter homeless in mid winter. But the things they made illegal were rather nonsensical or questionably seen as an infringement of rights if they occured in a different context.

 

[gyor]

They do in Canada, but its more: "don't tell people what you're doing is real magic" on the basis that it prevents fraud, or more importantly gives the police the mans to arrest "real magicians" that bilk people out of money for a chance to talk to their deceased loved ones. Kind like a state sponsored Houdini.

Didn't that law get removed?

 

[Zardnaar]

They do in Canada, but its more: "don't tell people what you're doing is real magic" on the basis that it prevents fraud, or more importantly gives the police the mans to arrest "real magicians" that bilk people out of money for a chance to talk to their deceased loved ones. Kind like a state sponsored Houdini.

Psychics can get done for fraud.

Clue 1 they want money.

 

[Zardnaar]

They always have to a small segment of the population. They literally are purported divinations after all. That said, they tend to be generally accepted by the culture at large because they are a common form of mass entertainment. Familiarity had bred acceptance.

They never managed to stamp it out even in theocracies. It was most likely semi tolerated.

 

[Eric V]

Does checking your daughter’s Christmas wish list and worrying that she might be losing her way count as ‘deplorable’? It’s getting difficult to keep up.

True enough.

And listen, can we all be honest about something here? D&D very purposefully uses names of demons or other supernatural creatures that are mentioned in the Bible and other religious texts (Asmodeus, for example). Now, -I- don't think there's any real danger of summoning demons or whatnot, but those are "real" names for people in those belief systems. Sure, it's pretend, but if you believe these demons actually exist*, then you'd be cautious about this, at least, no?

WotC doesn't HAVE to use the demon/devil names it does, but makes the choice and as long-time players we appreciate it. Other companies have demons, but are all original, not based in any current religious belief system. So, a parent, who has no experience with the game, but does recognize some names and terms from her religious experience, might be concerned...and reading the class description of the warlock might not help.

It should be an easily solvable issue, sure.

*Apparently, many North Americans believe in angels. To paraphrase my fav hero, Matt Murdock, "You believe in angels, don't you, Father? Well, I'm sorry; you don't get to pick and choose."

 

[Undrave]

Can you imagine if the Warlock was a class in the 80s? Forget the spells thing...

 

[Xenonnonex]

Other companies have demons, but are all original, not based in any current religious belief system.

This is not true at all. Paizo and Green Ronin in particular have demons and devils based on real-world beliefs and even current belief systems. And generally depict their demons and devils darker than Wizard's versions.
Paizo has extensive lists and numerous books of demons and devils and divs and other foul creatures based on real-world beliefs.

 

[Eric V]

This is not true at all. Paizo and Green Robin in particular have demons and devils based on real-world beliefs and even current belief systems. And generally depict their demons and devils darker than Wizard's versions.
Paizo has extensive lists and numerous books of demons and devils and divs and other foul creatures based on real-world beliefs.

That's Paizo.