How to Handle the BoVD
Nathanael,
First of all want to congratulate you on your stance on D&D and being a Christian. I too am a devout Christian. I read scriptures daily. I pray multiple times daily by myself and with my family. I go to Church. And, I play a game called Dungeons and Dragons. I too have (at certain times in my life) found myself defending this game as simply that: a game. D&D takes place in the imaginations of the players. D&D is no different from when you were a kid pretending you were King Arthur questing for the Grail. You can do whatever you want in this game. That's part of the appeal.
My first reaction when I read the first (and now debunked as inaccurate) synapses of the BoVD was similar to what you have described. I saw myself defending this game all over again. And, this time I saw enraged people with quoted text on things like slavery, human sacrifice, and demon worship. The thing to remember is that you don't have to use this book. Also, the book is meant mainly to give DMs a handle on truly vile and wicked and depraved villains. There IS a section on playing evil PCs, but from what Monte Cook has said publicly that is only a small section of the book and its main intent was as an aid to help DMs make villains who are extremely villainous and worthy of hate. At first I was ready to write a letter to Hasbro and threaten a boycott and to ask if they knew how hard they were going to make my life.
Then I thought of something I have always felt about censorship and our right to free speech and expression in the US. And, this is what I always say to people when they tell me TV is bad, or the radio has too many bad things on it now. I always say "There are at least two buttons on either the TV or radio. One changes the station, the other turns it off." I remembered that if I don't like something, I don't have to see it, or hear it, or buy it and read it. In this case I intend to check out the BoVD very thoroughly before deciding to purchase it or not. If it looks like a sensible role playing aid that handles tough subjects in a fair and mature matter, I will purchase it. If it looks like trash, Hasbro will not get my hard earned cash for it. If enough people do this and the book turns out to be a flop then no worries, hit Hasbro where it hurts, the wallet. I'd also like to share something I have learned over the years: If you know D&D is not bad, and you and your deity, whomever that may be, are cool with it, who cares what anyone else thinks? Be happy, enjoy your game and make sure you don't fall into the trap of trying to force your opinion on anyone with censorship and the like. Sorry this was so long, and I hope the best for you and yours.
<edit>corrected some spelling and added bold text</edit>
Flexy dislikes the Epic levels but loves that Mature Line! 
Anyway I don't have that many concerns, since I'm just getting it for the monsters. I have enough info for running cults with Legions of Hell and Armies to satisfy my needs, even though I know people didn't care for the Thaumturge (sp).
