Chapter 10: D & D: Just A Game? from Stairway to Hell by Rick Jones

[Kurashu]

Ugh. Jack Chick.

If I never heard that name again it'd be too soon.

I think most people would agree.

 

[Shades of Green]

While he's at it, why not include the borderline crazies that killed because they landed on a friends property that had a bunch of hotels on it (Monopoly - EVIL!) or went on a killing spree after losing a game of Mario Brothers (Videogames - EVIL!).

Why not include the borderline crazies who've burned people at the stake because of these people didn't belong to their over-zealous religious sect (Religion - EVIL?) - If Jack Chick had lived in the Middle Ages, he would've been a proud member of the Inquisition.

Jack Chick should be careful, as all of his arguments could easily be used against him and his fanatical ilk who give all monotheistic religions a bad name.

 

[Shades of Green]

Ugh. Jack Chick.

If I never heard that name again it'd be too soon.

Old idiots never die - I'd say that when Mr. chick dies of natural old age, he'll raise as a zombie, crying "DEEEEEEEEEEEVIL WOOOOOORSHIPPERS!" instead of "BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAINS!"

By the way, the local equivalents of Mr. Chick in Israel usually don't bother with D&D - they prefer to attack the TV and the internet in a similar manner. D&D has too small a distribution for their taste; they like to attack the widest possible secular or moderate-religious crowd.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Why not include the borderline crazies who've burned people at the stake because of these people didn't belong to their over-zealous religious sect (Religion - EVIL?) - If Jack Chick had lived in the Middle Ages, he would've been a proud member of the Inquisition.

Jack Chick a Catholic! Funny guy! Tell me another one!

He would have been burned at the stake as a heretic by the "good" Catholics who were part of the Inquisition.

 

[Shades of Green]

Jack Chick a Catholic! Funny guy! Tell me another one!

He would have been burned at the stake as a heretic by the "good" Catholics who were part of the Inquisition.

I didn't know about this fascist's kind of faith when I've posted the above posts. I've just read more of that man's site. I don't think any more that this guy is funny - he's a dangerous fanatic.

1) He hates muslims, mormons and catholics with a passion.
2) He doesn't overtly hate Jews, but wants to convert us Jews into Christianity by honey and guile.
3) For some obsure reason, he hates rock music.
4) He even attacks versions of the Bible that don't conform to his favorite mistranslation.
5) And, ofcourse, he sports the usual narrow-minded, bigoted assortment of anti-science, anti-evolution, anti-Harry Potter, pro-bookburning reactionary propaganda.

In the bottom line, the next time Mr. chick calls us "Insane", let us put a mirror infront of his face.

 

[Aris Dragonborn]

Of course he's a dangerous fanatic, SoG. But he's our dangerous fanatic. Say what you will about him, he provides a constant and consistent source of entertainment to gamers everywhere.

No other religious fundie even comes close to Jack's level of zealotry and utter cluelessness about RPG's in general, with the possible exception of Bob Parsons.

 

[DJCupboard]

I was wondering how all these demons got in here.

I'm personally glad Satan has board games like D&D to turn his followers into killers; imagine what the world would be like if he had to rely on crazy people to do all of his work. That wouldn't be a Satanic Army I'd be very proud of, let me tell you.

And you know, I never noticed before, of the many demons and devils the D&D creators named after demons and devils from bible, how many of them showed up in the bible. That's just eirie.

Well, I'm off to shoot my parents in the name of the Great Lord, Gygax! See you all tomorrow!

 

[Shades of Green]

And you know, I never noticed before, of the many demons and devils the D&D creators named after demons and devils from bible, how many of them showed up in the bible.

Most medieval names for the Devil (and demons) were usually one of the following:

1) Cna'anite deities which were, ofcourse, villified in the monotheistic Old Testament: Ba'al (Baal), Ba'al Zvoov (Beelzebob), Ashtoreth (Astarte/Astoreth) and so on.

2) The name "Satan", actually referring to an angel in the service of God who've convinced God to test the faith of poor old Job; the "Devil" is a very late concept, introduced into Judaism (and, later on, Christianity and Islam) from a dualistic Persian faith (IIRC); he was later identified with Satan. Lilith is the name of a Cna'anite goddess who was later, in Talmudic Judaism, used to refer to the Devil's consort.

3) Mistranslations and outright misunderstanding of Old Testament text. IIRC, "Leviathan" (whale in Hebrew) was originally referred to in the Book of Job as something which is beyond man's limited power (that specific part of the Book of Job talked about how Man was inferior to God, despite of that time's technology. The passage talked about how man can't catch Leviathan (i.e. a whale) by hook. Somehow the fact that the word "Leviathan" appeared in the same book which has introduced Satan into Judaism gave rise to the identification of Leviathan with Satan.

4) Medieval myth, usually given Latin names: Succubus, Incubus.

But I think that most D&D demons have made-up names (i.e. not originating from previous mythologies or religions) given "demonic-sounding names". The main exception to this is the Succubus, a Medieval demon. I don't think that Glabrezu (sp?), Baatezu and so on have any origion outside of Gygax's imagination.

 

[Dykstrav]

But I think that most D&D demons have made-up names (i.e. not originating from previous mythologies or religions) given "demonic-sounding names". The main exception to this is the Succubus, a Medieval demon. I don't think that Glabrezu (sp?), Baatezu and so on have any origion outside of Gygax's imagination.

Yeah, but names of some specific powerful devils and demons (Mammon, Dispater, Geryon, Orcus, Demogorgon, et cetera) were actually lifted from mythology/religion. But there were just as many purely fantasy ones thrown in too (Juiblex, Lloth, et cetera).

That being said, people like this really disappoint me. They give a bad name to Christians and even religion in general. Prodestant Christianity has a real clique problem these days, what with Christian music and Christian novels and Christian dating programs and all that. It's bad enough that they're focused on cutting themselves off from society in general without blatantly trying to alienate the slim percentage of the population that they may actually come into contact with.

 

[thedungeondelver]

I guess church alderman Dave Arneson and biblical scholar E. Gary Gygax will be dismayed to find this out. :-/