"D&D is evil. I have seen it from the inside."

[Whimsical]

In my previous gaming group, one of the players was a born-again Christian. He told me that the reason he plays D&D is to stay away from the drinking and drug scene that he used to be part of.

 

[Steverooo]

Uh, what? The 700 Club is alive and well. Their website, if you care:

http://www.cbn.com

www.700club.com will also get you there.

I snipped the rest of your post in which you go on a high-handed rant about how people don't fact-check before making statements about Chick et al, didn't seem appropriate to respond to it here.

Feel better?

Thanks for the link to the site, though (I stand corrected). I went there and looked around, and they don't sell videos of old broadcasts, nor did they have a Bio of anyone named Sanchez in their Bios of Previous Guests section...

Anyway, thanks to Doc-Awk for the info, to date!

I also posted a link in the Gygax Q&A thread to Quas' post, so maybe he'll jump in, at some point...

 

[Torm]

I wish I knew how to break the cycle.

The cycle can be broken, I believe, with two realizations: The realization that modern "Christianity" and the teachings of Christ are not always the same thing allows one to maintain a peaceful feeling towards others who profess themselves to be Christian, in the hope that, just maybe, they're doing it RIGHT. And the realization that people who have confidence in themselves and their own sense of right and wrong, and show that confidence to the world in the things they do, are much less likely to be questioned about what they do than people who act as though they are ashamed.

For the rest of this Off-Topic thread, I would like to address the Double Standard of ENWorld (and yes, there is one). Chick-Bashing (as opposed to Chick's Arguement-Bashing) is not only common, but En Vogue, here, as well as among gamers, in general. Fundamentalist-Christian-Bashing is about as popular.

I am uncertain whether any of what I said provoked this, so I wish to reiterate and clarify a bit: I have a great deal of respect for true Fundamental Christians (Apostolics, Amish, Mennonites, etc.) That sort of life choice requires a dedication most people won't, and possibly can't, give to their faith. As for the rest of His Church, well, a lot of it is made up of good people trying to spare what little time they can from their two job, kid-raising families to pursue religion, which they've been told is very important and which they may even remember as important from when they were younger, or just feel is important in themselves. They obviously don't have time to do a great deal of personal study, and when they get a vacation, they probably NEED a vacation, and thus they have to rely on their minister/priest/clergy to show them the way. They have to trust that he or she has their best interests and connection to the Divine at heart.

In this world, regardless of religion, I believe there are three types of people - the sheep, the sheepdogs, and the wolves. The sheep are most people - people like I described above. The sheepdogs are the good clergy and leaders - people who have the time, effort, and capacity to study the big issues and figure them out for the best for themselves and the sheep. Then there the wolves, who are the same as the sheepdogs, except they will use the trust of the sheep to their own advantage, even when it hurts the sheep.

The Wolves are the people who make me angry, and if it is considered bashing by some group, that is made up for by the fact that I don't consider their group an actual religion - Chick Publications, L. Ron Hubbard's bunch (vague to avoid ENWorld being sued or threatened), and pretty much any group that puts their financial well-being and/or personal power ahead of their followers' lives and souls.

And while I obviously have my own metaphor for all of this, I believe this is more or less what most people here think - they are the "these people" being referred to, not the followers of Christ's teachings. It is why you will see Jack Chick and his little pamphlets bashed on ENWorld and other gaming boards, occasionally, pretty much forever. And never or almost never see an unkind word about the Apostolics.

P.S. to chrisnd: The reason I use 'G-d' without the 'o' is because it is my understanding that some Jewish people are offended by the use of names for Him outside of certain settings. I imagine most Jews living amongst us 'heathens' are thick-skinned enough about it by now not to be too offended by your use, it is just something I like to do to try to be considerate when I can remember.

P.S. to Queen_Dopplepopolis: www.deism.org is a pretty good website for an explanation of Deism. Which is not to say I agree with everything there - my personal beliefs are hard to label.

 

[Piratecat]

I think I'm going to close this to avoid a segue into religion. Not that some of these posts haven't been quite interesting and thoughtful, but it's an area we don't wish to delve into on EN World.

Thanks to folks to participated constructively.