Flyspeck23
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Wise words.Umbran said:
The first step to get rid of prejudice is starting with your own. And that's not as easy as it sounds...
(Trying Not To Start A Rant) The Other Side of the Christian/DnD Thing
- Thread starter Andrew D. Gable
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The first step to get rid of prejudice is starting with your own. And that's not as easy as it sounds...
Calico_Jack73
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I grew up going to a Lutheran elementary school and was pretty much born into my church. I received the "Red Box" basic set from a friend of mine when I was in 3rd grade and the Church/School library had The Hobbit which I checked out and read many times. I worried a little that my parents wouldnt' let me continue playing since it was the height of the Dallas Egbert scare in the late 70's/early 80's but low and behold my Church's Associate Pastor not only played D&D but played it while he was in at Semenary. The youth group would go over to have dinner at his house every once in a while and I thought it was great that he had mini's EVERYWHERE! He didn't hide it and of course my parents figured that if my pastor didn't have a problem with it then there was no problem with me playing it. In the end my parents praised the game. During my teen years I never did drugs, never got arrested, never had more than a passing interest in the occult, and never really got into trouble of any kind. My parents knew all the people that I gamed with and never had any problem finding me if they needed me to come home for something. In my late teens I gamed with a group of mostly older professionals... paramedics, lawyers, network engineers, and business owners. I think they proved a good influence on me at a critical decision making time in my life. D&D has overall been a godsend in my life. 
Keeper of Secrets
First Post
I'm Catholic, went to Catholic school but only had a handfull of Catholic friends growing up (as I lived in a very Protestant area). Nobody in my church in the 30 years I have attended church ever had anything nasty to say about it. Its not like the Catholic Church (who is OK with gambling as long as it is not screwing up your life) would hardly have problems with throwing dice.
Now the area I was (south of the Mason Dixon) in had many Protestants who were against it and I had some friends who had to hide the fact that they played. I always thought it was kind of silly that anyone could think it was 'evil' or it could somehow cast a spell over you the same way in which they felt that Ozzy was gonna get you through the tape player (no CDs when I was a kid).
Whereas the thought never occured to me, alone, that DnD would rot my Christian/Catholic upbringing, I always wondered what the holy rollers would have thought of say, Cthulhu or Stormbringer or Vanpire where things get a lot more morally murkey. Then in the 90's with the chic of playing evil alignments and races and recently with products like The Book of Vile Darkess and the Book of Erotic Fantasy I think I am glad that the more conservative faiths have more important things to worry about.
But honestly, isn't interesting how in the 80's Dnd and heavy metal music were the twin heads of evil that targetted kids? It just kind of went away. Heavy Metal lost its appeal and DnD almost went bankrupt. But beyond that my guess is that these same people realized that there were far worse things their kids were fooling around with - drugs, guns and sexual activity. My guess is that they simply realized that theri kids sitting in the basement slaying orcs was a much better idea than out at midnight doing God only knows what.
Now the area I was (south of the Mason Dixon) in had many Protestants who were against it and I had some friends who had to hide the fact that they played. I always thought it was kind of silly that anyone could think it was 'evil' or it could somehow cast a spell over you the same way in which they felt that Ozzy was gonna get you through the tape player (no CDs when I was a kid).
Whereas the thought never occured to me, alone, that DnD would rot my Christian/Catholic upbringing, I always wondered what the holy rollers would have thought of say, Cthulhu or Stormbringer or Vanpire where things get a lot more morally murkey. Then in the 90's with the chic of playing evil alignments and races and recently with products like The Book of Vile Darkess and the Book of Erotic Fantasy I think I am glad that the more conservative faiths have more important things to worry about.
But honestly, isn't interesting how in the 80's Dnd and heavy metal music were the twin heads of evil that targetted kids? It just kind of went away. Heavy Metal lost its appeal and DnD almost went bankrupt. But beyond that my guess is that these same people realized that there were far worse things their kids were fooling around with - drugs, guns and sexual activity. My guess is that they simply realized that theri kids sitting in the basement slaying orcs was a much better idea than out at midnight doing God only knows what.
Moe Ronalds
First Post
Trainz said:
Uhm, you may wanna clarify the tone of your post a bit. Not trying to accuse you of anything, but the poster it's quoting may find it a bit patronizing.
Just sayin'.
Anyway, back onto subject, my group has one catholic (recently confered, in fact), a Christian (moi), a Druid, A handfull of Pagans (everyone's a Pagan when you're 15.), A buddhist or two, and a couple of atheists.
Surprisingly, in my family, everyone save my father is Christian. We don't actually go to church, but we do pray. What makes it surprising, is that my father (an atheist) is the only person related to me who has any problem at all with me playing D&D, and his problem is just that it's mindless filth that'll rot my brain faster than Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Comic Books, and Star Wars stuck in a blender and set on "puree".
What's really funny, is personality wise I resemble him more than anyone else.
Mac Callum
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I don't have much to add to the main topic, but I thought this has been the most respectful and mature conversation on the topic I have seen here at EN World. That shouldn't be surprising though, because EN World has many adult & mature members and posters. They are capable of respecting one another, and that does not surprise me at all.
However, EN Worlders don't get many opportunities to show how respectful and mature they are do they? The respectful and mature posters are rarely given the chance to show others how to post "the right way."
People fear and are intolerant of what they don't understand. People learn to understand by exposure and talking with those who do. Without speaking and exposure; without polite and mature conversation, understanding and tolerance will find no sustenance. The only result of that is the continuance of fear.
However, EN Worlders don't get many opportunities to show how respectful and mature they are do they? The respectful and mature posters are rarely given the chance to show others how to post "the right way."
People fear and are intolerant of what they don't understand. People learn to understand by exposure and talking with those who do. Without speaking and exposure; without polite and mature conversation, understanding and tolerance will find no sustenance. The only result of that is the continuance of fear.
If we're surprised, it's only because you were never allowed to admit it. We posted in ignorance because that was the policy.Psion said:
Mac Callum
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My point exactly.Wormwood said:
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