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Spirithound
Guest
On a similarly nerdy note…
5 POST COMBO!!!
5 POST COMBO!!!
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edwest2
Guest
Unless an actual demon appeared during one of your games – it’s not a sin. As any new and strange thing enters the marketplace, some people overreact. D&D contains no actual spells or real magic. But, a few rumors were circulated. One told how a young man died in connection with the game. That turned out to be false. Another tried to connect a murder to the fact that the police found some role-playing game books in the suspect’s car.
The only possible danger from D&D is searching out and developing an unhealthy interest in occult and New Age beliefs.
God bless,
Ed
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StTommyMore
Guest
DUngeones and Dragons is HIGHLY problematic. It fosters an interest in the occult and holds up pagan deities as objects of worship and sources of power. Magic and sorcery is forbidden in the Scriptures, but is shown as a “good” thing in the game. It also encourages a “solving problems through force” mindset. I would avoid this game at all costs.
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JHow
Guest
If orcs existed, would killing them be a sin?
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Bookcat
Guest
What do you mean “if” orcs existed?If orcs existed, would killing them be a sin?
(I love LOTR …)
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Bookcat
Guest
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StTommyMore
Guest
Yes. Orcs are rational beings, so killing them would be murder.If orcs existed, would killing them be a sin?
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JHow
Guest
But weren’t orcs somehow created by evil sorcery? I don’t have extensive knowledge of LOTR, but didn’t Saruman cook them up or something? The characters in LOTR seem pretty blithe about mowing them down.
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Melissa
Guest
No, D&D does not foster an interest in the occult. Nor are pagan deities held up as objects of worship/sources of power other than as a strictly in-game mechanic (Player: “my cleric character prays to Thor/St. Cuthbert/Pelor/etc. for his spells” DM: “OK, choose your spells for the day” or DM: “You are granted [list of spells] for the day”, depending on particular DM style). Or, when facing a horde of undead, saying that the character is calling upon the particular deity to “turn” the undead (make them retreat and/or obliterate into dust, depending on the type of undead and the character level) That’s it, insofar as “worship” and “source of power” is concerned. Magic and sorcery don’t actually exist in the game (they’re simply mechanics) any more than playing a fighter requires actual possession of a bastard sword, suit of armor, and a shield. Magic is, in the game, strictly a tool which may be chosen but has nothing whatsoever to do with the magic and sorcery forbidden in Scripture. Furthermore, D&D does not encourage “solving problems through force” exclusively, as characters may be rewarded for finding non-violent means of resolving issues (and in fact there is one module that I can think of off the top of my head in which the use of violence earlier in the module turns out to be a bad choice which causes greater problems for the party which could have been avoided if they had worked harder to achieve a diplomatic solution). In fact, D&D encourages a team-work approach where no single individual has all the skills necessary for the group’s success. There are times when fighting is necessary; there are times when fighting will lead to defeat and a failure to achieve the party’s objectives.
I’m not saying that you should play D&D or encourage others to play D&D, only that criticism of the game should be based on facts. The only sins that I can see arising from participating in a D&D game is in the realm of irresponsibly neglecting one’s other duties by spending too much time or too much money on the game. If there are those who play D&D and get involved in the occult, that’s a case of non causa pro causa.
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StTommyMore
Guest
There is a distinction between orcs in LOTR and D&D. D&D was created by Gary Gygax, who was not sympathetic to Christianity. He was pretty much the anti-Tolkien
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StTommyMore
Guest
I disagree. I played the game for more than 20 years. I am not just some lunatic passing judgment with no experience.
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Havard
Guest
Oi! Dem ‘umie gits be blabbin’ bout stompin’ da orks! Get 'em boyz!
Whoops, you said orcs, not orks.
Whoops, you said orcs, not orks.
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ghym
Guest
This link rather supports my previous post. The three objections most brought against D&D are
- It can become an obsession.
Response - So can most anything. D&D shouldn’t become an alternate reality for you, if it begins to intrude on real life you should probably back off. The same applies to television, video-games or Catholic forums. - It can serve as an entrance to the occult.
Response - When playing D&D you should remember that it is simply a game. The magical elements are harmless so long as they stay in game. It is probably a good idea to avoid taking role-playing too far. You should always remember that this is just pretend, but there are real demons in the real world and we don’t want to mess with them. - The game may call for deeds or actions which are incompatible with Catholic/Christian theology.
Response - The game may at times allow such actions or even encourage them but it is up to the individual player to decide if they are going to commit them. Players in D&D are more than simply actors playing a part, you control your character, you say “I” when talking about ‘it’, you step into the role often far more intensely than any actor on television. Although it may not be ‘wrong’ per-se to to massacre a town full of innocent imaginary villagers and take all their valuables I don’t see how it could be honoring to God. Players in D&D should run their characters as-if the actions reflected back on them, because the truth is, they do.
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pnewton
Guest
If no Christians ever played D and D, there would be no Christians with experieince to save us, should the orcs ever multiply again. And no, killing them is not a sin. (Gilgalad 2:20)
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Adeodatus
Guest
Not if they’re Communists.If orcs existed, would killing them be a sin?
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JHow
Guest
Ah. Got it. I guess in D&D you can pretend to be an orc? It’s like a character in the game? I’m actually surprised that D&D is still around. I kind of remember it vaguely from 1978-1979 era. Some of my friends were into it and I played very briefly with them. I may have a book or two - probably in the same box with my “In Through the Out Door” album.
I always thought D&D was based on Tolkien, I guess because of the Hobbits, which I thought Tolkien invented. I do recall that there was an opportunity to be an “evil” character when you played, though most people seemed to like being “good” characters. There were also “theives” (but then again, Bilbo was a “thief”, too, right?). I’m not going to encourage my kids to play D&D, however, I will encourage them to read Tolkien.
I’m not sure why anyone would particularly worry about D&D encouraging “use of force” to solve problems - since I think that is a feature of most games - they have rules, certain actions win the game for you - you play a trump card in bridge and you “beat” your opponent. In physical games, the effect is even more pronounced - you win football (American) games entirely by application of force. And, force does solve certain problems in the real world (ask the military about this concept).
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JHow
Guest
I don’t follow your reference to Gilgalad?
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Melissa
Guest
I disbelieve.
Your argument presented is not based on facts regarding the game, and betray a fundamental ignorance of the game which is precisely identical to the criticisms of those “lunatic
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wanner47
Guest
Interesting. Do you believe that C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien were promoters of the occult? Magic is shown as a “good thing” (albeit something that can be used for evil) in both the worlds of Narnia and the LOTR universe.
I’ve played D&D for about 10 years; my husband has played it about 20 years. We’ve never been drawn to the occult, or felt that pagan deities were worthy of worship or a source of power. (We both converted to Catholicism during the time period when we were both playing D&D once or twice a week, on average.)
If you had issues with distinguishing fantasy from reality, then it is definitely possible that D&D is/was a near occasion of sin for you. However, this doesn’t apply to everyone so you shouldn’t make an objective judgment about a subjective issue.
Saying that D&D is a sin for everyone, no matter what is like an alcoholic saying that drinking alcohol is a sin for everyone, no matter what.
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StTommyMore
Guest
I said that it was highly problematic, and should be avoided. At the very least it desensitizes one to occult influences.
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