Article - Role-Playing Games and the Christian Right [Archive] - Wizards Community

Article - Role-Playing Games and the Christian Right [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MaxBrains
09-18-04, 02:33 AM I found this article on the internet, and I thought it described the public reaction to "Satanism" in RPGs in a very scientific manner. It's very opinion-neutral and professional, which I believe is how it best debunks the claims of fanatics like Pulling and Chick. http://www.3rdedition.org/articles/viewer.asp?ID=67

-Note: it's rather long-
Mister Mayhem
09-18-04, 06:26 AM Thanks for the link - it is most definately worth reading.
Incenjucar
09-18-04, 11:24 AM I've always found it endlessly amusing that these people not only have no idea how Dungeons and Dragons actually works, but they don't even understand the most popular form of Satanism, which is largely secular versions of biblical ethics, minus the stuff that just lacks sense (Hell for being gay, etc).

They try to link apples and oranges when they're actually dealing with tofu and a piece of carpeting.
Count Arioch the 28th
09-18-04, 11:57 AM That is currently the fifth definition of satanism that I've heard.

Which tells me that it's perhaps closer to Wicca than the wiccans admit, since they can't decide what the hell Wicca is either.
Marchen
09-18-04, 12:12 PM They can agree that Wicca is the ancient European religion that was founded in the the 1930's.
wereooze
09-18-04, 01:32 PM And you're all assuming that there is one universal Satanic religion?

The Wiccans have enough trouble trying to get mainstream america to not ban their meetings without some yahoo running-around the next county naked and chasing sheep , also claiming to be a follower of the true & original Wiccan religion.

In summary: Quit the hatin' :)
Perseus
09-18-04, 03:23 PM Nice article. It seems that every lunatic with an urge for power and self-promotion needs to find someone to demonize. Thus he or she has a 'moral' cause to fight.
Mrs. Pulling's actions were clearly motivated by her need to blame someone else for her son's death. I guess that makes it a little easier to look at yourself in the mirror.
MaxBrains
09-18-04, 05:15 PM I suppose she deserves just a little bit of respect, then. She did lose her son, after all, and was (or still is) hopelessly lost for an explanation. She just went down that dark path of hate, and D&D happened to be the bit she scapegoated. :(
Grox
09-18-04, 06:38 PM I suppose she deserves just a little bit of respect, then. She did lose her son, after all, and was (or still is) hopelessly lost for an explanation. She just went down that dark path of hate, and D&D happened to be the bit she scapegoated. :(

That doesn't merit her any respect in MY book.

Pity is not respect.
Tafka Oddfan
09-18-04, 07:49 PM That is currently the fifth definition of satanism that I've heard.

Which tells me that it's perhaps closer to Wicca than the wiccans admit, since they can't decide what the hell Wicca is either.

This is completely off-topic. But there are several religious sects that claim to be "Satanist" of which I am aware of two:

Church of Satan - Founded in 1960s by Anton Levay. It is not a theistic religion and does not worship or accept the existence of any deities. The primary precept is "do unto others as others do unto you." Which is essentially the way most people behave anyway.

Luciferianism - The only religious sect that actually practices the worship of the Christian devil.

Wicca is a witchcraft religion, not in any way linked to Satanism, but a form of neo-paganism. Most neo-pagan traditions are revivals of pre-Christian European religions, and originated in the 1960s.

Of course, as D&D players, we practice all of these religions frequently. Am I right, or am I right? Or am I right?
Escef
09-18-04, 07:53 PM I suppose she deserves just a little bit of respect, then. She did lose her son, after all, and was (or still is) hopelessly lost for an explanation. She just went down that dark path of hate, and D&D happened to be the bit she scapegoated. :(

It's a was, she's dead. Or maybe it still is an "is", depending on what you believe. ;)
MaxBrains
09-18-04, 08:27 PM Of course, as D&D players, we practice all of these religions frequently. Am I right, or am I right? Or am I right?You're wrong.
Count Arioch the 28th
09-18-04, 09:02 PM I have one player who is a "Wiccan", although it's more accurate he's an atheist who wants to make people angry at him.

Other than him, nope.
Pfisiar
09-18-04, 09:08 PM People are always entitled to their opinion, whether we agree with it or not. To belittle anyone for their opinions, no matter how offensive you find them to be, is wrong. To quote someone famous: "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll fight and die for your right to say it."
Count Arioch the 28th
09-18-04, 09:35 PM However, by that same token, we're allowed to publicly mock the beliefs of people we find foolish.

Maybe not on these boards, but "That guy is a moron"* is just as much an opinion as anything else, and I am just as entitled to it.

* This was not in reference to anyone here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MaxBrains 09-18-04, 02:33 AM	I found this article on the internet, and I thought it described the public reaction to "Satanism" in RPGs in a very scientific manner. It's very opinion-neutral and professional, which I believe is how it best debunks the claims of fanatics like Pulling and Chick. http://www.3rdedition.org/articles/viewer.asp?ID=67 -Note: it's rather long-
Mister Mayhem 09-18-04, 06:26 AM	Thanks for the link - it is most definately worth reading.
Incenjucar 09-18-04, 11:24 AM	I've always found it endlessly amusing that these people not only have no idea how Dungeons and Dragons actually works, but they don't even understand the most popular form of Satanism, which is largely secular versions of biblical ethics, minus the stuff that just lacks sense (Hell for being gay, etc). They try to link apples and oranges when they're actually dealing with tofu and a piece of carpeting.
Count Arioch the 28th 09-18-04, 11:57 AM	That is currently the fifth definition of satanism that I've heard. Which tells me that it's perhaps closer to Wicca than the wiccans admit, since they can't decide what the hell Wicca is either.
Marchen 09-18-04, 12:12 PM	They can agree that Wicca is the ancient European religion that was founded in the the 1930's.
wereooze 09-18-04, 01:32 PM	And you're all assuming that there is one universal Satanic religion? The Wiccans have enough trouble trying to get mainstream america to not ban their meetings without some yahoo running-around the next county naked and chasing sheep , also claiming to be a follower of the true & original Wiccan religion. In summary: Quit the hatin' :)
Perseus 09-18-04, 03:23 PM	Nice article. It seems that every lunatic with an urge for power and self-promotion needs to find someone to demonize. Thus he or she has a 'moral' cause to fight. Mrs. Pulling's actions were clearly motivated by her need to blame someone else for her son's death. I guess that makes it a little easier to look at yourself in the mirror.
MaxBrains 09-18-04, 05:15 PM	I suppose she deserves just a little bit of respect, then. She did lose her son, after all, and was (or still is) hopelessly lost for an explanation. She just went down that dark path of hate, and D&D happened to be the bit she scapegoated. :(
Grox 09-18-04, 06:38 PM	I suppose she deserves just a little bit of respect, then. She did lose her son, after all, and was (or still is) hopelessly lost for an explanation. She just went down that dark path of hate, and D&D happened to be the bit she scapegoated. :( That doesn't merit her any respect in MY book. Pity is not respect.
Tafka Oddfan 09-18-04, 07:49 PM	That is currently the fifth definition of satanism that I've heard. Which tells me that it's perhaps closer to Wicca than the wiccans admit, since they can't decide what the hell Wicca is either. This is completely off-topic. But there are several religious sects that claim to be "Satanist" of which I am aware of two: Church of Satan - Founded in 1960s by Anton Levay. It is not a theistic religion and does not worship or accept the existence of any deities. The primary precept is "do unto others as others do unto you." Which is essentially the way most people behave anyway. Luciferianism - The only religious sect that actually practices the worship of the Christian devil. Wicca is a witchcraft religion, not in any way linked to Satanism, but a form of neo-paganism. Most neo-pagan traditions are revivals of pre-Christian European religions, and originated in the 1960s. Of course, as D&D players, we practice all of these religions frequently. Am I right, or am I right? Or am I right?
Escef 09-18-04, 07:53 PM	I suppose she deserves just a little bit of respect, then. She did lose her son, after all, and was (or still is) hopelessly lost for an explanation. She just went down that dark path of hate, and D&D happened to be the bit she scapegoated. :( It's a was, she's dead. Or maybe it still is an "is", depending on what you believe. ;)
MaxBrains 09-18-04, 08:27 PM	Of course, as D&D players, we practice all of these religions frequently. Am I right, or am I right? Or am I right?You're wrong.
Count Arioch the 28th 09-18-04, 09:02 PM	I have one player who is a "Wiccan", although it's more accurate he's an atheist who wants to make people angry at him. Other than him, nope.
Pfisiar 09-18-04, 09:08 PM	People are always entitled to their opinion, whether we agree with it or not. To belittle anyone for their opinions, no matter how offensive you find them to be, is wrong. To quote someone famous: "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll fight and die for your right to say it."
Count Arioch the 28th 09-18-04, 09:35 PM	However, by that same token, we're allowed to publicly mock the beliefs of people we find foolish. Maybe not on these boards, but "That guy is a moron"* is just as much an opinion as anything else, and I am just as entitled to it. * This was not in reference to anyone here.