Your Religion????

Dezarond the Red · Post by **Dezarond the Red** » Mon May 06, 2002 6:56 pm

Im not talking about your deity in the game, i just wanted to know if anyone that plays these games is spiritual?? i probally shouldent ask this but i get criticised alot at my (christian school) because i read Harry Potter and J.R.R. Tolkien and LOVE D&D games, i just wanted to know how everyone here felt about that???

Yoshimo · Post by **Yoshimo** » Mon May 06, 2002 7:02 pm

Just because your into fantasy roleplaying doesn't make you evil, much more evil things you could do, that is why I left the use of organized relegion, too much hypocracy, going to a building one hour a week doesn't mean your going to get in over the good samaritain who devoted his life to helping others, but never attended church.

GNGSpam · Post by **GNGSpam** » Mon May 06, 2002 7:26 pm

Woah

stay...back....

resist.....urge....

edit - this is going to get moved anyways

DaringCommander11 · Post by **DaringCommander11** » Mon May 06, 2002 7:32 pm

The reason that so many religions are against D&D, Harry Potter, etc. is that so many people dedicate there life to it and almost any religion is against life-long dedication to any thing but it (especially things that have magic, deamons, multiple gods, etc.)

Aranan · Post by **Aranan** » Mon May 06, 2002 8:23 pm

I wonder how long this thread will last before being moved or deleted...

Anyway, I'm a devout Christian and I enjoy BG, PnP DND, reading all sorts of fantasy books (I write my own crappy short stories as well!) and all that good stuff. What's rather neat is my youth pastor's husband also plays DND and BG

Dezarond the Red · Post by **Dezarond the Red** » Mon May 06, 2002 8:38 pm

That is totally awsome, i dont acrauly know anyone who plays D&D, i try to get my friends into it but there parents just yell at me, they say Lord of the Rings is ok but not D&D, that makes not sence, that Gandalf is ok But Eliminster isnt, i think if people could just come up with own decisions, instead of letting someone force them opon you, that you would (in most cases) be a happier and more true to yourself person, i am also a devout christian and by posting this thread i dont mean to say all christians are against D&D and are hipicritz there are those who just mind there own business and like you for who you are, not what you enjoy, sorry moderaters that i posted this, i just really wanted to know how other people felt and if i somehow offended anyone i did not intend too.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon May 06, 2002 10:45 pm

This really doesn't seem to be a BG2 topic, so I'm moving it over to SYM.

Ode to a Grasshopper · Tue May 07, 2002 12:28 am

**Waves magic wand**Accio twinky! **Twinky appears in hand with a puff of smoke

, takes a long draw** I'm not religious, but I say if you enjoy something and it's not hurting anyone else, then you should be allowed to do it. I like Harry Potter too (Snape's the best character), and the fuss that western religions have made over this one series of childrens books is a source of endless amusement to me.
Wonder what MnM has to say about Harry Pothead...

EDIT-The HP movie was terrible, though. The most soulless movie I have ever seen, it completely failed to capture the spirit of the books. I also think the books are getting better and better as time goes on, in contrast to the religious view.

Eerhardt · Post by **Eerhardt** » Tue May 07, 2002 2:19 am

I'm Christian and I see no problem with playing BG or Magic TG or reading Harry Potter (not that I'd want to

). Of course, SYM could be a problem

.

Beldin · Post by **Beldin** » Tue May 07, 2002 2:25 am

I'm quite godless, therefore I don't have a problem with the approval of a deity in which I do not believe anyway

.

But the problem as I see it is not so much a problem with any GOD, but with people who believe in the institutionalized church quite MORE than in their own judgement or anything else.

No worries,

Beldin

Ode to a Grasshopper · Tue May 07, 2002 2:26 am

Harry Potter is actually quite enjoyable, especially for childrens books. Good for some light reading.

Once you're in SYM you're basically doomed anyway.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Tue May 07, 2002 2:51 am

I'm a Catholic

And IMHO I think that any Christian who is against the likes of Harry Potter needs to rethink their arguments. Then again, those who are against these matters are often poorly informed on the matter, usually following like sheep to a priest who holds old and extreme views.

They pretty much tend to be a small group of ignorant and stubborn people, fanatics if you will

CM · Post by CM » Tue May 07, 2002 3:23 am

I am a muslim, and find nothing wrong with any of this stuff. I don't think many mullahs care about D&D and stuff. Not life threatening enough!

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Tue May 07, 2002 5:44 am

It is my opinion that if someone is secure in their faith, then no amount of exposure to magic, the occult or anything else "harmful" in a computer game or role-playing game can shake that faith. Why? Because Dungeons & Dragons, Harry Potter, etc. is fantasy, and kids are smarter than most adults give them credit, and they know what is real and what is make-believe.

EMINEM · Post by **EMINEM** » Tue May 07, 2002 7:09 am

I'm Christian evangelical, but have been playing D&D since I was 13 years old, even DMing a few campaigns in the Dragonlance (sucked!) and Forgotten Realms (Yay!) settings. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with P&P or CRPGs, as long as it doesn't become a substitute for reality, or get in the way or your more important obligations (ie. eating, sleeping, going to the bathroom

). That said, I think overall the influence which the Christian Right, and other like-minded voting blocs, has had on the industry has been positive, whatever liberal knee-jerk criticism has been levelled against such protest. Boundaries have laid set down, concerns (and not all are stupid and illegitimate) have been raised, and RPG developers have been made to understand that their products do leave marks on young impressionable minds, and may be held responsible for influencing them in harmful, or socially undesirable ways.

Ode to a Grasshopper · Tue May 07, 2002 7:18 am

Originally posted by EMINEM
I'm Christian evangelical, but have been playing D&D since I was 13 years old, even DMing a few campaigns in the Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms settings. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with P&P or CRPGs, as long as it doesn't become a substitute for reality, or get in the way or your more important obligations (ie. eating, sleeping, going to the bathroom ). That said, I think overall the influence which the Christian Right, and other like-minded voting blocs, has had on the industry has been positive, whatever liberal knee-jerk criticism has been levelled against such protest. Boundaries have laid set down, concerns (and not all are stupid and illegitimate) have been raised, and RPG developers have been made to understand that their products do leave marks on young impressionable minds, and may be held responsible for influencing them in harmful, or socially undesirable ways.

But the question we all want to know, M&M, (Well, I do anyway) is what do you have to say about Harry Potter?

EMINEM · Post by **EMINEM** » Tue May 07, 2002 7:27 am

'Haven't read him. 'Don't really want to, either. Not that I have anything against J.K Rawlings, or think Harry Potter is a child of the devil. Let's keep this in perspective: in the final analysis, Harry Potter is just a children's book. I prefer spending my time reading "serious" adult fiction, like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, or Joyce, since there's so much more enjoyment and illumination in them.

Ode to a Grasshopper · Tue May 07, 2002 7:37 am

You're so serious @MnM. People who treat life like the joke it often is have less stress. Ah, well, whatever suits your fancy I suppose.

I just read what I feel like. A friend of mine recommended them and I found to my surprise that I enjoyed them. I'm very much a reader for pleasure.

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Tue May 07, 2002 8:04 am

I'm Losing my Religion.

No, in all seriousness, I have recently changed my religion. Was christened as a christian (duh). Now I am a recently converted budhist.

*pats budha-like belly*

Worhsip the Budha!!!

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Tue May 07, 2002 8:11 am

Does apathy count as a religion?