In April 2001, CGG Chaplain and Multiverser author M. Joseph Young began a series of articles about integrating faith and gaming. The original articles can still be found at their original url at http://www.christian-gamers-guild.org/chaplain/index.html. They are republished here in blog format for the benefit of new readers.
Abstain from all appearance of evil. I Thessalonians 5:22, King James Version Back in September we examined one of those last-line arguments against everything, the notion of the Weaker Brother argument. But there’s another argument marshaled against anything and everything we find objectionable: the appearance of evil. This last assault is very effective. After all, … [Read more…]
Last month as we concluded our consideration of Magic, we raised a bigger issue: is it appropriate for characters in a fictional world to call upon any deity? It is not a simple question. At every turn God has commanded that we have no regard for other gods; it is top of the list in … [Read more…]
It was inevitable that this subject would eventually surface in this series. After all, the supernatural elements in many role playing games are the ones most feared and criticized by those who oppose them, and eventually something would have to be said about them. But it is just ironic coincidence that the issue has come … [Read more…]
Most of the arguments which are raised against role playing games have by now been answered. They no more involve consorting with demons than reading The Screwtape Letters or That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis. The magic in them is about as like witchcraft as that of Penn and Teller. They are less violent … [Read more…]
Last month we talked about Settings, one of the foundation stones of role playing, the worlds in which we play. We could go on and talk about characters, plots, deities, philosophies—but in addressing settings, we opened an important issue that we didn’t address. What do you do about Bad Things, and is it appropriate for … [Read more…]
The following article was originally published in July 2001 on the Christian Gamers Guild’s website. The entire series remains available at its original URL. I’m going to challenge you today with a question that maybe you have never asked yourself, and yet you have probably answered—and further, that you have probably answered both yes and no … [Read more…]
The following article was originally published in June 2001 on the Christian Gamers Guild’s website. The entire series remains available at its original URL. When I was working my way back toward the fundamentals of our game experience last month, just before I reached the point of discussing social interaction I mentioned mechanics. Mechanics are … [Read more…]
The following article was originally published in May 2001 on the Christian Gamers Guild’s website. The entire series remains available at its original URL. As I pondered where to begin our discussion of faith and gaming, I wanted to address the most fundamental aspect of our games; but I then had to debate with myself exactly … [Read more…]
The following article was originally published in April 2001 on the Christian Gamers Guild’s website. The entire series remains available at its original URL. In 1978 I had the benefit of receiving a bachelors degree from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. I arrived there in 1975, brought with me an associates degree from a small … [Read more…]