My Term Paper

[Tony Carpenter]

As Requested by Ryan Thames I am posting my paper on Dungeons and Dragons below

[Tony Carpenter]

Fantastic Morality
By Anthony Michael Carpenter





















©2004
Freshman Composition
Ms. Mullins
12/09/04

[Tony Carpenter]

When Dungeons and dragons burst onto the scene in 1974 the creators had no idea that there was going to be so much controversy tied to the game in the coming years. In August 1980 a sixteen year old boy James Dallas Egbert III, and in July 1982 Irving Bink Pulling II committed suicide. The boys during their life played the game Dungeons and Dragons. Bink’s mom, Patricia Pulling was outraged by the game and blamed it for her son’s death. She worked with Thomas Radecki to form the organization B.A.D.D. (Bothered About Dungeons &Dragons). They claimed that Dungeons and Dragons was the leading cause in teenage suicide.
The organization B.A.D.D. gained support and power until Michael Stackpole wrote “Pulling Report”. “The article analyzed the circular logic, double hermeneutic, overt generalizations and self fulfilling prophecies involved in Pulling’s approach to identifying satanic influence over young people (Waldron pg4).” Once the organization B.A.D.D. was disbanded the anti-Dungeons and Dragons/Role Playing Games movement lost momentum and died out. It was the early 1990’s when the group was disbanded.
The subject came to a standstill until the late 1990’s when Wizards of the Coast released the 3rd edition series of books. It sparked a new wave of protestors. Now though the individuals behind these movements couldn’t gain popularity in the spotlight. Public support of such organizations was lost after Stackpole’s “Pulling Report.” Now there claims were more direct and to the point. The claim not that D&D has caused suicide. Now they claim that the core of the game is against God’s word.
That is what I am here to analyze. As an Alumnus of thirteen years of Catholic educations and being a Catholic myself this issue struck my interest because I am also an avid player of D&D for over two years now. To me D&D seemed like a more interactive version of the games that I play on my computer, but is it as innocent as I thought.

[Tony Carpenter]

I sought answers in many places including the Bible and the three Core Rule Books of D&D. There were many truths on each side of the argument, but I am after facts. Many of the truths that I found were referring to a small generalization that was blown out of proportion, like the Pulling’s incident. Bink Pulling committed suicide while being involved in D&D and Patricia, Bink’s mom jumped to the conclusion that D&D induced suicide and that it was Satan’s work in trying to corrupt America’s youth.
On the other hand some D&D player’s will claim that the Role-playing involved in D&D is a way for people to solve real world problems and make decisions in an imaginary setting before they have to in real life. Thereby enabling the person to weed out bad scenarios. For the anti D&D mentality, the problem was there was no empirical evidence to support the idea that D&D induced suicide. Too many things could have affected that statistic. Both ideas are either generalizing or involve an ideal situation. As far as the pro-D&D mentality, it’s referring to an ideal occurrence where the person involved can predict the whole scenario and how it will play out. Also as a role player, no one does this scenario no matter how much some will say it’s a plus side to the game. People play D&D to get away from reality, not to create a separate one.
Beyond the generalizations and ideologies were facts to be examined. What is D&D? To role-players:
“D&D is a game of your imagination in which you participate in thrilling adventures and dangerous quests by taking on the role of a hero—a character you create. Your character might be a strong fighter or a clever rogue, a devout cleric or a powerful wizard. With a few trusted allies at your side, you explore ruins and monster-filled dungeons in search of treasure. The game offers endless possibilities and a multitude of choices—more choices

[Tony Carpenter]

than even the most sophisticated computer game, because you can do whatever you can imagine (The Players Handbook, pg4).”
To people that are anti-D&D is one thing; Occult. What D&D is though? A game that is based on choice and design. A person called a Dungeon Master (DM) designs a fantastic world based on the idea that there is a problem in the world that the Player’s Characters (PC) are going to have to solve. The people that are going to be adventuring through this world create PCs. They determine every attribute of the PC.
The controversy that has been of late is:
1.) It is morally obscene to allow a person to choose morality. To allow a person to choose good or evil, law or chaos freely is morally unacceptable.
2.) This game is bad for youth. “Our young people are having enough trouble getting their values straight without being immersed in this sort of material (Schnoebelen, pg2).”
3.) There’s too much violence.
4.) It’s ideas on pantheons are a violation of the first commandment
5.) “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (Schnoebelen, pg1).” It is believed that a person acting evil in a pretend manner is as evil as a person being evil in real life.
6.) Magic is evil.
The First issue is one of the most frequently talked about because it is linked to two of the
other arguments. The quote ahead is from an article in response to the statement that more people want to play as evil characters than good ones.
“The game actually emphasizes picking good over evil, and ‘most’ people would rather play heroic characters and champions of good and law. I think you should make that

[Tony Carpenter]

clear. The game books themselves actually give good more power than they give evil in a variety of minor ways, and suggest rather strongly that more fun is to be had playing non-evil characters.
Why? However interesting playing an evil ‘individual’ may be at times – particularly short periods of time, such as for one play or for one movie – D&D players work in groups for extended periods of time – perhaps years. They are rarely acting alone. And if one of their characters is evil, they tend not to fit into the group dynamic – assuming they play the alignment properly – i.e. back stabbing, lying, cheating, betrayal, and in general a sort of selfish and short sighted point of view, and hardly anyone wants to associate with such a person – even other evil people, lest they have to watch their backs constantly. D&D groups rely too heavily on friendship and trust, and maybe even strong feelings of love and loyalty – that evil sentiments naturally erode – so as far as the game itself is concerned, playing evil is not recommended and is even actively discouraged (Beach, pg3).
What this quote talks about the relevant subject as a whole. What do these individuals do
as evil characters? They steal, cheat, lie, kill, and backstab. In life we are given a choice, a choice that was given to us by God. That choice allows us to be good or evil. That choice itself is not evil, and that’s what this is, the choice. To say that choice is morally wrong would denounce God. One of the things people forget when they talk about D&D and the evil deeds is there are consequences for actions in D&D. You betray someone and they find out, bad things will happen to you. If there weren’t any consequences in the game for wrong doings then I would say the action an evil character takes is wrong. And Law does bind the game, even for

[Tony Carpenter]

those who don’t follow it. Just because someone chooses chaos there’s panic. I would like to ask did Rosa Parks follow the law, how about Gandhi?
The second issue is probably the only one that is somewhat true. The game is immersed in to many adult concepts for kids to play it, but there are ways to make it work. When a child is just starting to play D&D, cut out the Role-Playing element. It can confuse them at first, but it makes it a more interactive adventurous story. Also, really good DMs have the ability to describe the gruesomeness of when a creature is killed. This can add realism and visualizing the image as a whole, but it is inappropriate for children. I define a child to be someone under 16 or of equivalent maturity, and, as always, there are exceptions to the rules. Some people are more mature and can handle this stuff at a younger age and vise versa.
Mr. Beach makes the point that although there is moral ambiguity in the game. It just shows the kids that questions a personal morality will soon need to be addressed in their lives. People often make the point. What if a person chooses evil over good because of this game in real life? I believe any person can take an innocent idea and misinterpret it or have a wrong idea in their head. Also, it is their choice; it is one we must all make, and one game is not going to affect the whole decision, and if so it won’t be a permanent one.
Many people say there is too much violence in D&D. What they are forgetting is they reject the characters that get around physical conflicts. The rogue, probably the Character class with the worse reputation of all classes, happens to be the best at getting around physical confrontation. Yes there is violence, but I say to a Christian mind, read the Bible and intake the amount of violence that is in it. Now ask yourself is there a point to the violence. If you say no, then you have learned what few can understand; there is no point to violence in this world, “violence begets more violence,” but it’s part of our life). If you say yes then look for the point

[Tony Carpenter]

of violence in D&D. How many people have actually died because of D&D? How many have died from misinterpretation of literature?
It is believed that because the D&D system allows for a character to believe in more than one God. As long as a person doesn’t do a u-turn in faith and turn to polytheism it is morally acceptable. You are not making offerings to this false god(s). Most of the gods that D&D list were believed in by ancient cultures. It allows for a more realistic character if someone chooses to be a character from that particular culture.
The
“Magic: The art that purports to control or forecast natural events or forces by invoking the supernatural. Exercise of sleight of hand or conjuring for entertainment. A mysterious quality of enchantment.” “God says that magic is deep and abominable sin (Schnoebelen, pg4).” This writer also wrote a list of scripture to prove this idea so that’s where I am moving onto. The first he lists is Exodus, 22:18. It says “Do not allow a sorceress to live.” This is not a law against magic; it is just stating to not let sorceresses, witches - servants of the devil exist.
The next is Leviticus, 19:31. “Do not turn to medium or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” What this is talking about is don’t seek out communication with the dead. There are no actual Ouija boards in D&D. Next is Leviticus, 20:6. It talks just more about what happens to those that follow spiritists. Again, none of that in D&D. Deuteronomy, 18:10. “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,” This passage touches on the fact that we shouldn’t do magic ourselves, but I don’t think rolling a dice and taking down numbers as magic.

[Tony Carpenter]

That’s the process for magic in D&D, there’s no substance to it. In fact of all the lines the man listed to say magic is bad, only Revelations, 21:8 and Revelations, 22:15 flat out stated that magic users will go to hell. Why, there is no explanation. But are people that play D&D attempting magic, as I said earlier people that play D&D toss dice and take down numbers. Not much of an effect.
The Game Dungeons and Dragons is a game that allows us to make choices and do things in as imaginary setting. Like and in life immoral if abused. I feel that each element of the controversy of D&D and each one has proved to be invalid in some way or another. I just hope that people will learn to enjoy the game as much as I do.

[Tony Carpenter]

Bibliography
3rdedition.org/articles/viewer.asp?ID=67
By Dr. David Waldron

www.chick.com/articles/frpg.asp
By William Schoelbelen

www.frontiernet.net/~gamesstarlight/ChristiansAndDND.html
By James L.R. Beach

www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp
By Wizards of the Coast

“The Holy Bible, New International Version”, by International Bible Society,
ZonDerVan Publishing house, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1984

“Player’s Handbook: Core Rulebook version 3.5”, by Wizards of the Coast,
Wizards of the Coast, Renton, WA, 2003

“Dungeon Master’s Guide: Core Rulebook II version 3.5”, by Wizards of the Coast,
Wizards of the Coast, Renton, WA, 2003

“Monster Manual: Core Rulebook III version 3.5”, by Wizards of the Coast,
Wizards of the Coast, Renton, WA, 2003

“Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary”,
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1996

[Ryan Thames]

First i want you to know that what i am about to say is my view, ultimatly it is God who will judge you by your heart and you desire to follow him. Its a matter of whether or ot something offends God. Those who belive in Jesus Christ, God is your Father. I would imagine that if you have a true loving and caring father and you go to some other source for advice, he would be hurt and offended. I know i would be if my son went to an outside source for advice on a situation rather than come to me. Thats just me.

The bible clearly points that in a mans imagination, no good can come from it, unless it is guided by the power of God and then it comes from God not your imagination.

Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 8:21.
for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;

From youth your heart and imaginations are wicked.

When you lean on your own understanding you do not progress. You have already failed before you began becuase it is a matter of your heart. as stated in Jeremiah 7:24

Jeremiah7:24
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.


Jesus said in matthew, according to the law of adultery, that becuase sin is determined in your heart it is in your imagination that declares whether or not you are in sin.

Matthew 5:27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Whether you act on your thoughts or not sin is sin.

To go to any source especially within yourself. you offend God. He didnt go through all the trouble to give you the opportunity to worship that wich is worthy of worship and have a right RELATIONSHIP with him, so that you could look within yourself for the answer to any of lifes problems. That is spitting in the face of Christ on the cross telling God "i dont need you i got this."

Ultimatly if you are not covered in the blood of christ and born again it doesnt matter what you do. You might as well be a murderer. You are seperate from God if not covered in the blood of the sacrifice he gave for you.

I believe God is greived at this and i do not believe he wants his children involved in it. Whatsoever under any circumstances.

There are innocent people in this i am sure. But there are innocent people on the otherside of a murder.

Here is an example of they way i look at games.

Acceptable
Ghost Recon : Involves killing (not murder) but it is in the act of war.

Unacceptable
Grand Theft Auto Vice City: Involves murder and raping innocent people.

Unacceptable
Zelda: Involves sorcery and magic

Acceptable
Spider-man : Involves a theoretical hypothetical chemical situation where a guy is bit by a radio-active spider. His powers are not sorcery.

I have a hard time believeing that it does not offend God that just becuase it is a game or a movie its ok to pretend that you still do the things he delivered you from.

Thats like getting married to a girl, and you love her with all your heart, and would die for her. And while having sex she is dreaming of the guy before you. . This is a matter of the heart, though she is not really having sex with someone else she is still cheating in her heart and saying you are not worthy of your place and position.

Wouldnt that hurt? Im sure most of you guys can relate to that.

I wouldnt want to hurt my wife that way and I wouldnt want to hurt my God that way. I know I dont want to be hurt that way

This is my input,
Ryan

[Tony Carpenter]

the idea above that man's imagination is evil, I cannot believe this. Everything that man has come up with scientifically and artistically came from their imagination. Does that mean that the cures for disease that we have today is evil. After all the ideas for the cures had to be imagined somehow.

This is why i've lost my faith, these kind of quotes denounce everything I am. I'm tired of contridiction and all this crap that messes with my mind. I'm tired of listening to man's interpretation of 'the word' ( no matter what religion). From this moment on I'm starting my beliefs over, from scratch.

Man is flawed

Child is blessed

Moon will shake

While the sun rests

I believe not what I once know

Seedless faith is the seed that I sow

I slept as a man, I wake as a child

whilst the sun shakes, and the moon is mild

The innocence I reign

while man is in chain

while sun is fain

moon is my bane



What I am talking about above is the belief that I am starting with. If you figure out what I am trying to say with this poem, post, and I will title it.

P.S. I have the unmost respect for anyone that has faith. Don't stop doing what you do. Also this post I am going to start posting my literary work, which will reflect my imagination and my faith developement.

[Ryan Thames]

You have to understand why it says that Tony. Dont get angry with the word because you dont want to ask why.
What i qoute was a direct qoute if you like go back and look up the original text. it was not my interpretation.

Why does the bible say you must crucify your flesh daily?
Becuase it is evil.

Why did Jesus die?
Becuase we are evil and cannot redeem ourselves.

Why does the bible say that the cross is an offense?

Becuase telling you that you are evil in and of yourself is kinda hard to swallow as you have effectivly displayed in your response to my post.

Until man realizes that he is lost, he will never be found.

Until man realizes he is evil he can not be sanctified.

Until a man realizes he is headed the wrong way he will never be saved.

Until a man is saved he will not walk with God nor enter the kingdom of God.

You want to find your faith?
You must die to yourself and look toward the cross.

You must say "God i give up I can not do it, only you can provide a way".

Jesus said he is they way the truth and the life.

The bible does not contradict itself.

The word of God, becuase it is God, will speak to you but you havent been asking him to. Youve been trying to figure it out on your own and you cant do it.