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Austin,

Let me speak to a perspective that should be considered. I use to be a homicide detective. In that position, I investigated occult crimes - as many are connected both with kidnapping and murders, etc. Moreover, we had the largest Satanic occult site this side of the Mississippi according to FBI stats (it includes - note present tense - lawyers, judges, doctors, etc.). What is interesting is that in our investigations almost everyone who was a "Satanist" (there are different types) played certain fantasy games, however not everyone that played fantasy games was a Satanist. However, many used fantasy games to introduce others to the "occult." Though I am sure they existed, in all those years I never discovered a professing Christian that played those games.

I have difficulty with understanding the philosophy of those that desire to indulge in such games. Though the Bible does speak directly about not practicing witchcraft, (Lev., 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deut. 18:9-14; Acts 13:8-10) etc., it does not speak directly about playing games about them. However, they seem as out of place "as playing" a homosexual transvestite having a sex change operation, or playing a game where you can be a Roman soldier and crucify Christ again, et. al. They are all fantasy games, but seem to reek of sinful fantasies. I think it is difficult to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37) and yet use your mind for such activity.

Respectfully, most (possibly not all) Fantasy Role Playing (FRP) games seem wrong to me. The ones I am familiar with: (1) support polytheism, (2) the attainment of a level of a divinity or deity (as if deity has levels), (3) in general suggest a non-theistic universe(s), (4) see an amoral world at best. Good and evil seem to be presented as equal and opposite sides. None of this seems consistent with renewing our minds "in Christ."

Now, neither fantasy or fantasy role-playing is wrong in and of itself. I am sure we could find a good one or two out there. Maybe these are the ones you are speaking about. However, in the way I have seen them packaged: (1) there are no moral absolutes, nor are there any moral conclusions (i.e., in D & D "non-human soldiers" are expected to "rape freely at every chance"), (2) there is an unbiblical element of escapism, and (3) their direction and affiliation with the occult in general all represent a non-Christian worldview.

IMO the greatest threat of such material is that it promotes a worldview contrary to that presented in the Bible. It is a path away from God that can bring us into contact with the demonic realm (John 10:10). Cult experts/psychologists have documented the connection between occult involvement and psychological and emotional disorders. Many cases of violence and suicides are connected to the occult. C.S. Lewis once commented, "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight" (Jerry Johnston, The Edge of Evil). Christ "called us out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet. 2:9). If one is called out of the realm of darkness then why do they desire to still knowingly dabble in the in games that promote darkness? A book I enjoyed sometime ago on this topic is Playing With Fire, written by John Weldon and James Bjornstad. I did not agree with all of it, but it is informative.

In summary; all fantasy, all imagination, all thought must be governed by this one rule: We are to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Cor. 10:5). Each game needs to be independently evaluated by this measuring stick. We are suppose to imitate Christ - In Hebrews we are instructed to "imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised" (6:12) and to further point out our need to imitate these men and women of faith, we are told to "Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith" (13:7). I have a difficult enough time intimating God and his way(s), much less taking "a break" and pretending to be a sinner of another kind in a game. Though an elect one like Lot was delivered, I do not wish to imagine what Sodom was like, pitch my tent facing Sodom, and later end up living there.

That's my two-cents. I will remind the reader that this is my personal view and not necessarily that of IIIM.