We recieved this from a former teacher of Rjonein's when he learned of our site.

I don't have too much time tonight so here's a brief synopsis:

1. The use of casting spells, sorcery, calling up demons are three activities which are either implicitly or explicitly prohibited in Scripture. For a Christian to be involved in this activity is going against what God has said His people are to abstain from.

2. I would suggest that you look through both Old and New Testaments to find out about the occult and what God says about it. Please don't argue that it is only an imaginary game. Satan can and does use imagination to suit his strategies and to say that it doesn't affect a person is going against not just scientific data about how our imagination works but more important how and what goes on in the spiritual realm.

3. I don't know if you are a Christian but playing with occultic things can open up the door for Satan to wreak havoc in a person's life.

4. I would also suggest that you read the book of Ephesians. Ephesus one of the major cities involved with the occult in the first century. With that brief background, reading Ephesians can take on a whole new perspective.

Hope this gives you something to think about.

- Stan E.

We retorted, and again Stan E. came back with this:

Sorry it took a little while to respond but I've been extremely busy as
the end of the school year is getting closer. Anyway, let me respond to
your points:
1. Your rationale that it is not evil because it has given you nothing
but contentedness is a little strange. Charles Manson,. Adolf Hitler,
etc. did extremely evil things which brought them "contentedness" so
your criterion/definition of evil is very subjective to say the least!
2. I'm not sure what "fantastical" means.
3. In your second email I appreciate your respect of my religion
so therefore if the basis of my religion
condemns occultic practices then it only follows that the practitioners
of Christianity are also commanded not to practice occultic teachings.
Let me quote from one of your books (Deities and Demigods pg. 25,
paragraph 3: "Serving a deity is a significant part of D&D, and all
players should have a patron god." At the most basic level and Judaism
and Christianity, this flies in the face of God's command to worship Him
only!!
4. Finally, I do take issue with your comment about me harassing
[name blanked]. I have been teaching for 25 years and I DO NOT HARASS students.
I would suggest that you not make accusations about without knowing all
the information.
I do hope that one day you will become a Christian, but if [name blanked]
considers himself to be a Christian and yet continues to play a game
that has at its basis occultic presuppositions then his argument it not
with me, it is with the God who has given His word in the Bible.

- Stan E.

We again countered. With this;

Since something brings me happiness, I should compare it to the
heinous acts of Hitler? Sorry, but I've not committed mass murder,
I've played a game. Yes, my imaginary character does kill, but he
destoys evil. Imaginary character destroys imaginary evil. No real
life. D&D encourages good-aligned characters, pitted against dark
forces. Heroes are sent out to bring good to the world, and rid the
forces of darkness in favor of light. Likewise, there are people who
choose to play evil characters. This does not make them evil. It
doesn't make sense to associate the joy brought by a game to the pain
brought by a sadist.
What is your definition of occult? Some people consider the
occult to merely be interest in the supernatural. Yes, this includes
magic, but it also includes such things as vampires, werewolves,
ghosts, etc. Do you condemn belief in ghosts? Or is occult the
practitioning of magic and the worship of a foreign deity?
The "patron deity" of one's character is an imaginary god for an
imaginary character. Yes, I realize the power of imagination, but it
is entirely possible, and altogether likely, that people are able to
differentiate between the two. There are christians who play D&D,
and they are not any worse people for it. The book does not
encourage players to worship other gods, they encourage characters
to.
Consider this. There are hundreds of movies that show people
doing things of a decidedly non-christian nature. Murder, violence,
fornication, crime, etc. Do you write letters to every single movie
maker, telling them to get a new job because they're corrupting the
youth?
There is an important concept, called "context." The context of
D&D is that of an imaginary game. It is make-believe. The same goes
for movies. They exist in somebody's mind, and are unleashed only
upon your imagination. If somebody were to make a film involving the
murder of, say, the president, the president is still alive. The
movie had no direct effect upon him. Likewise, no one is going to
kill the president for the sole reason of seeing it done on tv. They
are either already unstable, assasins, or what have you. Nearly everybody
can understand context, and differentiate fantasy from reality.

Also, about magic. I find that it is something like guns. Guns
themselves are not an evil thing. It is how they are used, and the
intent with which they are used that can be evil. In the same
manner, magic is not evil. It is intent of use that is evil. There
are spell-casters in D&D, but that doesn't autmoatically make it an
evil thing. Are police officers evil because they carry guns? After
all, guns kill people.
The point is, "black magic," and ritual intended to harm, is
evil. That, I can agree with wholeheartedly. By the same token,
magic intended to heal and spread peace and love is good.

Finally, I apologize for my poor choice of words. But I believe we
have different definitions of the word harass. I intended it to mean
that you questioned [name blanked]'s hobby. From the little that I know, you
spoke to him of the evil of playing the game. I can only assume that
he didn't want to hear it, and probably found the whole thing
irritating. But, of course, I wasn't there, and am only basing this
off of heresay. For any inaccuracies, I apologize, but I think you
understand my intent.

Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Seemingly backed into a corner and having nothing else to retort with, we recieved Stan E.'s final message.

Are you a Christian, in the sense that you have repented of your sins and ask that Christ be your savior? If you have not taken that first step, then I will have nothing to do with you. You can play your games all you want. So until I hear about your conversion experience, my response will end.

Stan E.