The summary- Dungeons and Dragons. Harmless, or Satan's game? -By Melissa Bucholz
Basically, Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy role playing game, in which a person 'becomes' a character. You can choose to be a character that falls under the following categories:
1. Warrior or fighter 2. Wizard or Mage 3. Priest (Cleric Druid, an evil priest) 4. Rougue (or thief or Bard)
After choosing a character, the player then chooses whether he/she will be on the side of good or evil, and a rule follower or a total rebel. There are several levels in between. Following this, they choose magic spells and weapons. The spells choosen actually come from wizards books of spells and books for the witch. Gary Gygax, writer of D&D books states that the proper book of spells must be consulted and all spells must be read aloud. Whether the player intends to cast spells or not, they are still dealing with very real and very dangerous spirits. Many of the spells invite spirits to empower the player. If called upon, evil spirits are more than willing to come.
Many hardcore D&D players say, "It's just a game. It's not like it's real." Yes, it may be 'just a game', but the resulting effect on one's mind cannot be controled. Once images or ideas are put into our mind, they cannot be erased. If visited continually, it becomes an addiction. Children who grow up in violent homes later on express themselves with anger and vilolence. People who watch violent shows or listen to negative music are more likely to do something radical. I know from experience that these things have an effect on our minds and emotions. Likewise, even a role playing game involving evil sprits can become so real in one's mind, they begin to live out the game in everyday life. It is inevitable. Many will argue that there is no 'brain washing or mind contol' involved in the game since they don't believe in Satan. However, you cannot argue with the fact that there is both good and evil in this world, and whatever side you give into takes control.
The "Freeway Killer," Vernon Butts, who committed suicide in his cell in 1987 while being held as a suspect in a string of murders, was an avid D&D player.51
D&D player (14 years old) commits suicide by hanging, 1979, name withheld by parents' request.
D&D player (17 years old) Michael Dempsey, Lynnwood, WA. suicide by gunshot wound to the head, 5/19/81. Witnesses saw him trying to summon up D&D demons just minutes before his death.
D&D player (age not mentioned) Steve Loyacano, Castle Rock, CO., suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, 10/14/82. Police report satanic writings and a suicide note liked the death to D&D.
D&D player (21 years old) Timothy Grice, Lafayette, CO., suicide by shotgun blast, 1/17/83. Detective reports noted, "D&D became a reality. He thought he was not constrained to this life, but could leave [it] and return because of the game."
D&D player (18 years old) Harold T. Collins, Marion, OH., suicide by hanging, 4/29/83. Collins was noted to be "possessed" by D&D as if he were living the game.
D&D player (16 years old) Daniel Erwin, Lafayette, CO., murder by brother's shotgun blast to head, 11/2/84 (right after Halloween). Death was apparently the result of a death pact as part of the game.
D&D player (12 years old) Steve Erwin (see above) suicide by gunshot, 11/2/84. Detective report: "No doubt D&D cost them their lives."52
D&D player (no age given) Joseph Malin, Salt Lake City, UT., pled guilty to first degree murder 3/2/88 and was sentenced to life in prison. He killed a 13-year-old girl while acting out the fantasy-role game. The girl had been raped, her throat cut, and she had been stabbed twice in the chest. Police said his "violent urges were fed by 'extreme involvement in the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons.'"53
D&D player (14 years old) Tom Sullivan, Jr. got into Satanism and ended up stabbing his mother to death, arranging a ritual circle (from D&D) in the middle of the living room floor and lit a fire in its midst. Fortunately, his dad and little brother were awakened by a smoke detector; but by then, Tom, Jr. had slashed his wrists and throat with his Boy Scout knife and died in the snow in a neighbor's yard. (1/19/88, Amarillo, TX).54
D&D player Danny Remeta went on an eight-state crime spree, including murder. In an interview in the DETROIT FREE PRESS, he asked, "Have you ever heard of Dungeons and Dragons? That had a lot to do with it It is not just a board game. It's a lot deeper than a board game. I've got five friends that are locked up for the same thing [murder] right now because of the game."55
D&D player (14 years old) Sean Sellers was convicted of killing his parents and a convenience store clerk in Greeley, Oklahoma (1/11/87). He was the youngest inmate of death row in the country before being executed for his crimes. His involvement in hard-core Satanism began with D&D, according to his own testimony. Praise the Lord; he became a Born Again Christian some time before his execution!56
Read the letter from Sean Sellers:With the controversy over role-playing games so prevalent today many well meaning people have sought to use my past as a reference for rebuking role-playing. While it is true that D&D contributed to my interest and knowledge of occultism I must be fair and explain to what extent D&D contributed.
When I was playing D&D I was not a Satanist, and in fact would probably have punched any Satanist I met right in the mouth. I was interested in witchcraft and Zen however. In doing some research at the library for a D&D adventure, I was leading, I happened upon other books that led to my study of occultism.
After I became a Satanist, I used D&D manuals for their magical symbols and character references for my initial studies. I also used my experience as a Dungeonmaster to introduce people to satanic behavior concepts and recruit them into the occult.
I do have objections to some of the material TSR62 released for their role playing games. I think their excessive use of paganism and occultism is unnecessary and can lead to idealistic problems among some players; however, to be fair to TSR and in the spirit of honesty, I must concede that D&D contributed to my involvement in Satanism like an interest in electronics can contributed [sic] to building a bomb. Like the decision to build the bomb, I had already made decisions of a destructive nature before I incorporated D&D material into my coven projects, and it was Satanism not D&D that had a decisive role in my crimes.
Personally, for reasons I publish myself, I don't think kids need to be playing D&D, but using my past as a common example of the effects of the game is either irrational or fanatical.
February 5th 1990 Sean Sellers
In conclusion, I would like to state that D&D causes more harm than good. While the game may seem fun to you, it's even more fun for evil spirits to take control of you.
Love Always in Christ, my redeemer and the one who set me FREE.
D And D
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