Post by strangewind on Mar 5, 2008 14:19:55 GMT -5
Prayers for the most influential man in latter-day fantasy are in order.
Gary Gygax is a beloved figure, particularly in gaming circles, but also in fantasy and science fiction fields.
Although I know that D&D continues to be something of a divisive issue in some Christian circles, I fall squarely in the camp that an imaginative game that inspired heroism and community bonds has been, by en large, a definite cultural good. I also completely understand and respect those who believe it to be, at best, a non-edifying diversion and at worst a potential spiritual trap, so I'm not looking to rock anyone's boat here (though the anomaly boat seems to be made of sturdy stuff, a veritable ark of the fantastic).
Gary certainly had a tremendous influence on my skills and training as a worldbuilder, both in my decades as a neo-pagan and in my far more fruitful years as a disciple of Christ's. In fact, I would argue that my time spent scrawling maps and devising adventures provided excellent training both as a writer, and opened me to the likelihood that the world we live in, the story that we breathe every day, has a living Author.
I don't pretend that there's some "Gospel according to E Gary Gygax" floating around, but I would say that his games and stories helped to provide me with skills, friends and, at its best, a very lovely type of joy that is found at play.
God loved Gary so much that He laid down his life for him. That is enough for me to offer a word of prayer on behalf of Gygax and his family.
Gary Gygax is a beloved figure, particularly in gaming circles, but also in fantasy and science fiction fields.
Although I know that D&D continues to be something of a divisive issue in some Christian circles, I fall squarely in the camp that an imaginative game that inspired heroism and community bonds has been, by en large, a definite cultural good. I also completely understand and respect those who believe it to be, at best, a non-edifying diversion and at worst a potential spiritual trap, so I'm not looking to rock anyone's boat here (though the anomaly boat seems to be made of sturdy stuff, a veritable ark of the fantastic).
Gary certainly had a tremendous influence on my skills and training as a worldbuilder, both in my decades as a neo-pagan and in my far more fruitful years as a disciple of Christ's. In fact, I would argue that my time spent scrawling maps and devising adventures provided excellent training both as a writer, and opened me to the likelihood that the world we live in, the story that we breathe every day, has a living Author.
I don't pretend that there's some "Gospel according to E Gary Gygax" floating around, but I would say that his games and stories helped to provide me with skills, friends and, at its best, a very lovely type of joy that is found at play.
God loved Gary so much that He laid down his life for him. That is enough for me to offer a word of prayer on behalf of Gygax and his family.
