By Derek White

Recently, I've bought a great deal of "old" D&D material as well as the 25th anniversary boxed edition. The materials are wonderful but I noted while looking through these books that there was a frequent reference to Tolkien and his books. Through these very obvious references most readers should realize that D&D and similar games were based upon the writings of this author.

Now, with this in mind, we must look at JRR Tolkien's writings. While I was growing up I read a number of his books and, like many of my fellow D&D'ers, came to the game because of Tolkien's works.

Strangely enough, though, we were never told about Tolkien's faith. Many of us did not see the references in Tolkien's work, The Silmarillion, as being anything but _fantasy_. However, I am currently reading a wonderful book "Tolkien: Man and Myth" that speaks about his religious faith and its effects on his writings. Now, with a better understanding of the author, I can realize that his Catholic faith had a very deep impact (both consciously and subconsciously) on his writings.

There are two things that I now find very sad. The first is that there are many Christians who are strongly opposed to gaming and fantasy elements in general. This amazes me because of the strong nature of our current Christian climate in which we are called to "speak to our culture." It seems that our "calling" to speak to this culture makes many believe that they're the first to think of this! However, this is simply not true. We just happen to live in an age when Christian faith (or any theistic faith for that matter) is _not_ considered "mainstream" thought. Before this sad event arose (it must have happened before I was born....I've lived in this all my life) there were many believers whose faith was such an intricate part of their lives that it effected everything they did, said or wrote. Tolkien is such a man and it saddens my heart to see Christians vilify many good things that have come forth as a result of this man's writings.

The second thing that I find heart rending is the fact that neither I, nor my friends, knew about Tolkien's faith and its impact on his writings the entire time we played D&D. Some of these men, by the Sovereign grace of God, are now ministers of Christ and others are now serving Him in other aspects as well. Sadly, though, some might speak ill of this man's writings at this time while not realizing that these books may have projected a theistic worldview onto their psyche. Many of these that I knew would never would have guessed that Tolkien was a theist because these books were "shunned" by the Christians of our younger days! However, in reading Tolkien it is obvious these concepts are indelibly a part of Tolkien's writings but, for young adolescents, these things should have (and now need to be) brought forth. If this man's writings had been known to be Christian or had been used by some of theChristian teachers of that time, it may have profoundly affected the lives of the young men that I knew. I even wonder how it would have affected my own.

Ultimately, of course, God is sovereign. In these things, His perfect will is always done. I now see, though, that the evil one has found a way to close off many believers to such wonderful works. Because of the hated fantasy element many believers will not be blessed by the "myth" that Tolkien weaves for his readers. They will not see a shining example of intelligent Christian faith that desires to entertain while also trying to bring forth heroic and sacrificial concepts.

I'd now like to move on to a similar note. Many Christians are biased, as I've already stated, against fantasy in general. This was a bias that I was taught quickly as a new Christian. I believed this element to be wrong almost immediately because I had often been told, both before and after my conversion, that Christians "didn't do that" because it's WRONG! In fact, there was always the subtle hint that such things were based on paganism and, ultimately, satanism.

Strangely enough, I first heard about CS Lewis (another Christian author and contemporary of Tolkien) while I was out drinking at a bar. I was a new Christian and had not gotten out all the "old things" and filled it with the new but I was talking to another young man about my Christian faith. He seemed genuinely interested and then proceeded to tell me that I ought to read some CS Lewis. I questioned him about Lewis and found out that, *gasp*, he wrote FANTASY. Well, that _was_ my favorite type of reading literature but I now was a CHRISTIAN so I could no longer read those books! When I told him that I should not read such things he stared at me as if I was a fool. Of course, this young man probably had a better background than I had and may have known of Lewis' Christian heritage. Sadly, though, even those who did know of Lewis' background began to fail to see the worth of his writings because of these "fantasy" elements.

I mention this to point out how well the anti-fantasy bias has pervaded our culture. I've met others who have faced similar things on their road to Christ Jesus but am still amazed at how often the Christian faith of these authors is ignored. This bias had so pervaded my life that I found it much easier to get rid of the "fantasy books" in my life than to rid myself of the obvious biblical sins. This, sadly, is the road to legalism. Legalism tends to strive to rid ourselves of externals that are not evil so that we end up retaining the evil that lurks within our hearts. In this legalistic route, one finds it much easier to take a so-called "higher path" but in doing so one misses something that could deeply affect their life in a positive, Christian manner.

In this open letter, it has been my purpose to show that the bias against fantasy in general that pervades the current Christian culture needs to be an issue addressed by other believers. In these unneeded and unwarranted bias, we have caused entire generations of young people to ignore or not realize the Christian belief system that has informed such authors as Tolkien as Lewis. In doing so, we now have a generation of gamers and fantasy readers who are totally left in the dark concerning a Christian, theistic worldview while _at_the_same_time_ reading books written by such men! Oh, it's so sad when the blindness of the Christian culture causes the little ones to stumble!

Let us, as Christian gamers, once again reclaim the heritage that has been started by such men! I call us to once again bring others into a world of fantasy and myth for their enjoyment of others but, most of all, to bring out those heroic and redemptive themes that pervade the writings of such men. The purpose of fantasy is to show myth at its greatest and most heroic. It is to inspire the reader to heroic and moral ideals. Fantasy calls young people to a level of sacrifice and love that goes beyond the mere "mortal". Yes, these stories are to bring back a nobility and goodness that is so missing in our world. It is our duty to get those who read such works to find concepts that will strengthen them and show them that there is a higher ideal and a higher purpose meant for our lives. No longer do we need the "antihero" but we must once again call on the great Aragorn or the sacrifice of Bilbo Baggins. Let us once again see the epic struggle of good against evil and see the heroes triumph through the midst of pain and sacrifice. Let us walk down the path and see Aslan offered up on the altar in the place of others who would die at the Witches hand! Let us then journey through dark and mysterious realms to bring forth the light of goodness and purity!

Most importantly, though, these "myths" and "stories" should once again bring us to the point where we can share the greatest and most heroic story ever told! In seeing the sacrifice of these characters, we see a shadow of the ultimate sacrifice that we will bring evangelistically back into the hearts of the reader! Come forth my brothers and bring forth the call once again!

I thank you for your time and I hope that this letter sparks something within us all.

God's Best,

Dekster

Derek White

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