I know I said I would be knuckling down on my presentation, and would not be internetting until the end of the week, but I just was sent a link to this and laughed so hard that I thought I should share it.

It is a site made by a band of evangelists about how playing Dungeons and Dragons is a one-way ticked to Hell.

Firstly, I advise you to read their helpful comic strip here ---> http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046_01.asp

Are you finished laughing yet?  Good, then I'll continue.

I must say, I usually play a cleric and a Dungeon Master has never invited me back to their coven to learn real magic.  I must be going to the wrong sort of games.

In the article by William Schnoebelen on a page that links into the comic strip we also get this wonderful list:

Additionally, Fantasy-Role-Playing (FRP) games like D&D do employ brainwashing techniques:

1. Fear generation-via spells and mental imaging about fear-filled, emotional scenes, and threats to survival of FRP characters.
2. Isolation-psychological removal from traditional support structures (family, church, etc.) into an imaginary world. Physical isolation due to extremely time-consuming play activities outside the family atmosphere.
3. Physical torture and killings-images in the mind can be almost as real as the actual experiences. Focus of the games is upon killings and torture for power, acquisition of wealth, and survival of characters.
4. Erosion of family values-the Dungeon Master (DM) demands an all-encompassing and total loyalty, control and allegiance.
5. Situational Ethics-any act can be justified in the mind of the player, therefore there are no absolutes of right or wrong; no morality other than "point" morality needed to ensure survival and advancement. There are no win-win situations and good forces seldom triumph over evil forces.
6. Religion-values and belief systems (see below) are restructured from traditional Judeo-Christian ethics (which most people in Western culture adhere to) to belief in multiple gods and deities. Players align themselves with specific deities they select; patron deities are strongly urged. These are not fantasy deities, but are drawn from genuine ancient religions and beliefs! Only occult gods are included. In addition, defilement is urged in many ways, such as excrement or urinating to "defile a font."
7. Loss of Self-control-authority over self is surrendered to the DM. Depending on the personality and ego-strength of the player, this loss can be near absolute.
8. Degradation-pain and torture are heavily involved in sadistic, sexual situations that graphically appeal to visceral impulses. Much of the material (as mentioned above) is well into pornographic areas and stresses the defilement of innocence."

Just wow...  How do people even believed this kind of stuff?  Mr. Schnoebelen concludes his article by saying "

Quoting Dr. Thomas Radecki MD, a psychiatrist at the University of Illinois School of Medicine: "The evidence in these cases is really quite impressive. There is no doubt in my mind that the game Dungeons and Dragons is causing young men to kill themselves and others. The game is one of non-stop combat and violence. It is clear to me that this game is desensitizing players to violence and also causing an increased tendency to violent behavior."  Thus, in my mind, and in the minds of most who have come out of this background as I have (occultism and Satanism); there is no doubt that Dungeons and Dragons and its imitators are right out of the pit of hell. No Christian or sane, decent individual of whatever faith really should have anything to do with them."

In a follow up article, he also has this amazing quote:  "Defenders of D&D often complain that it is only a game. Playing chicken with cars is "only a game" until someone gets killed. So is Russian roulette! I am frequently told to "get a life" or write about something more important than D&D, like social justice or world hunger. The devil would sure like that."

Really, I have no time for evangelicals at the best of times, but this argument really takes the biscuit.  I wonder if it has ever convinced a gamer to give up Dungeons and Dragons...